Coronavirus: Government shares scams and false stories trying to benefit from Covid-19 outbreak

Downing Street launches a 'Rapid Response Unit' and promises to crack down on misinformation

Charlie McDonald, 59, suffering from the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), works on his computer in Naples, Florida (ZAK BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images)

The government has shared a host of scams that attempted to seize on fears around coronavirus, alongside a commitment to crack down on such misinformation.

Ministers say they have launched a "Rapid Response Unit" aimed at stopping such false stories before they are circulated, and that it will encourage people to be critical about the things they share.

The government is already identifying some 70 incidents a week, it said, and working to have them taken down.

Among the examples shared were fake text messages claiming to be from the government, a scam that claimed to be from tax authorities, false medical advice and misleading messages about the government lockdown.

It says that the "Rapid Response Unit" or RRU is working with social media sites to have those posts taken down and combat future similar misinformation.

One of the images showed a doctored image that appeared to be from the official government website, suggesting that the country would enter lockdown on 20 March, before the official announcement. It suggested that people who left their property for "no urgent reason" could be subject to criminal charges.

The government claimed to have had those posts taken offline.

The RRU identified a doctored image of official guidance from GOV.UK stating that the country would enter lockdown on Friday 20 March, with criminal charges to be held against anyone who leaves their property ‘for no urgent reason’.

RRU made communication service providers aware. The communication service providers then removed the doctored GOV.UK screenshots from their platforms.

Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary, said that such misinformation could cost lives.

"We need people to follow expert medical advice and stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives," he said. "It is vital that this message hits home and that misinformation and disinformation which undermines it is knocked down quickly.

"We’re working with social media companies, and I'll be pressing them this week for further action to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumours which could cost lives.