Bexley Crime stats ward summary Oct 2026

 

Source: Bexley Watch Viz

Warning: Sophisticated Police Impersonation & Crypto Scam Targeting Local Residents

We want to bring an urgent scam warning to the attention of our local community. A resident in our neighbourhood watch recently reported a highly sophisticated fraud call that almost sounded believable.

Fortunately, the resident spotted the warning signs, challenged the caller, hung up, and reported the incident. However, because the caller had specific personal details, it serves as a strong reminder of how convincing these criminals can be.

Here is how the scam works, the warning signs to watch out for, and what to do if you receive a similar call.

How the Scam Worked

The resident received a cold call from someone claiming to be an officer with the Metropolitan Police Cyber Security Team.

1. They had real details: The scammer called the resident by their full name, making the call feel legitimate from the start.

2. They created extreme panic: The scammer claimed police had just apprehended a suspect at Heathrow Airport carrying hundreds of cloned devices containing the resident's personal government IDs, bank details, and crypto accounts (specifically mentioning exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase).

3. They used fake authority: The caller offered a fake, short crime reference number and invented fictitious locations (such as "Chedoheath station") to sound official.

4. The trap: The scammer asked if the resident held a "24-word recovery seed phrase" or crypto login details.

When the resident stated they didn't hold any cryptocurrency, the scammer was caught off guard, began giving contradictory information, and eventually hung up.

Key Red Flags to Spot

• Urgency & Panic: Scammers use high-stress scenarios (like an arrest at an airport or imminent financial loss) to make you react emotionally before thinking logically.

• Asking for Security Credentials: Real police will never ask for your passwords, PINs, 24-word crypto recovery seed phrases, or online banking details.

• Vague Identity: The caller avoided giving a real name or verifiable collar number and provided an invalid crime reference number.

• Requests to Transfer Funds: Law enforcement will never ask you to transfer money or cryptocurrency to a "safe account" or "police wallet" for safekeeping.

What to Do If You Get a Similar Call

1. Hang Up Immediately: Do not feel obliged to be polite or engage in debate.

2. Take a 5-Minute Pause: Scammers can sometimes keep landlines open even after you hang up. Wait at least 5 minutes, or use a completely different phone or mobile line.

3. Verify Independently: If you want to check if a call from the police was genuine, call the non-emergency police number on 101.

4. Never Disclose Recovery Keys or Passwords: No legitimate organization or officer will ever ask for your private crypto seed phrases or banking passwords.

How to Report It

Sharing these attempts helps police build intelligence and protects vulnerable neighbours.

• Report to Report Fraud (Action Fraud): If you've been targeted by a scam call or fraud in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, report it online at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. (In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101).

• Report Nuisance Calls / Mobile Spam: You can report suspicious calls or text messages on your mobile by forwarding the details to 7726 (free of charge on all UK networks).

• Check If Your Data Was Leaked: Scammers often get your name and phone number from past data breaches. You can check if your email address or phone number has been exposed by visiting haveibeenpwned.com.

Please share this warning with neighbours, friends, and family—especially anyone who might be vulnerable to phone scams.

7 phone scam tactics to avoid

Nuisance ‘robocalls’ have surged to a five-year high and fraudsters continue to bombard households with fake bank alerts, bogus delivery messages and dodgy sales pitches.

Some unwanted calls are just annoying, but others could cost you thousands, with scammers coaxing people into engaging with their schemes. We've uncovered seven tactics fraudsters are using and explained how to avoid them. 

Source: Which? (05 Nov 2026)

A nasty WhatsApp takeover scam

Scammers are attempting to take control of people's WhatsApp accounts by luring you into following a dodgy link. It starts with an innocent-looking WhatsApp message from one of your contacts, asking you to vote in a fake competition.

If you click the link to vote, you're then asked to provide your mobile number and to enter a code you're sent. Doing this will link your WhatsApp account to the scammers' computer, and they'll be able to spread their scams to your contacts. 

