Residents urged to stay vigilant during lockdown

There have been a variety of reports since lockdown measures were introduced of people claiming to represent different agencies, offering false advice and seeking to gain from vulnerable members of the public.

To protect people from falling foul of unscrupulous individuals, guidance is being issued to help residents stay alert to the potential pitfalls of scammers.

You may be being scammed if:

• You’ve been asked to transfer or hand over money quickly
• You are asked for personal details such as passwords
• You are not shown proof of identification
• You receive a call or text from an unusual number
• You are rushed into a decision

 Cllr Nick Kemp, Newcastle City Council cabinet member for Environment and Regulatory Services, said: “Unfortunately at times of crisis such as these there are individuals who look to exploit others and capitalise on their unease and stress at what is an incredibly difficult time for everybody.

“Criminals will call, text, write to people and visit you in your home in the hope of fleecing you out of your own money. It is vitally important that we spread the message of how to spot the signs of this illegal activity and what to do to report it.

“The vast majority of people in our city are showing an incredible community spirit to get Newcastle through this outbreak, but we need to help each other to stop criminals capitalising on the uncertainty of these unprecedented times.”

Tina Drury, YHN Managing Director, said: "We’ve seen an incredible response from the community, with many people volunteering their time to help vulnerable neighbours, so it is very disappointing to hear that some individuals are using the current situation to try to take advantage of others.

"Our teams are working closely with partners across the city to respond to any reports and offer support to our customers. We’d encourage all residents to ask for ID from any visitors and encourage anyone who feel they may have been targeted to get in touch with ourselves or Northumbria Police as soon as possible."

Chief Inspector Alan Pitchford said: “In recent weeks we have seen some extraordinary examples of individuals going above and beyond to support vulnerable people.

“In the North East we are famed for that community spirit and it is something that we have always been incredibly proud to be a part of.

“But I am also acutely aware that while times like these bring out the best of us, unfortunately there will those who look to exploit the vulnerability of others for their own selfish gains.

“We will continue to do our best to protect those who may be targeted in this way, but we can all play a part in doing so.

“Please take care of one another, speak to your family, friends and neighbours and offer support where it is needed.

“We would encourage you to report any suspicious behaviour by visiting our website or by calling 101 if you don’t have access to the internet.”

For more information and guidance on spotting scams, and how to report them, click here. If you are concerned about a potential scam, call 101 or report it on the Northumbria Police website.

To keep up to date with wider developments across Newcastle during the coronavirus outbreak, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/coronavirus