Irish people are being warned not to click on a link at the end of a scam coronavirus text message that is targeting scared, vulnerable and elderly people.
The text, which comes from a sender pretending to be the HSE, tells people that someone they have been in close contact with has either contracted the killer COVID-19 virus or is showing vital symptoms.
At the end of the message, they ask the reader to self-isolate and get tested before prompting them to click on the link 'COVID-19anon/alert'.
Anyone who receives the text is being asked not to follow the link, to delete the text immediately and to also alert family and friends about it especially the elderly.
They are also being reminded that this is not how the HSE would contact you if you were a close contract.
In a separate scam, fraudsters are ringing up people who have applied for the new special welfare payment after being let go because of COVID-19.
They’re posing as officials from the bank and are asking for financial details to process payments.
The Assistant Secretary at the Department of an Taoiseach, Elizabeth Canavan, wants the public to know that this is a total scam and that neither the banks nor the department will ever ring up looking for details.
Also, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission issued a warning to consumers about a dodgy website selling hand sanitiser after having concerns "around the information being provided to customers on the website".
The website is called 'whatadeal' and is currently being closely monitored by the CCPC for potentially "misleading practices".
A CCPC spokesman said: "While the vast majority of businesses act in good faith, in the current circumstances the CCPC has become concerned that a small minority of traders may engage in commercial practices which are damaging to consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers.
"The CCPC is actively monitoring websites to check compliance with consumer protection law, including commercial practices which are misleading, or businesses who are failing to provide consumers with their rights under the Consumer Rights Directive.
"Where we identify issues, we will take appropriate action to protect consumers. This warning is part of our ongoing activity in this area."
