Watch out for this new 'Covid air purifier' business scam say Hartlepool trading standards chiefs

Hartlepool Borough Council’s trading standards team has issued the alert after receiving information showing that certain businesses are being targeted and have been sent fraudulent letters.

They falsely claim to be from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Covid Safe Task Force and include a residential address based in London.

It alleges that from May 3, 2021, the law is changing and businesses are required to have Covid-safe air purifiers in operation.

Trading standards bosses stress this is completely false.

The letter warns the recipient that failure to comply with the legislation could result in a fine of up to £5,000 and includes an order form to to buy an “8-stage air purification system” at a discounted rate.

Officials say similar fake emails or text alerts are a possibility.

Hartlepool Borough Council states: “Hartlepool Borough Council's Trading Standards Team urge recipients of correspondence such as this requesting payments or personal information to contact their local authorities for clarification and recommend that trade associations warn their members of this fraud.”

Businesses seeking guidance regarding Covid-19 can visit www.gov.uk or contact Hartlepool Borough Council.

Earlier this month Hartlepool’s Trading Standards team warned people to be on their guard against several types of Covid elated scams.

They include opportunists knocking on vulnerable residents’ doors, posing as officials from different organisations and attempting to sell fake testing testing kits.

Any business that receives a scam contact can report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 1232040.

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