Coronavirus app scam warning ahead of national roll-out
Published on:
14 May 2020
The smartphone app is now ready to be trialed on the Isle of Wight and is expected to be rolled out nationwide.
However, fraudsters have developed a scam based on the app, officials have warned.
People across Britain have received scam texts, apparently generated by the app and links through to a bogus website that asks for personal details.
The scam text reads: "Someone who came in contact with you tested positive or has shown symptoms for Covid-19 & recommends you self-isolate/get tested."
The app has been downloaded more than 55,000 times since it was launched in the Isle of Wight and since this surge, Action Fraud, estimated that Coronavirus fraudsters have conned around £2 million from victims.