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
A dedicated police officer successfully predicts where and when burglars are likely to strike again - only this time, he’s waiting for them.
If you think criminals are getting away with it, think again!
This ten-part series takes a very different look at crime, showing how the police and the public are using smart technology and specialist tactics to prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.
Frontline Fightback, narrated by Rav Wilding, features an array of equipment, including cameras that can spot crimes almost before they happen, software that can quickly identify repeat offenders, sophisticated satellite tracking and high-tech drones fitted with heat-seeking technology.
While police forces across the UK embrace these changes, the series also looks at how tech companies and universities are developing still more crime-fighting technologies that, it is hoped, will transform policing in the 21st Century.
The series features victims of crime and shows how a combination of smart technology, specialist tactics and great police work are starting to make a real difference.
When an elderly couple’s home is broken into, a dedicated police officer looks at burglary patterns in the area and successfully predicts where and when they are likely to strike again. Only this time, he’s waiting for them. In Leicester, hi-tech car thieves steal a Mercedes from a driveway, unaware that the incident has been caught on a doorbell camera. It’s the latest in a spate of so-called keyless car thefts. But car makers are fighting back by introducing new security measures to make crimes like this more difficult. In south Wales, Dyfed-Powys police train the next generation of traffic officers in the latest tactics – and we see how those tactics are deployed to bring a high-speed pursuit to a safe and successful conclusion.
Video evidence from a police body camera helps convict a violent offender, and a wine bar uses facial recognition cameras to tackle their pickpocketing problem
If you think criminals are getting away with it, think again!
This ten-part series takes a very different look at crime, showing how the police and the public are using smart technology and specialist tactics to prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.
Frontline Fightback, narrated by Rav Wilding, features an array of equipment, including cameras that can spot crimes almost before they happen, software that can quickly identify repeat offenders, sophisticated satellite tracking and high-tech drones fitted with heat-seeking technology.
While police forces across the UK embrace these changes, the series also looks at how tech companies and universities are developing still more crime-fighting technologies that, it is hoped, will transform policing in the 21st Century.
The series features victims of crime and shows how a combination of smart technology, specialist tactics and great police work are starting to make a real difference.
Video evidence from a police body camera helps convict a violent offender who attacked a policewoman. The footage shows how the officer was trying to help him when he turned on her and violently assaulted her. Facial recognition cameras help put pickpockets out of business at a London wine bar, and passers-by capture key evidence by filming a ram raid at a jewellery store. Several of them film the daylight robbery on their smart phones, and some even manage to wrestle one of the offenders to the ground and hold him there till the police arrive.
Cameras with artificial intelligence catch shoplifters in the act, and a dedicated police team arrests a burglar who broke into an elderly woman’s home while she was asleep
If you think criminals are getting away with it, think again!
This ten-part series takes a very different look at crime, showing how the police and the public are using smart technology and specialist tactics to prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.
Frontline Fightback, narrated by Rav Wilding, features an array of equipment, including cameras that can spot crimes almost before they happen, software that can quickly identify repeat offenders, sophisticated satellite tracking and high-tech drones fitted with heat-seeking technology.
While police forces across the UK embrace these changes, the series also looks at how tech companies and universities are developing still more crime-fighting technologies that, it is hoped, will transform policing in the 21st Century.
The series features victims of crime and shows how a combination of smart technology, specialist tactics and great police work are starting to make a real difference.
With retail crime on the rise, we see how some stores are using cameras with artificial intelligence to catch shoplifters in the act, while others are issuing their staff with body cameras. In the West Midlands, a female member of staff is assaulted and the shop’s owner turns to social media in an attempt to track down the culprit. A dedicated police team is cracking down on domestic burglaries in Bristol. They arrest a man who broke into an elderly woman’s home while she was asleep. In Nottingham, police catch another burglary suspect. This time, the suspect tries to get away by hopping from garden to garden – but there’s no escaping the police drone that’s hovering overhead, tracking his movements.
There has been a surge in the number of catalytic converters being
stolen in London, with thieves becoming increasingly violent, police
say.
