Scammers have begun texting residents with bogus fines for breaking lockdown during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Surrey Police has warned residents to be on guard for the scam which sees them receive a text message saying a penalty notice has been issued as they have exceeded a one mile curfew.

Officers said that spoofing technology has been used to make it appear that messages are from the same number as the initial government text regarding the lockdown, but stressed that only the first message is authentic.