Been called by a covid contact-tracer?

It could be a scam

If you're called by a coronavirus contact-tracer and told to self-isolate, members of the government says it's your civic duty to obey. Now Devon and Cornwall's police and crime commissioner has warned that the new scheme has given rise to crooks eager to exploit the crisis. 

Alison Hernandez wants people to think twice before handing over personal information or calling supposed contact-tracers back. it could be a premium number designed to steal money, not a genuine call.

Devon County Council and Torbay Council recently received a share of a £300 million to help establish local outbreak plans including local coordination and management of infection control and of local testing and tracing arrangements. That's in addition to the national NHS test and trace service.

Ms Hernandez urged residents to be mindful that criminals might try to exploit the situation. She says: “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 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.