Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett has warned local residents to be vigilant in the face of increased cyber and doorstep scams by fraudsters during lockdown.
The Lib Dem leader has urged people to look out for scams including cold callers offering cleaning products, test kits and medical products, as well as fake emails and phone calls.
Trading Standards Scotland has produced a range of advice and guidance to prevent members of the public and businesses becoming victims of scams.
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Cllr Barrett said: “COVID-19 scams include cold calling by crooks offering to cleanse properties of the virus and sales of fake testing kits and medical products to prevent or cure the disease.
“Often the callers will claim to be from the NHS or Red Cross.
“Fraudulent attempts to gain personal and private information is attempted through variety of approaches by text, fake emails and pop-up adverts online.
“As people spend more time and money online scammers are using pop-up adverts and offers and quizzes to try to solicit personal information which could then be used to commit identity theft or other fraud.
“People should only get their information from official sources, be vigilant and sceptical of unsolicited emails, texts and calls.
“If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Don’t be afraid to put the phone down on someone cold calling you.
“Perth and Kinross Council Trading Standards officers and Trading Standards Scotland are there to help and advise.”
Trading Standards Scotland advice can be found at www.tscot.co.uk or from Perth and Kinross at www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus/tradingstandards
