Stay alert to contact tracing scams

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, is backing the Welsh Government’s warning to residents to be aware of fraudsters claiming to be official contact tracers to steal money and personal data.

He said: “Sadly, fradusters have taken advantage of the current pandemic with a range of scams related to the Coronavirus.

“Official contact tracers will never ask for money, financial information, bank details, pin numbers or passwords. Please stay alert, follow the Welsh Government’s advice and, if you are contacted and have any concerns, let the police know.”

The Welsh Government states that a contact tracer will never:

• ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to them (for example, those starting 09 or 087)
• ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product or any kind
• 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
• disclose any of your personal or medical information to your contacts
• provide medical advice on the treatment of any potential COVID-19 symptoms
• ask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else
• ask you to access any website that does not belong to the Government or NHS

For more details visit the Welsh Government website.