Potential victims will receive texts purporting to be from the Government saying they're entitled to claim a Covid-19 grant of £277.57.
They're then directed to a link which will take them to a fake Government website where the scammers are able to harvest their personal and financial details.
Middlesbrough Council's Trading Standards team have this week urged people to be wary of any such approaches, and be on the look-out for giveaways such as the use of ‘www.govuk.com' - the official Government website is just ‘www.gov.uk'.
The telephone number used is also one associated with other frauds.
The scam text reads:
GOV.UK Due to the new lockdown circumstances you are available for a Covid-19 grant of £277.57. To claim follow via: Https;//grant-registration-claim-govuk.com
Councillor Dorothy Davison, Middlesbrough Council's Executive member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: "We know sadly that there are no depths to which these unscrupulous people won't go to defraud decent hard-working people.
"Yet again they're trying to take advantage of people's uncertainty over the support available to try to con them.
"The Council will ensure that people have up to date information on the latest scams so that they have the necessary knowledge to prevent them falling prey to the fraudsters and losing their money."
Judith Hedgley, Head of Middlesbrough Council's Public Protection Service, said: "This shows the importance of always reading the small print and making sure that any text is from an official site and not a con artist.
"The Trading Standards team will continue to work with other enforcement agencies to identify and tackle these scams."
Middlesbrough Council's Trading Standards Facebook page can be found here - www.facebook.com/middlesbrough-trading-standards-545461258846279
- Anyone who has been a victim of a scam should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline, who take all initial calls for Trading Standards on a national basis ,on telephone 0808 223 1133 or emailhttps://citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer.
They will advise you of your rights and notify the relevant Trading Standards team. Scams can also be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk
Regular updates on all the latest scams can also be viewed on the Middlesbrough Trading Standards Facebook page.
- For the latest local updates and information, visitmiddlesbrough.gov.uk/covid19
For information on local help and support, visit www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/helpboro
For advice for clinically extremely vulnerable residents call Middlesbrough Council's support line on 01642 729777
The latest advice from Government and Public Health England can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
