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
Stay in the know about scams that are currently targeting people across the UK. Our experts share real examples and telltale signs to look out for, so you can protect yourself and your loved ones.
The latest scams we've spotted include a dodgy pop-up claiming to be from Apple and a fake NatWest email. Check out our full list.Which? exposes how fraudsters based overseas are using trusted medical endorsements, including the British Dental Association, to peddle dodgy products on social media.
An ad must not display a trust mark, quality mark or equivalent without the necessary authorisation. However, we found plenty of ads on Facebook and Instagram doing just that. See the examples we reported to Meta and find out how to spot fake ads online.When our investigations find scam ads, we report them to the platform and they're usually (eventually) taken down. However, we've found that sometimes the advertiser behind the scam remains active.
We reveal three scam advertisers that have continued to publish scam ads even after Which? has had their content taken down.If you caught Matt Allwright and consumer champion Harry Kind on Channel 5 (aired friday 9 Oct 2026), you’ll know a familiar autumn and winter nightmare was top of the agenda: porch piracy.
With October kicking off prime shopping season for Halloween costumes, autumn decor, and early Christmas presents, doorstep delivery theft is surging. Thieves know deliveries peak between October and December, leaving unattended doorstep parcels as prime targets for opportunistic grabs.
Here is a comprehensive breakdown of consumer rights, who is legally liable when a parcel goes missing, and actionable advice from Neighbourhood Watch to keep your deliveries safe this season.
When a parcel is stolen or lost from your doorstep, courier companies often try to fob consumers off, and retailers may claim "it shows as delivered".
When you buy an item online, your legal contract is strictly with the retailer who sold you the goods—not the courier company delivering them.
Do not get passed back and forth: The retailer cannot force you to deal directly with Evri, DPD, Royal Mail, or Amazon Logistics. It is the retailer’s responsibility to deal with their chosen delivery provider.
Under Section 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods remain at the trader’s risk until they come into the physical possession of either you or a person identified by you to take possession of the goods.
Doorstep Photos Are NOT Legal Proof of Delivery: A driver taking a photo of a box sitting on your door mat or doorstep does not constitute physical delivery to you.
If left on a doorstep without consent and stolen, the retailer must provide a full refund or a replacement.
Be careful when selecting delivery preferences in courier apps:
If you explicitly nominate a safe place (e.g., "leave in the shed" or "behind the wheelie bin"), the legal risk transfers to you the moment the driver leaves the parcel there.
If it is subsequently stolen from a designated safe place, the retailer is generally no longer legally liable.
If a retailer refuses to issue a refund for an unauthorized doorstep drop, you can leverage payment protections:
Section 75 (Consumer Credit Act 1974): For purchases paid by credit card over £100 (up to £30,000), your credit card provider is jointly liable with the seller.
Chargeback Scheme: For debit card transactions or purchases under £100 on a credit card, file a Chargeback dispute through your bank within 120 days of the purchase date.
Neighbourhood Watch networks across the UK emphasize that community vigilance and smart habits are the most effective ways to deter opportunistic thieves during the peak festive shopping period.
Coordinate with Neighbours: Build a agreement with trusted neighbours to collect each other’s parcels when someone is out.
Join Local WhatsApp or Watch Schemes: Share alerts about suspicious vehicles or individuals following delivery vans down suburban streets. Porch pirates frequently tail couriers and grab packages within minutes of a drop-off.
Report Every Incident: Research shows only a fraction of doorstep thefts are reported to the police.
Never Leave Parcels Visible from the Road: If expecting a delivery while away, ask a neighbour or relative to move visible packages inside so criminals don't spot an empty home.
| Measure | How It Protects You |
| Secure Lockers & PUDO | Eliminate doorstep drops altogether using Amazon Lockers, InPost Lockers, or DPD/Evri Pickup points. |
| Smart Video Doorbells | Gives motion alerts and allows real-time two-way audio to instruct drivers to hold or redirect parcels. |
| Locked Smart Boxes | Install a bolted, secure parcel drop-box requiring a one-time passcode for drivers. |
| Workplace Delivery | Direct packages to your place of work during standard business hours. |
Obtain Proof: Download doorbell or CCTV footage showing the delivery and any subsequent theft.
File a Police Report: Obtain a Police Crime Reference Number online or via 101. This holds significant weight when dealing with resistant sellers.
Notify the Seller in Writing: Request a full refund or replacement citing Section 29 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. State clearly that the item was not delivered into your physical possession and no safe place was authorized.
Escalate to Bank Protection: If the seller refuses to comply, initiate a Chargeback or Section 75 claim with your card provider.
 |
| Porch pirates: top tips (click to view enlarged) |
| This year has seen several high-profile organisations fall victim to hackers. Just this week, online fashion brand Asos confirmed that some customers' 'basic personal information' has been accessed by criminals. We reveal the steps you should immediately take if you become aware that an organisation has lost your personal data. Find out how to protect yourself and, in some cases, claim compensation following a data breach. Source: Which? (07 Oct 2026) |
We recently helped someone whose phone alerted him to two mystery debit card charges in Dubai totalling £3,850. His bank cards were safely tucked away in his gym locker, but scammers still used them to make Chip and Pin payments in the Middle East.
When he reported the fraud to his bank, HSBC refused to reimburse him. Find out what happened when our expert stepped in and how this sophisticated scam really works.