Source: Which? (03 Nov 2026)

Watch out for scam delivery texts

In the lead-up to Black Friday and Christmas, watch out for scam text messages claiming to be from couriers. The messages may tell you there's an issue with your delivery and instruct you to follow a fake tracking link.

Scammers are getting more cunning at making messages look like the real thing, so follow our tips on how to spot them and what to do if you're targeted.

Source: Which? (03 Nov 2026)

Danson Park Fireworks 2026: Essential Info, Timings, and Road Closures 🎆

The annual Danson Park Fireworks display returns this weekend on Saturday 7 November 2026. While it promises to be a spectacular evening for those attending, local residents and park users should prepare for significant local disruption, parking restrictions, and staggered park closures.

Cllr Dave Curtois (Falconwood & Welling Ward) has shared the key arrangements local residents need to be aware of:

🕒 Event Timings

• 4:00 PM – Gates open (Parkrun will go ahead as normal on Saturday morning).

• 5:15 PM – Stage entertainment begins.

• 8:00 PM – The 20-minute main fireworks display.

• 9:00 PM – Event closes.

🌳 Park Closures

If you regularly use Danson Park, note that closures will take effect early on Saturday:

• 11:00 AM – The south side of the park closes.

• 12:00 PM (Midday) – The remainder of the park closes.

• Note: Event equipment has been arriving throughout the week from Wednesday 4 November.

🚗 Parking Restrictions & Travel Warning

Temporary parking restrictions will be in force across surrounding roads. Local concerns have been raised regarding the short notice of the warning signs, so residents are urged to check public notices carefully to avoid parking fines or vehicle removal—especially if vehicles are left parked while away.

• No Event Parking: There is no parking available within the park or surrounding streets.

• Public Transport / Walking: Visitors are strongly advised to walk or use public transport.

• Disabled Parking: Limited disabled parking spaces must be pre-booked.

🔒 Security and Entry

• Bag searches will be in operation at the gates, which may lead to minor entry queues.

• Prohibited Items: Alcohol, sparklers, and personal fireworks are strictly banned and will be confiscated at security.

For more information, tickets, and full event guidelines, visit the official Danson Fireworks website.

Source: Nextdoor

Spotting Fake Booking Websites: What to Look Out For Before Booking Coach Trips & Local Tours

With community travel groups and coach excursions being so popular across the UK, fraudsters are increasingly targeting holidaymakers with convincing lookalike pages and counterfeit booking sites.

Recently, a suspicious site operating under the name "Emma's Explorers" (emmasgr8explore.netlify.app / linked via Facebook) came to light. While Facebook has been notified, the page and site may still be active.

To help protect our local community, here is a quick breakdown of the key red flags to look for before paying for any trip online.

Key Red Flags to Watch For

1. Free Developer Hosting Instead of a Custom Domain Legitimate travel agencies and tour operators use secure, professional domain names ending in .co.uk or .com. Be extremely cautious if a booking page uses a free web-builder or developer subdomain like .netlify.app, .wixsite.com, or .weebly.com.

2. Generic Email Addresses Established travel companies typically use email addresses tied to their registered business domain (e.g., info@companyname.co.uk). Relying strictly on a free Gmail or Hotmail address is a major warning sign.

3. Unverifiable ABTA / ATOL Numbers Scam sites often display fake or stolen ABTA or ATOL protection numbers to build trust. You should always verify any listed membership number directly on the official ABTA Registry or the CAA ATOL Database.

4. Unusual Payment Methods Be wary of any seller asking for payment via direct bank transfer, "Friends & Family" PayPal, or gift cards rather than a standard, secure card checkout. Bank transfers offer minimal buyer protection if the seller vanishes.

What to Do If You Spot a Suspicious Booking Site

• Report it to the NCSC: You can report suspicious web links directly to the UK National Cyber Security Centre via their Report a Scam Website tool.

• Report to Action Fraud: If you have lost money to a fake listing, report it to https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040 (or Police Scotland via 101).

• Report Social Media Listings: Report suspicious posts or pages directly within Facebook (Report Page/Post > Fake Page or Scam).

Please share this post with friends or family members who regularly book local trips or coach excursions online!