Coronavirus scam warning as fraudsters target people worried about infection
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It comes as the UK has seen 90 cases of people infected with Covid-19, including a patient in Hampshire.
Officials have said the best defence is to wash your hands more often and for 20 seconds each time, use a tissue for coughs and avoid touching your face.
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Hide AdE-mails masquerading as coming from the World Health Organisation are directing potential victims to websites where passwords and emails are stolen.
Paul Barker, chairman of Portsmouth Neighbourhood Watch Association, said trading standards had raised the alert.
He said: ‘Trading Standards have advised us about scammers tempting people to click on e-mail links or open e-mail attachments sent from people they don’t know - this time using coronavirus information to tempt them.
‘You should never click on a link or open an attachment sent from people you don’t know.'
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Hide AdScammers are using emails, texts and social media posts to entice people in.
Fraudulent messages could be be variations of these:
• Check updated coronavirus map in your city
• Coronavirus Infection warning from local school district
• CDC or World Health Organisation emails or social media coronavirus messaging
• Keeping your children safe from coronavirus
Around 90,000 people have become infected across the globe since the virus originated in Wuhan, China.