Nottinghamshire Police have launched a new Covid Fraud hotline after a rise in criminals using scams to fleece people out of their money.
Around 150 new schemes have been launched which fraudsters are jumping on the back of in order to gain residents financial details.
These include falsely representing health organisations such as the NHS, World Health Organisation, or people pretending to offer tests or cures for Covid 19.
There are also fraudsters selling hand sanitiser and face masks and other in demand products but once an order is completed the products never arrive.
Some fraudsters are posing as government officials on behalf of HMRC or pretending to be from a charity raising money for the fight against Covid.
Scammers are also posing as banks or debt collectors and asking for payment immediately.
The new hotline to tackle those making residents lives a misery is open every day for 24 hours and was launched this week.
It will enable the public to anonymously report fraud against "the 150 more schemes" which have been launched to support the individuals, communities and businesses in the Covid pandemic.
Every report to the line will all be reviewed to help the government better find and stop fraud.
Where possible the government will take action through disrupting fraud, looking to get money back and, in some cases, prosecuting.
The information from the hotline will also help the government to improve safeguards to stop fraud in the future.
Detective Inspector Ed Cook said: "Covid scams have naturally been taking advantage of people whilst the country is at its most vulnerable.
"Whilst we still encourage all reports of cyber crime and fraud to Action Fraud, this is a great additional reporting tool to help directly respond to these fast moving trends as efficiently as possible to help further protect against them."
The new Covid Fraud hotline will provide an anonymous hotline (0800 587 5030) and online reporting service at covidfraudhotline.org
