Coronavirus scam warning as fraudsters target people worried about infection

Fears of coronavirus is the latest tool being used by fraudsters to rip people off.
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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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E-mails masquerading as coming from the World Health Organisation are directing potential victims to websites where passwords and emails are stolen.

An Italian Red Cross' agent wearing protective suit and mask attends migrants rescued in the Mediterranean as they disembark from the Sea Watch NGO's ship on February 27, 2020 in the port of Messina, Sicily. Picture: Giovanni Isolino/AFP via GettyAn Italian Red Cross' agent wearing protective suit and mask attends migrants rescued in the Mediterranean as they disembark from the Sea Watch NGO's ship on February 27, 2020 in the port of Messina, Sicily. Picture: Giovanni Isolino/AFP via Getty
An Italian Red Cross' agent wearing protective suit and mask attends migrants rescued in the Mediterranean as they disembark from the Sea Watch NGO's ship on February 27, 2020 in the port of Messina, Sicily. Picture: Giovanni Isolino/AFP via Getty
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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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Scammers 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.