Lancashire police boss calls coronavirus scams 'disgusting' as fraud increases 400%

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner has called on the county to be extra vigilant as criminals target vulnerable people and businesses through scams which attempt to take advantage of the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Warning people against fraudsters targeting the vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic, Clive Grunshaw has pointed to the fact that in Lancashire Trading Standards have highlighted the increased risk of fraud during this difficult period while, on a national level, Action Fraud reported a 400% increase in Coronavirus-related fraud reports in March alone.

Such fraud includes phishing emails which encourage donations to bogus organisations, subscriptions and links to pages that steal their information, and fake tax refunds or demands for payments of a fine. Businesses are also being specifically targeted and can be increasingly susceptible due to workforces operating remotely.