Coronavirus: Warning over rise of fraud scams exploiting outbreak as UK losses near £1m

Coronavirus scams have caused losses of almost £1m as fraudsters use the global pandemic to target members of the public.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau said reports related to the outbreak have rocketed 400 per cent in recent weeks.

The 105 cases recorded in little over a month have caused losses totalling £970,000.

Officials said the first coronavirus-related scam was reported on 9 February and there were 20 more reports that month.

But in the first two weeks of March the number rose to 46, and there were 38 more between 14 and 18 March alone.

Read more

The dirty truth about washing your hands

What is the difference between Covid-19 and the common cold and flu?

Can face masks really protect you against coronavirus or flu?

The UK government's four stages of fighting coronavirus explained

What are symptoms of coronavirus – and where has it spread?

Thieves offering to shop for the elderly and then stealing from them

Burglars ‘posing as NHS workers carrying out coronavirus testing’

UK police to start ‘graduated withdrawal of service’ over coronavirus