The Met's motor vehicle crime unit investigated nearly 15,000 reports of
such thefts in 2020, compared to 9,500 over the previous year.
The devices, which reduce the emission of pollutants, contain precious
metals.
More than 300 officers took part in raids on Tuesday across east London,
Kent and Essex.
They also intercepted a shipping container, believed to contain stolen
metal and car parts, which was due to be transported to the Ivory Coast to be
processed and refined.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft and a
third on suspicion of theft.
A large number of catalytic converters and vehicles were seized by police,
who also discovered cash, drugs and tools, including a smelting machine.
Det Ch Insp James Stanyer, the Met's lead officer for motor vehicle crime,
said: "The criminals involved in stealing catalytic converters often commit
their offences in full view of the owners of the vehicle and other members of
the public, leaving them shocked and terrorised."
With more people at home because of lockdown restrictions, owners of cars
parked on driveways are feeling increasingly vulnerable.
"People are feeling less safe, because of the way they're willing to use
violence if necessary if uncovered or disturbed," Det Ch Insp Stanyer told BBC
London.
It is believed a rise in prices of metals such as palladium and rhodium,
commonly found in converters, triggered the increase in thefts.
Dedicated gangs are able to remove a converter from beneath a car in a
matter of moments, leaving victims with a huge repair bill.
One victim, Mo Talukder from Islington in north London, must pay out £2,000
after four men targeted her car, with the theft witnessed by neighbours.
"They cut wires at the front of the car. When they were challenged, they
threatened to ram anyone who spoke to them," she said.
Following the announcement of the easing of lockdown restrictions over the coming months, several festivals and concerts have been announced, with demand expected to be incredibly high. Some festivals have already sold out.
As a result of the high demand for tickets, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) are warning buyers to take extra care when buying tickets online. We are urging people to be wary of fraudsters selling fake or non-existent tickets to events. NFIB have already started seeing reports of non-existent tickets being advertised for sale online, some at inflated prices.
In February 2021, Action Fraud received 216 reports of ticket fraud. This is an 62% increase on the previous month and the highest number of reports received since March 2020 when lockdown restrictions were first implemented. Victims reported losing £272,300 in February 2021 – an average loss of just over £1,260 per victim.
It is anticipated that increased demand for tickets following lockdown restrictions will lead to greater numbers of victims and higher losses as a result.
Spot the signs of ticket fraud and protect yourself:
Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket site.
Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal offer greater protection against fraud.
Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Is the vendor a member of STAR? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information: https://www.star.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Star_TicketBuyingGuide_v3.4.pdf
Every report matters. If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
An increasing number of concerned individuals are contacting offices across HMCTS following emails or phone calls by scammers.
Scammers mimic legitimate phone numbers (spoofing) and may allege that you owe HMRC money and that a warrant for your arrest has been issued. Scammers may also tell you to look up contact details for HMCTS courts and offices to verify the number they are using to call.
These calls include:
previous mistakes in tax returns
National Insurance numbers being used fraudulently
HMCTS is separate from HMRC and is not involved with tax payments and will not contact you about tax matters. HMRC does not use any HMCTS phone numbers.
We will not call or email you about a tax matter.
If you receive a call or email, or any type of contact, do not provide any personal details or make a payment.
Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, received 15,214 reports of email and social media hacking between February 2020 and February 2021 – 88 per cent of which were from individuals who had their personal accounts compromised by criminals.
Bexley’s Trading Standards team is urging local residents not to be duped into having unnecessary spray foam loft insulation carried out following reports of a scam which abuses the government’s Green Homes Grant Scheme.
Reports from elsewhere in the UK show that some vulnerable, elderly residents have signed up for contracts worth over £8, 000 for spray foam loft insulation, which is applied to the underside of the roof. Worryingly, known cases have been linked to a company which has a Trustmark accreditation, qualifying it to take part in the scheme - this is now being looked into.
The government’s Green Homes Grant offers eligible homeowners up to £10,000 of energy saving improvements. However, spray foam loft insultation is not necessary in domestic homes, unless the loft has actually been converted into a living space. In fact, spray foam loft insulation can indirectly cause timber rot in the rafters and reduce the value of the property as some lenders will not offer mortgages on homes with such insulation installed.
