POLICE are warning Dorset residents to be on the lookout for fraudsters taking advantage amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Dorchester Police alerted residents to one incident in which scammers sent a text message claiming to be the from HMRC, offering a 'goodwill payment' as a result of the outbreak.

"This is a scam - if you see it, do not click the link," a spokesman for the force said.

Be wary of any emails that offer information about the virus. Some are generic, targeting a wide range of people, and others are aimed specifically at organisations that form part of the health sector, or critical national infrastructure.

For more information see Dorset Police's website: www.dorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/scams-fraud-cyber/cyber-crime/