HOAX callers pretending to be ’Track and Trace’ officals have targeted a hairdressers in Cornwall.
A warning has been put out by Cornwall Council after a salon in Par received a call from someone claiming that a positive case of Covid-19 had been identified in a client who had visited the premises. The caller asked the owner to close the business.
The latest warning follows a spate of bogus food safety inspections in the Newquay area.
Cornwall Council says that its Environmental Health and Food Safety department as well as any other Council officials will always provide contacts so that owners and staff can verify callers.
If you’re not sure, call 0300 1234212 or email [email protected] to check.
Rob Nolan, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: ’It is a shame that any business has to contend with hoaxes and confidence tricksters at this difficult time, when everyone is rightly focused on health and economic recovery.
’In order to safeguard themselves, business owners should advise their staff to take full contact details from anyone claiming to be giving official instructions. Then either report or check the visit or phone call. Our Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will either confirm and reassure quickly. Or pass the information to Police to investigate if it looks like a hoax.’
’Whatever the motives of these con artists, we must act promptly to make sure their activity is spotted and reported,’ he continued.
’Using this time of heightened anxiety to worry businesses unnecessarily is contemptible. They mustn’t be allowed to get away with it.’