By Ashley Hart

THE coronavirus has changed our lives beyond recognition.

In most cases it is bringing out the best in people; many of us take to our doorsteps once a week to clap in support of brave NHS staff, and many are supporting vulnerable people in their community.

Sadly it also brings out the worst. Fraudsters are preying on the changes created by the lockdown to increase scam calls and messages.

These criminals are often using remote access scams, where they pretend to be your broadband provider claiming to have identified a fault with your connection – and offering a fix and compensation. With more people working at home (and a lot of streaming going on) the internet is generally running a little slower – so the scam seems more convincing than usual.

The fraudster will ask for remote access to your PC and will show you a faked “fix” – usually a speed checker result. Before you know it you’ll be asked to log into your online banking to check if compensation has been received and then asked to read back the code sent by your bank to your mobile phone. You’ll be told that it’s to verify your identity, but the fraudster is actually setting up a new payment. And by the time you have control of your screen again, the fraudster has drained money from your account to theirs.

Another virus-related scam is a text that appears to be from your GP, asking you to call urgently about a coronavirus test. This scam is typical of the ways criminals take advantage of our concerns, and calling the number connects you to a criminal – rather than your GP – who will try to trick you out of personal information or payment details.

Purchase scams are on the rise too, with people paying for virus testing kits, hand sanitiser or other household goods via bogus websites – none of which will ever arrive.

There are simple but highly effective steps people can take to avoid falling prey to fraudsters. Always be suspicious of text messages. Never dial a number or click a link in a message, instead, track down the correct number via the official website. If you receive a call out of the blue, be suspicious. Don’t take the caller’s word for it, hang up and call the organisation back on a trusted number.

And if you’re buying goods online, play it safe and stay on trusted, reputable websites.

Anybody can be caught out by these scams, which have become increasingly sophisticated. If you’re always on your guard, and always stop to think about what you’re being asked to do, you stand the best chance of staying safe.

As the scams have become much harder to spot, we believe it’s unfair to leave innocent customers out of pocket. That’s why, a year ago, TSB became the first bank to guarantee that all our customers would receive their money back should they ever become an innocent victim of fraud – and since then we’ve helped tens of thousands of customers ranging from a 16-year-old to a 93-year-old victim to get their lives back on track again.

Our fraud teams are working around the clock to combat fraudsters, but as the lockdown continues, please stay vigilant and look out for those who are most at risk. By working together we will keep more people safe.

Ashley Hart is Head of Fraud, TSB