Scammers are contacting people claiming they have breached the current COVID-19 lockdown regulations in Northern Ireland.
Householders have been contacted via mobiles and landlines and asked for payment.
Reports have been made to the PSNI which advises that if you receive a call like this, it’s most definitely a scam.
Police will only issue a fine in the form of a fixed penalty notice – this will be served at the time of the breach. A notice will only be served in person and police will not telephone for payment.
A number of different scams have been reported including:
- Fake testing kits for the coronavirus.
- Online shopping scams, where products are not delivered.
- Older people being targeted by scammers offering a shopping service in return for cash.
- Scam companies claiming to offer holiday refunds.
- Phishing emails related to COVID-19, aimed at getting people to download malicious attachments.
- Benefit recipients being offered bogus help to access financial support.