Covid-19 concerns are being exploited of in Berkshire, agencies warned.

Scams taking advantage of the pandemic have been detected in the county by Thames Valley Police and the Public Protection Partnership.

The PPE warned yesterday (Wednesday) that residents are receiving fake messages offering Omicron-specific PCR tests.

Messages encourage people to order a specific PCR test for Omicron using a non-official website.

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No separate website address or phone number for Omicron PCR testing exists. If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been asked to carry out a PCR test by an official body like NHS Test and Trace, you should apply for a test on GOV.UK or by calling 119.

Police also noticed illegitimate emails purporting to be from the NHS offering residents a tax rebate.

The email reads: “As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, has [sic] been taken urgent steps to list Coronavirus as a notifiable disease in law.

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“As a precautionary measure against COVID-19 in cooperation with National Insurance, the government established new tax refund programme [sic] for dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in it's action plan.

“You are eligible to get a tax refund (rebate) of 850.34 GBP.”

The offer is followed by a link, which police warned residents should not click.