WELCOME TO the official blog of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association (BBNWA), Bexleyheath Police Station, 2 Arnsberg Way, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4QS. Mobile Tel: 07496 385471 bexleynw@outlook.com Charity No: 1072368
Messages promoting a sham service called 'WhatsApp Gold' are recirculating. This scam claims to offer special features to users that can be unlocked by clicking a link – instead the link leads to malware being downloaded onto your device.
To help you stay protected, our experts have rounded up the most common scams you're likely to come across on WhatsApp, plus their tips on how to spot and report them.
Source: Which? (10 Feb 2026)
Fraudulent apps have been found on Apple's App store, using a legitimate company's identity to bypass security checks and attempt to harvest people's personal data.
We examined the scam apps and explain what checks you should do to avoid downloading one to your device.
Source: Which? (18 Feb 2026)
Our scams expert, Faye Lipson, spoke to a Booking.com customer who paid around £860 to book a villa in Malta, which turned out to be a fraudulent listing.
Booking.com promised to refund them, but after seven months of trying to get their money back, the customer was still out of pocket. Find out what happened when Faye stepped in, plus how to protect yourself against holiday scams.
Source: Which? (19 Feb 2026)
I wanted to provide you with an update regarding House burglary, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.
Dear Residents of Joydens Wood. To make you aware there was unfortunately a Burglary on Joydens Wood Road on 18/02/2026 at approximately 17:00. Also in the early hours of 19/02/2026 there was an Attempted Burglary on Brackendene where the offenders were scared off by a barking dog. Please remain vigilant in the area and report any suspicious behaviour to Police
A police investigation is currently taking place in relation to these two incidents.
Burglary is a particularly invasive crime that can have a lasting impact on victims. If you have been a victim and need support and help, you should have been offered the services of Victim Support. You may have declined at the time, or not noticed the offer, but can refer yourself at any time by either calling 0808 168 9111 or visiting their website www.victimsupport.org.uk.
Burglars do not want to get caught, so taking action to make your home or business premises safe and less attractive to thieves can go a long way to reducing the risk.
Not all advice, or security products recommended are the same, or necessarily fit for purpose.
If looking to take positive action to prevent yourself from being a victim of this type of crime, help and advice can be found on the Neighbourhood Watch website.
If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.kent.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.
Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Get Involved
Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you.
Source: https://www.mycommunityvoicekent.co.uk/Alerts/A/401417/Local-Priorities-House-burglary-Message
On Thursday 12 February 2026, officers from Bexley Safer Neighbourhoods Team executed two Section 8 PACE 1984 warrants at separate units on an industrial estate in Erith.
These warrants were carried out in partnership with the Environment Agency, HMRC, London Fire Brigade, DNA Selector Dog teams, and BT’s cable theft unit, reflecting a strong multi-agency approach to tackling organised criminality.
Following extensive searches across both premises, officers recovered:
Three individuals were arrested at the scene, and enquiries remain ongoing.
In addition, two of the buildings were found to present significant ongoing criminal and safety concerns. As a result, both have been issued with Closure Notices and will remain closed for a period of three months.
This operation demonstrates the continued commitment of Bexley SNT and partner agencies to disrupting organised criminality, targeting local priorities, protecting communities, and improving safety across the borough.
Which? dedicated team of fraud experts are always on the lookout for scams targeting people across the UK.
Recent tactics to be aware of include a fake Daily Mail website, a dodgy message circulating on WhatsApp and fraudsters posing as Which? on social media. Check out the full list, based on your reports to our Which? Scam Action Alerts Facebook community and scam sharer tool.
Source: Which? (11 Feb 2026)
Report Fraud received 12,093 reports of dating scams in the past 13 months, with losses totalling £119.6m. This type of fraud, where scammers aim to trick people into fake relationships, can have a huge emotional and financial impact.
Our experts have laid out five signs of a romance scammer, including how to spot stolen images online and the tactics these fraudsters use to build a connection with potential victims.
Source: Which? (12 Feb 2026)
Messages promoting a sham service called 'WhatsApp Gold' are recirculating. This scam claims to offer special features to users that...