The recommended insulation is standard ceiling level mineral wool insulation laid out to a depth of 300mm. Many homes may just need a top up, which is often free from energy suppliers.
Bexley’s Trading Standards urges residents not to engage with cold-callers at all– especially at a time when cold-calling is in breach of Covid-19 lockdown guidance and puts people at risk.
If you have been approached for this type of insulation, or know of anybody who has, please contact Trading Standards immediately via the Citizens Advice helpline on 0808 2231133.
Criminals are turning to more sophisticated ways to take your money, whether through online offers, emails or telephone calls. Can you outsmart them? Put your ability to spot a scam to the test with our quick quiz.
Beware if you receive a phone call purporting to be from your bank warning of irregular activity on your account – can you be sure it’s genuine? Our video tells you what to watch out for.
Criminals are using the COVID-19 vaccine as a way to target the public by tricking them to hand over cash or financial details. They are sending convincing-looking text messages letting people know they are eligible for the vaccine or phoning people directly pretending to be from the NHS, or local pharmacy.
People are warned to be alert to these scams.
The NHS will:
never ask for payment - the vaccine is free
never ask for your bank details
never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine
never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport
How to spot fraud
The top four vaccine scams are as follows:
Text messages – People are asked to press a number on their keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine, doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill and fraudsters collecting personal information to use again.
Phone calls – Victims receive a phone call from a fake caller offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details.
Websites - Fake URL links to convincing-looking NHS vaccine booking forms, these look like official NHS forms and may contain some personal information already, at the end of the form it asks for the victim’s bank details.
In person - Criminals are calling unannounced at the homes of victims by pretending to be from the NHS to administer the vaccine there and then, in exchange for a cash payment.
How to stop fraud
Like for other scams, the following advice applies:
Challenge - Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests that don’t feel right. Check GOV.UK to ensure it’s genuine.
Do not respond to text messages that try to get you to send money, or important personal information such as bank details or passwords.
Use official government websites and refer to ‘Contact Us’ sections of websites to access information and service.
Challenge unannounced callers to your home. NHS visit, if necessary will be agreed with you directly or via carers, they will never turn up unannounced.
Healthwatch Bexley engaged with over 700 residents in the London Borough of Bexley to explore their views on the Covid-19 vaccine.
On the 8th December 2020, a 90-year-old lady became the first person in the UK to be vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination, this was followed by the introduction of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on the 4th January 2021. This marked the start of a mass vaccination programme by the NHS which will take months to complete.
This report gives an insight into what residents feel the barriers may be for them not to have the Covid-19 vaccine. It also looks at what the motivators are for people who want to be vaccinated.
The NHS will begin texting people today inviting them to book
their life saving Covid jab, making it quicker and more convenient to
get an appointment.
Almost 400,000 people aged 55 and over and 40,000 unpaid carers will
be the first to get a text alert inviting them to book a slot as part of
the latest development in the NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in
NHS history.
The messages will include a web link for those eligible to click and
reserve an appointment at one of more than 300 large-scale vaccination
centres or pharmacies across England.
Reminders will be sent 2-3 weeks after the original alert to
encourage people to get their vaccine if they have not taken up the
offer.
Texts will arrive in advance of the standard letter, meaning if the
trial is successful the solution could enable the NHS to react faster to
changing vaccine supplies and fill appointments quickly.
NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, said: “Thanks
to careful planning and the huge efforts of NHS staff we have
vaccinated more than 18 million people in England, which is a remarkable
achievement.
“The NHS vaccination programme, the biggest in health service
history, continues to go from strength to strength and we are now
building on that momentum by trialling a quick and easy service that
will hopefully make it more convenient for people to book their life
saving jab.
“I had my vaccine this week – it was simple, quick and painless – and
I would encourage others who have not yet taken up the offer to come
forward and receive the jab.”
Some GP-led and hospital vaccination services, which operate their own booking systems, are already using texts for invites.
Introducing them to the national booking service for vaccine centres
and pharmacy-led services will help increase uptake of the life-saving
jab, particularly as the NHS moves on to younger groups.
