Sick cyber fraudsters are preying on coronavirus fears to try and scam terrified Brits

SICK fraudsters are creating thousands of new scams every day to try and cash in on the Covid-19 pandemic, a Sun Online investigation can reveal.

We have discovered how more than 16,000 internet-domain names related to coronavirus have been set up with the intention of conning unsuspecting members of the public.

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Internet-security expert Neil Doyle warned: “It’s like the wild-west out there and it only shows signs of getting worse and worse. People need to be on their guard.”

Researchers at web-security firm Check Point Research are so concerned by the problem that they are now officially tracking an explosion in pandemic-linked cons.

They say new sites are being set up at the rate of 6,000 A WEEK.

The criminals usually choose domains names that include phrases like “corona” and “covid” in frauds called phishing.

Those behind the crimes send out emails containing poisoned links which install software on a victim’s computer if clicked on.

This then gives criminals the opportunity to hack into a person’s data.

Some scams include the sending of emails which appear to be from official organisations to trick people into revealing login details and banking information.

The Sun Online revealed how one phishing scam saw crooks send e-mails claiming to be from the Government offering recipients tax refunds to cope with the coronavirus crisis.

Several fake "diagnosis" scams and hoaxes are doing the rounds online. Instagram has already banned rogue coronavirus filters that claim to "diagnose" your condition.

Fraudsters have also impersonated the World Health Organisation and urges victims to open a document that supposedly contains information about how to stay safe.

Criminals have also been promoting websites that display dashboards showing the spread of Covid-19 around the world which when download malware on to victims' machines.

They install a notorious so-called Trojan horse program called AZORult which can steal IDs, passwords, banking information, browsing histories and cryptocurrency keys.

Hackers are also using markets on the dark web to sell manuals for committing Covid-19-realted fraud, including get-rich-quick schemes related to foreign currency trading.

On Thursday, a food bank in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, was forced to close after thieves raided a storage container for donations including sanitary products and toilet rolls.

There have also been reports of NHS workers being targeted for their ID-badges by muggers. They then use them to jump the queues at supermarkets.

It has prompted many hospitals to issue new guidance to their staff warning them to be careful - especially when leaving at night.