Edinburgh residents warned by council about Covid-19 'contact tracing' text scam

Edinburgh residents are being warned about hoax text messages being sent which say you may have been in contact with someone showing Covid-19 symptoms.

The scam has emerged in a week when contact tracing technology started being piloted in the NHS Fife, Highland and Lanarkshire health board areas - but the software will not be rolled out to the rest of Scotland until the end of May.

Edinburgh City Council's official twitter account tweeted a message this afternoon which read: "If you've received a text message advising you've been in contact with someone showing symptoms of coronavirus, this is a scam, please don't click on the link, it's an attempt to gain your identity and bank details."

Edinburgh City Council has issued a warning over the hoax text messages about Covid-19 symptoms.

The council has previously advised that people need to be alert more than ever to scams, which have increased worldwide as cybercriminals seek to profit from the pandemic.

Residents are advised not to click on links or open attachments in emails and text messages unless it is certain they come from a legitimate source.

The local authority has also urged people not to let anyone into their homes without verifying their identity and checking they have official documentation or ID.

The council also urges people not to give out personal or financial information over the phone, and to only purchase goods online from trusted and legitimate retailers and, if you have one, to use a credit card which offers greater insurance.