Monday, 31 January 2022

Race Equality Week, from 7th to 13th February 2022


Neighbourhood Watch is excited to announce its participation in Race Equality Week, from 7th to 13th February 2022, which will unite thousands of organisations in action to seriously address race inequality.

Neighbourhood Watch is committed to ensuring that more people have the information and support necessary to keep themselves and their communities safe from crime by removing the barriers to inclusion that exist for minority ethnic communities. Race Equality Week gives a focus for all our coordinators and volunteers to engage with minority ethnic communities and organisations to help us to better understand how we can adapt to meet different needs and encourage greater involvement.


We would like more people from minority ethnic backgrounds to volunteer with us. Race Equality Week enables us to promote the role of Neighbourhood Watch to a wider audience and share the variety of ways that people can get involved to help keep individuals and their communities safe.  If you would like to become a Bexley borough Neighbourhood Watch coordinator, please contact bexleynw@outlook.com or visit our website www.bexleywatch.org.uk 


Civic Recognition Awards 2022

Do you know somebody who has devoted years of voluntary service to the community and deserves some recognition?  Do you know somebody or an organisation, which gained outstanding achievement in their field, including sports, the arts, business or acts of bravery or courage? If the answer to either question is ‘Yes’, we want to hear from you.

Last year saw the continued success of the Council’s schemes for civic recognition.  Over 100 nominations were received, which highlighted the wealth of devoted voluntary service given to the community by the people of Bexley. The civic recognition schemes have been very well received and the Council hopes that this year it will be even better.

 

There are three schemes of civic recognition:

 

Civic Recognition of Young People

 

For young people up to age 18 who have undertaken voluntary service to the community or an individual

 

Civic Recognition of Voluntary Service by Adults

 

For people over the age of 18 who have undertaken voluntary service to the community or an individual over a number of years

 

Civic Recognition of Outstanding Achievement

 

For people of any age or organisation/business who, during the year, have achieved outstanding success in any walk of life including voluntary service, sport and culture, business or acts of bravery or courage

 

If you know somebody who might qualify for civic recognition, you can either phone me in the Mayor’s Office at Bexley on 020 3045 3678 for a nomination form, write to the Mayor’s Office, 2 Watling Street Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7AT or fill the form in online at

 

www.bexley.gov.uk/civicawards

 

The closing date for nominations is 25 February 2022.

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Fake Santander texts scam

Another week, another scam text message in circulation. This time, one that claims to be from Santander suggesting new direct debits have been set up and attempts to trick people into clicking links potentially loaded with spyware.

The text itself doesn’t have any of the usual giveaways associated with scams.

So, here’s what to look out for and Santander’s top tips to avoid text message scams.

How to spot and report

Source: Which? (27-01-2022)

Fake Investment scam emails not from Which?

Scammers are impersonating Which? to sell sham investments online. This is attempted through a bogus email which directs potential victims to a fraudulent website that misuses our logo and copyright to appear legitimate. Do not click on any of its links or follow its instructions – neither these emails nor the website they link to have anything to do with Which?.

Here’s more about how the scam works and others that have impersonated Which?.

The email not from Which?

Source: Which? (26-01-2022)

Wednesday, 26 January 2022

Bexley Ward Based Crime Stats December 2021

The following data is published on the Met Police Stats and data dashboard using the Crime data dashboard.

The following figures are based on the Start Date December 2021 to End Date 2021.

Source


* Notes:-

Clicking on the summary link above opens up the Bexley Crime Stats Summary spreadsheet for December 2021. 

Clicking on the Interactive Chart opens up the Chart for the Crime ward summary Dec 2021. If you then hover
the mouse pointer on each colourful bar for each
a ward displays further information of the
crime category for the ward.
On your mobile device, you may have to tilt your
phone to view all the wards for the chart.

The totals are shown for each ward and
Bexley for that period.

Beware Fraudulent Bogus E-Scooter Scam websites

 


Action Fraud received over 350 reports in 2021 about scam websites selling e-scooters.

Victims have reported buying e-scooters online only for the e-scooter to not be delivered. By this point, they’re unable to contact the company as the website they made the purchase from has been closed down by its owners. Victims have reported losing over £145,000 to this type of online shopping fraud.

Action Fraud has also received reports of individual sellers offering e-scooters via online marketplaces and social media platforms and failing to deliver them once payment has been made.

We would like to remind the public that whilst the sale of e-scooters is legal, private e-scooters cannot be used in public places or on public roads. They should only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. Those who disregard the law could face fines, seizure of their e-scooter, and points on their driving licence.

What you need to do

  • When it's time to pay for your items, use a credit card if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases. You can also use online payment providers such as PayPal.
  • If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a product listing, arrange to meet the seller in person to inspect the item yourself. We recommend that you meet during the day in a busy, public location like a coffee shop.
  • Be cautious if a seller asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.
  • If you have visited a website you think is trying to scam you, report it to the National Cyber Security Centre: Report a suspicious website - NCSC.GOV.UK
  • If you've lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland).

Source: Action Fraud (26-01-2022)

Fake fraudulent phishing scam email from someone pretending to be UPS



Fake UPS email





Fake tracker link - blocked


The above email screenshot on 25 January 2022 was from an email received by a local resident who alerted Neighbourhood Watch. [click each image to view enlarged]

Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails

The new scam was well constructed aiming to confirm delivery details involving personal details of the recipient. It even had their phishing link referenced on the page. Most links are false.

