An Oakham resident, Jack Martins, has turned to local Facebook groups to warn people about a new Covid based scam.

Mobile phone users in Oakham and the UK more widely have been receiving scam texts informing them that they have been in contact with someone who is Covid positive.

The information in the text then leads the victims to a website where you are asked to put in your bank details to pay for an overpriced PCR or Covid test.

Scam text messages asking people to buy expensive test kits uneccesarily.

The local man calling out these scammers, Jack Martin, said: "The wife and I have received texts from a UK mobile number saying we have been in contact with someone who has covid and to log on to a fake website where they want our card details for an expensive pcr test."

He has warned people about these texts, urging them to "ignore" the messages.

As well as risking financial security, these scam texts could potentially force victims to take unnecessary time off of work.

If you think you may have Covid, take a test. Alternatively, download the NHS app to alert you when you have been in close contact with someone who has Covid.