Over the weekend and yesterday more than 1.7 million people aged 56
and over were invited to book their vaccine, as the biggest programme in
health service history, continues to gather pace. Saturday was the
busiest day for the booking service with more than half a million
appointments confirmed. Almost nine out of 10 people aged 65 and over
already taking up the offer of their first dose.
People will continue to receive letters inviting them to book an
appointment as well as a text alert, to ensure that people who don’t
have a number registered or need information in different languages or
formats don’t miss out.
People should not receive a text message or a letter from the NHS if
they have already been vaccinated and this has been recorded. If people
cannot or would prefer not to travel to a Vaccination Centre or
pharmacy-led site, they can choose to wait to be invited by a local
GP-led service.
In some cases text messages have been used by scammers to try to
collect personal details from people, get them to ring premium rate
numbers or enter their banking details.
The text message will be sent using the Government’s secure Notify service and will show as being sent from ‘NHSvaccine’.
The NHS will never ask for payment or banking details.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS medical director for primary care, said: “We
know that some people are rightly worried about scams going around, but
if the message comes from ‘NHSvaccine’ and links to the NHS.uk website
you can be sure that it’s the right invite.
“For
any messages you might get about the vaccine, always remember that the
NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details, your PIN
or banking
password.
“The
NHS will also never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the
vaccine, or ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal
documents
such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.”
Vaccinations
are now being administered at more than 1,600 sites across the country,
including mosques, museums and rugby grounds, with the distribution of
centres meaning 98% of the country lives within 10 miles of at least
one vaccination service.
Appointments
are staggered to allow for social distancing and people are being asked
not to turn up early to avoid creating queues.
Everyone receives a health status check and a pre-vaccination assessment before they receive their vaccine dose.
NHS teams are also visiting those who are housebound and cannot travel to a vaccination service.
The
NHS made history when Maggie Keenan became the first person in the
world to be protected against coronavirus outside of a clinical trial
when she received
the Pfizer vaccine at Coventry Hospital on December 8.
The
NHS was also the first health system to deliver the new Oxford
AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine when Brian Pinker, 82, was vaccinated on
January 4.
In January this year, Avast threat researchers
blocked over 500,000 attack attempts from
cybercriminals claiming to have recorded videos
of unsuspecting victims during private moments
online. These attacks, known as sextortion
scams, attempt to blackmail victims by
threatening to make these apparent recordings
public unless a payment is made to the
scammer. Avast threat labs researchers advise
people to stay calm and ignore sextortion
emails instead of reacting to them, as they
usually are fake claims.
Cybercriminals have been using the increase
in video conferencing services during the
Covid-19 pandemic to validate their false claims
and provoke a reaction from the victim. The
fraudsters allege to have taken advantage of
critical vulnerabilities in the Zoom application,
allowing them to access a user’s device and
camera. It is important to note that Avast has
not found any actual vulnerabilities in the Zoom
application.
“Sextortion scams are dangerous and
unsettling, and can even have tragic
consequences resulting in the suicide of
affected users. During the Covid-19 pandemic,
cybercriminals likely see a strong opportunity
for success as people spend more time using
video conference applications and in front
of their computer overall,” said Marek Beno,
malware analyst at Avast.
“As scary as such emails may sound, we urge
people to stay calm if they receive such a
message in their inbox and ignore it, as it is just
a dirty trick that cybercriminals use to try to
get your money.”
Another common sextortion campaign identified
by Avast is an email in which the attackers
claim a Trojan was installed on the recipient’s
machine, which has recorded their actions with
a microphone and webcam, and extracted all
data from their devices including chats, social
media and contacts. A ransom is demanded
and often includes a note about a fake “timer”
that started when the email was received in
order to set a ransom deadline. This campaign
is also fake and uses social engineering to
coerce people into paying.
Read the full article to find out how to
recognise and protect yourself from sextortion
emails.
Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new ways of trying to defraud people in relation to
all manner of products and services, including loans, dating, holidays, business opportunities,
clairvoyants, pharmaceuticals, lottery prizes, fake COVID vaccines, even recovery of money lost
to fraud and a whole lot more.
