PEOPLE in Inverclyde are being bombarded with COVID-19-related cons by criminals.
Officers from the trading standards team say they have been dealing with a variety of reports of both cyber and doorstep scams in recent weeks.
Online scams have included quizzes that ask for personal information which can then be used to commit financial fraud or identity theft.
Fake emails, texts and calls claiming to be from HMRC, the NHS and the World Health Organisation have also been received by local people.
Others have been plagued by fake supermarket vouchers and pop-up adverts that appear while people are shopping online, apparently offering discount codes.
There have also been reports of companies offering to ‘cleanse’ properties of COVID-19 and of fraudsters cold calling households and posing as NHS or Red Cross staff.
Residents are reminded to be on their guard.
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