Fighting scams during a pandemic in Bristol
The Bristol City Council Trading Standards Team has issued a warning to the people of Bristol about a scam offering to send ‘corona removal officers’ to their homes. The leaflets of these ‘corona removal officers’ have been found around neighbourhoods across the city, promising to send professional ‘appointed officers. These supposable specialists claim to be experts in removing and disposing any bacteria responsible for coronavirus. However, Bristol Council advises citizens to not engage with the company in the flyers, since it is not recognized by the council, government, or the NHS. Sarah Saunders, the team leader for the Trading Standards in Bristol also warns that if people are receiving promotions, text messages, emails or calls from strangers offering products to protect you from COVID-19, one must contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline by calling 08082231133.
Criminals are preying on the public’s national fear on COVID-19 to scam the people of Bristol. Communities are encouraged to keep an eye out for scammers claiming to be part of volunteer groups and charities, or criminals cold-calling residents and offering products that prevent or fight Covid-19. The National Trading Standards webpage lists a series of scams that people must pay attention to related to coronavirus. The scams include:
1. Emails and fake online resources that deliver malwares and viruses when clicking or opening attachments.
2. Refund scams where companies offer fake holiday refunds to individuals who have cancelled their trips.
3. Counterfeit products that are unsafe for the public, including a hand sanitizer containing glutaral, a product banned for human use in 2014. It is presently used to disinfect medical equipment and sterilizing surgical instruments.
4. Telephone scams continue being a threat on the rise, as people self-isolate and are unable to run errands, criminals take advantage of this situation claiming to be your bank, utility company and other services.
5. Donation scams from thieves who are asking for money and claiming they are collecting to fund COVID-19 cures.
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of the National Trading Standards stated that “ At a time when neighbourhoods and communities are coming together to support each other, it is despicable that heartless criminals are exploiting members of the public”(Harris, 2020). He called on communities to continue working together and looking out for one another and encouraging people to join the Friends Against Scams campaign. The campaign has a website that includes emergency contacts, online modules, and updated information related to coronavirus and scam cases or threats. It also shows individuals how they can get involved with the team and how companies can join the Friends Against Scams pledge. http://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/
In addition, the University of Bristol has advised students about phishing emails that have been sent to university email addresses in the last weeks. The university’s dedicated page to scams is the following http://www.bristol.ac.uk/infosec/protectyou/idtheft/phishing/ and students can contact IT Services for help if they have been victims of a scam.
Written by Victoria Cornelio