Herts police have issued a warning as a number of Covid related scams are being attempted in and around Hitchin.

Using the Coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity, fraudsters are using sophisticated methods to callously exploit people, with many concerned about their financial situation and the state of the economy.

Some scams manipulate innocent victims, urging people to invest and "take advantage of the financial downturn".

Others impersonate well-known subscription services to get people to part with their cash and personal information.

Criminals are even posing as representatives from the NHS Test and Trace service in an effort to trick people into giving away their personal details.

Here are the top five scams to be aware of, as directed by Herts police

1) Covid vaccine scam emails

People are contacted by fraudsters via email offerring vaccines for a fee.

Please note: Only the NHS can provide vaccines and will NEVER ask for a fee

2) Covid vaccine scam texts received

Police are warning about scammers faking Covid vaccine messages. Victims receive text messages asking them to pay a fee.

Please note: NHS will only contact eligible people and NEVER ask for a fee

3) Avoiding Test and Trace scams

Police warning over fraudsters impersonating Test and Tracers. One of the most shocking scams that has appeared during the pandemic has involved using the NHS Test and Trace service. Criminals are preying on an anxious public by sending phishing emails and links claiming that the recipient has been in contact with someone diagnosed with Covid. These lead to fake websites that are used to steal personal and financial information or infect devices with malware.

Please note: NHS Test and Tracers will never ask for passwords or payments