PCC highlights simple steps designed to stop track and trace scammers

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has urged residents to take simple steps to avoid falling victim to track and trace scammers.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council were selected as beacon authorities to implement local plans after receiving a share of a £300m investment to help establish local outbreak plans which will include local coordination and management of infection control and of local testing and tracing arrangements.

In addition, the national NHS Test and Trace service went live last Thursday.

Commissioner Alison Hernandez urged residents to be mindful that criminals might try to exploit the situation.

“In Devon and Cornwall we are fortunate that we have so far had among the lowest infection rates and by working hard together we can ensure this remains the case,” she said.

“Unfortunately there are some unscrupulous people who try to exploit situations such as this so I am asking residents of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to take a few simple precautions to ensure they do not fall victim to scams.”

The Devon and Cornwall Police’s Cyber Protect Unit has issued the following advice:

Contact tracers will NEVER:

Ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting in 09 or 087)

Ask you to make any form of payment

Ask for any details about your bank account

Ask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contacts

Ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phone

Ask you to purchase a product

Ask you to download any software to your device or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet

Ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS

The ONLY website the service will ask you to visit is: https//contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk