Scammers are already on the prowl purporting to be from the forthcoming Track & Trace system, and trying to part people from their money or personal data.

In some cases they are calling people saying that they’ve been in contact with someone with COVID-19 symptoms, and need to pay a large amount of money for a test by giving their credit card details over the phone.

Having seen a number of messages on social media describing these attempts, I’ve alerted the County Council’s community protection manager.

A message will be going out to Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Against Scams Partnership (CAPASP), supporters, No Cold Calling Zone coordinators, and on social media to warn about this and with advice to avoid becoming a victim.

Remember:

• The genuine Track & Trace is free of charge.
• Look out for these coronavirus scams (from Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert web site).

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries raised eyebrows a few days ago when she claimed that it would be obvious that calls would be from the official Track & Trace operation because they would sound ‘professional’.

Scammers are professionals too, and very skilled at what they do.