Here we look into some of the different types of email frauds that are currently quite common
and what to look out for to indicate that an email may not be genuine.
COMMON TYPES OF EMAIL SCAMS
419 Emails: You are offered a share in a
large sum of money in return for helping
to transfer it out of the country. Once you
have given the criminals your bank account
details, they empty your accounts.
Phishing: An email that purports to be
from companies such as banks designed
to trick you into revealing your personal
information and passwords. REMEMBER:
your bank will NEVER contact you out of
the blue to ask for your PIN, full password
or to move money to another account.
Pharming: Pharming is a term used when
you are directed from a link in an email to
a website that spoofs a legitimate website
in order to access your personal details.
Impersonation of UK official websites: For
example HMRC, with an email message
claiming you are due a refund and
requesting your bank account details or
directing you to a website link.
Impersonation of UK officials: Criminals
impersonate a UK official to obtain
personal information and steal money,
often claiming that you are due a refund or
must make an urgent payment. Examples
of this scam include TV License, the HMRC
Tax Rebate and the Council Tax Scam.
Investment scams and pension scams:
Emailed offers of worthless, overpriced
or non-existent shares, or a time-limited
opportunity to convert some or all of your
pension pot into cash. Click here to find
out more about these.
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM EMAIL
The sender’s email address looks suspicious. Roll
your mouse pointer over the sender’s name to
check it. If it doesn’t match the website address
of the organisation it says it’s from it could be a
sign of a scam.
The email doesn’t use your name – it says
something like ‘Dear customer’ instead.
There’s a sense of urgency, asking you to act
immediately.
There’s a prominent website link that may look
at first glance like the proper address but has
one letter missing or is spelt wrong.
There’s a request for personal information.
Poor grammar and spelling mistakes.
The entire text of the email is contained within an image rather than the usual text format,
and the image contains an embedded hyperlink to a bogus site. Again, roll your mouse
pointer over the link to reveal its true destination. But don’t click it!
It is almost impossible to keep up with the variety of fraudulent emails that are increasingly
appearing on our computer screens and smartphones. However, by taking your time and
following the simple steps below you can better protect yourself from falling victim to attempted
email fraud.
TOP TIPS
REMEMBER: IF SOMETHING SEEMS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS!
Create a separate password for your email
accounts
Make sure you have strong passwords with
3 random words and change these regularly.
Find out more about strong passwordshere.
Install two-factor authentication (2FA) for
your email accounts. This is an additional
process to secure your account.
Further actions you can take to keep safe
Look after your mobile devices. Don’t leave
them unattended in public places, and protect
them with a PIN or passcode.
Ensure you always have internet security
software loaded on computers and update to
new versions immediately.
Don’t assume that Wi-Fi hotspots in places
like cafes and hotels are secure. Never use
them when you’re doing anything confidential
online, like banking. Use 3G or 4G.
Never reveal too much personal or financial
information (such as in emails, on social
networking and dating sites). You never know
who might see it or use it.
Always consider that online or on the phone,
people aren’t always who they claim to be.
Fake emails and phonecalls are a favourite
way for fraudsters to approach their victims.
Don’t click on links or open attachments if the
source isn’t 100% known and trustworthy, or
it seems strange that you’d be receiving them.
Always access internet banking sites by typing
the bank’s address into your web browser.
Never pay for anything by direct bank transfer
unless it’s to someone you know personally
and is reputable.
Never respond to emails, texts, letters or
social media that look suspicious, including
messages with bad spelling or grammar.
Be cautious when going to a website from
a link in an email and then enter personal
details – the email could be fraudulent.
If someone you’ve never met in person asks
you for money, that should be a red flag.
Tell them you’re not interested and stop all
contact.
When shopping online always sign up to
American Express SafeKey, Verified by Visa
and MasterCard SecureCode so look for the
padlock or unbroken key symbol when you
first visit a site. Where possible make your
purchase with a credit card or via a credible
online payment system (such as PayPal) which
protects you in the event of fraud.
If you are at all suspicious, heed your instincts!
You are most probably right to be concerned.
Report all emails that you believe to be
fraudulent to report@phishing.gov.uk.
