Residents and businesses are being warned of scammers trying to sell fake healthcare products online.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) says con artists are using bogus websites to sell fake or sub-standard items like face masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to try and profit from people's fears over COVID-19.
Chair of the OFT, Martyn Perkins MHK, says 'criminals have turned the fight against coronavirus into an opportunity, so we must remain vigilant'.
As a result, officials are asking residents to keep an eye out for key warning signs which could show a particular site isn't genuine.
They include bad spelling or fuzzy images; ‘cut and pasted’ text which may relate to another business or site; no traceable landline phone number and those using platforms like WhatsApp where messages and calls can't be tracked.
