A police boss is warning people in North Wales to
beware of heartless scammers using the coronavirus pandemic to prey on the
vulnerable.
Already over £800,000 has been stolen across the UK
by fraudsters cashing in on fear generated by the unprecedented outbreak but
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones (pictured) is determined to clamp
down on the cheats.
He said: “These are heartless criminals seeking to
make money out of what is a worldwide crisis by preying on people’s fear and
concern.
“We have seen from public order incidents in
supermarkets just how desperate people can become and these criminals are
trying to cash in.
“People are panicking when they see a deal on the
internet and they go for it without checking it out.”
The National Fraud and Intelligence Bureau has
identified 21 reports of fraud linked to the coronavirus outbreak since
February, ten of them from people who tried to buy protective face masks from
fake sellers including one victim who lost £15,000.
Another common tactic used by the fraudsters is to
contact victims by email purporting to be from research organisations
affiliated with the centres for disease control and prevention (CDC) and the
World Health Organisation (WHO).
The fraudsters claim to be able to provide the
recipient with a list of people infected with the disease. In order to access
this information, the victim needs to click on a link which leads to a
malicious website, or is asked to make a payment in Bitcoin.
Mr Jones, a
former police inspector, is setting up a new Economic Crime Unit to crack down
on fraudsters and has provided funding to pay for a dedicated officer to
support fraud victims.
He said: “Fraud
is a particularly heartless and unpleasant crime which so often preys upon the
vulnerable and the isolated in our society and can have a traumatic impact on
its victims.
“Using those
people’s understandable concerns when the country is in the throes of an
unprecedented epidemic is particularly cruel and it leaves many people too
embarrassed and ashamed to admit what has happened.
“What’s worse
is that once someone has been defrauded, especially if they’re vulnerable, they
are often victimised again as if they are on some fraudsters’ database.”
“We are seeing
an increase in the number of fraud cases, not just in North Wales but across
the UK.
“The victims,
are often elderly and as we know the virus is especially deadly among the over
70 population and they are being targeted specifically, essentially groomed
over a series of telephone calls, and having money taken from them and loans
taken out in their names.
“It’s the worst
kind of crime because the victims have worked hard all their lives and saved
all their money only to see it disappear after sometimes a couple of phone
calls.
“If it sounds
too good to be true it probably is and that’s the message that needs to go
out.”
A spokesperson for Action Fraud, the National Fraud
Intelligence Bureau, said: “We have also received multiple reports of
Coronavirus-themed phishing emails attempting to trick people into opening malicious
attachments or revealing sensitive personal and financial information.”
Action Fraud has provided a list of helpful tips to
beat the scammers, including watching out for any messages likely to be a con.
The spokesperson added: “Don’t click on the links
and attachments in any suspicious emails and never respond to any unsolicited
messages and calls that ask for personal and financial details.
“When shopping online carry out some research first
or ask for advice before making a purchase from a company or person you don't
know or trust. Use a credit card if possible, as most major credit card
providers insure online purchases.”
* If you have been the victim of a fraud you can
report it to Action Fraud via the website, www.actionfraud.police.uk or by ringing them
on 0300 123 2040
No comments:
Post a Comment