Public warned about contact tracing scammers

The First Minister of Wales has warned the public to be wary of scammers posing as coronavirus contact tracers.

The warning came as the Welsh Government launched its coronavirus contact tracing system on Monday, June 1.

Speaking at the Welsh Government’s daily press briefing, Mark Drakeford warned that callers asking for bank account details would not be from the Welsh Government.

Mr Drakeford said: “That will not be someone coming from the Welsh Government service.

“Sadly even in these really difficult times there are people who will try to take advantage of others.”

The latest warning follows a number of incidents during the coronavirus lockdown, where elderly and vulnerable people have been targeted.

Last month Caerphilly Observer reported that a number of people in Caerphilly had recieved scam phonecalls promising masks, gloves and hand sanitizer.

The new tracing system that begins in Wales today will see anyone who tests positive for coronavirus contacted by one of the Welsh Government’s team of contact tracers.

They will then be asked for the details of all the people they have had contact with while they have had symptoms.

The system will be supported by a digital version that will allow people to provide these details electronically from Monday, June 8.

A UK-wide app is expected to follow later in June.

Mr Drakeford explained that the Welsh Government regards ‘close contact’ as “someone you have been within one metre of and had a face-to-face-conversation, had skin-to-skin contact with or have coughed on, or been in other forms of contact with for a minute or longer.

“[It also includes] someone you have been within two metres of for more than 15 minutes or someone you have travelled in a vehicle with or sat near on public transport”.