Test and Protect and Covid isolation funding scheme targeted by fraudsters in Scotland

Fraudsters are targeting people across Scotland with new scams preying on fears over coronavirus, consumers have been warned.

Scammers are using the fear of coronavirus to try and get personal information.

Both the Test and Protect scheme and the support fund for self-isolation have been used by criminals trying to steal people’s personal information, according to evidence collected by Trading Standards Scotland.

The organisation’s Scam Share reports have highlighted two text message scams which have been detected by consumers in Scotland.

The first, which has been sent to people in the Central Belt, involves the Scottish Government’s £500 support grant for low income workers.

Scots are increasingly being targeted by scammers who are preying on fears over the coronavirus pandemic.

Victims reported being asked to click on a bogus link, which often leads to the theft of sensitive data.

People have been reminded that while local authorities may get in touch to offer advice to those self-isolating, they will never offer the grant by text message.

A similar scam was also reported where WhatsApp was used to send fake messages pretending to be from the Test and Protect app. Once the recipient responded to the fake contact tracers, they were asked to provide personal details.

Scams have been on the rise during the coronavirus pandemic, when more people have been using technology to keep in touch with others, as well as carrying out more transactions online – many of them for the first time – which is leaving them vulnerable to fraudsters.

In September, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that scams attempting to get money out of people for fake Covid tests were on the rise in Scotland, describing the scams as “truly and utterly despicable”.

Consumer advice service, consumeradvice.scot, has urged anyone with concerns about text messages relating to Covid-19 to report them to its new ScamWatch tool, and to contact its advisers for advice if they need help.

Marjorie Gibson, head of operations with Advice Direct Scotland, which runs consumeradvice.scot, said: “We know technology is being used in the fight against coronavirus, both to stop the spread and get support to those who need it. But with that comes the increased risk of criminals using these developments to steal money and sensitive data.

“You should never respond to a text or a WhatsApp message which asks for personal data. A council which wants to provide help via the self-isolation grant would never do so by text.”

She added: “If you think a message or an email involving government, council or NHS initiatives doesn’t look or seem right, then it probably isn’t.”

The latest Scottish Government figures show that in 2019/20, fraud increased by 23 per cent and since 2010/11 has gone up by 33 per cent – even outwith the coronavirus crisis.

In the year to March 2020, the figures show there were 11,939 crimes of fraud recorded in Scotland – an increase of 2,264 crimes the previous year.

These include many committed online, as criminals use the internet more and more to target victims.

Police Scotland has this week launched a six-week campaign to crack down on fraud, in partnership with Take Five to Stop Fraud.

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