The resident received the email allegedly from UPS.  It was sent to a very old email address of his which was breached over 7 years ago  and which he no longer uses. He was not expecting any delivery nor has he sent any outstanding parcels to anyone. If you try to open the tracking entry the firewall warns against opening and blocks it (if you have web protection).
  

If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.


Monday, 24 January 2022

Kent Community Watch January 2022 Magazine


Go to page:- 

Beware fake phishing email scam "Generate your new Green Pass (Booster dose)"

Beware a new scam email is circulating as follows:-


"Dear Sir/Madam,

 

New Green Pass can now be used to demonstrate proof of a booster or third dose for outbound international travel.

 

Starting today people who have had a booster or a third dose will be able to demonstrate their vaccine status through the Green Pass from 20 January 2022.

 

Old Green Pass will stop working from 30 January 2022 becoming inactive and everyone needs to generate a new Green Pass which will include Booster dose.

 

In order to get a new Green Pass follow the instructions bellow.

Who is eligible?

All eligible people aged 18 or over.
UK citizens and their families, and legal residents.

 

How do I generate a new Green Pass?

You can generate your new Green Pass via NHS portal by clicking the button below:-

*Fake link (screenshot here and link removed)


This update to the Green Pass will mean people can have their complete medical picture at their fingertips if they are going on holiday or seeing loved ones overseas.

 

All eligible people aged 18 or over can get their booster jab at one of thousands of sites across the country.

It has never been easier to get this important extra protection – if you are aged 18 or over, or eligible for other reasons (such as being a frontline health or care worker, or at greater risk from COVID-19), please get your booster vaccination now. This can be three months after your last dose."


*The link points to:-

Fake link (screenshot here and link removed)

How to protect yourself:

In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.

- The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details.

- The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking passwords.

- The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.

- The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.  

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

 

Thursday, 20 January 2022

Fake delivery texts link to cloned Post Office website




Scammers are targeting the Post Office in a new fake text scam that’s one of the most convincing we’ve seen. 

The texts state that a parcel delivery has failed and ask recipients to click the link to ‘book a new date’ or ‘reschedule a delivery’ via two sites that have nothing to do with the Post Office. This is a sophisticated scam that you need to be aware of.

Post Office impersonation scam

Doorstep selling scams and how to protect yourself

Doorstep scams take place when someone comes to your door and tries to scam you out of your money or tries to gain access to your home. 

Doorstep scammers aren't always pushy and persuasive, they may seem polite or friendly. So if you're not expecting someone it's important to be vigilant when you answer the door, especially if you live on your own.

It can be very easy to fall victim to a scam, but you can be scam savvy if you know what to look out for.

Watch this very useful video:-


For further information on doorstep scams visit ageuk.

🚫🙅> No Cold Caller Door Sticker <🚫🙅

Display this notice, or contact your local Trading Standards team to receive your sticker.

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Watch recruitment appeal - is your road at risk of burglary?

Join Neighbourhood Watch


This is an appeal for residents to contact us for information about starting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in their road.

You can join or set up a local Neighbourhood Watch. These are run entirely by the community, for the community, and volunteers work in their own time and to their own strengths.

Neighbourhood Watch is about people getting together with their neighbours to take action to reduce crime.

Are you worried about burglary, vehicle theft, anti-social behaviour or drug dealing happening in your road?  

  • Don't just worry about it, do something to help prevent it from happening.  
  • Steps can be taken by the residents to deter the criminal fraternity.  
  • Neighbours working together to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can drastically make your road less appealing for thieves, trouble-makers and bogus callers to operate in.  
  • Overseeing a Neighbourhood Watch scheme takes very little time, so if you care about your community, please contact Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch for an information pack, email bexleynw@outlook.com or leave a message on 07496385471 with your name, address and phone number.  

Is your road listed below? 

If it is, then it is in a burglary hotspot and we need your help!   Your house could be burgled next!


  • Barnehurst Ward - Cotswold Close, Parkside Avenue, Everley Avenue, Hurstwood Avenue
  • Belvedere Ward - Victoria Street, Crabtree Manorway South, Monarch Road, Stanmore Road
  • Blackfen & Lamorbey Ward - Cloverdale Gardens, Sycamore Avenue, Foxglove Close
  • Blendon & Penhill  Ward -  Brookend Road, The Oval
  • Crayford Ward - Bourne Mead, Cray Close, London Road
  • Erith Ward - Filston Road, Elmbourne Drive, Park Crescent Road
  • Falconwood & Welling Ward - Coton Road, Sutherland Avenue, Somerset Avenue
  • Longlands Ward - Sidcup Road, Neville Close, Shirley Road
  • Northumberland Heath - Northumberland Close
  • Sidcup Ward - Cloudesley Close, The Crescent, Granville Mews, Jubilee Way
  • Slade Green & North End Ward - Frobisher Road, Bridge Road, Plantation Road
  • St.Mary's & St. James Ward - Davis Way
  • Thamesmead Ward - Maran Way, Sunningdale Close, Thamesbank Place
  • West Heath Ward - Dryhill Road
Why not join Bexley Neighbourhood Watch now and say no to criminals.

Tuesday, 18 January 2022

Another BMW Cat theft in East Wickham - Appeal for information

Please be aware that on Tuesday 18 January 2022 20:31hrs 3 male offenders jacked up a car and cut off it's catalytic convertor and stole it from the car, a BMW, year 2009, from the resident's drive in Montrose Avenue, Welling. The resident immediately alerted the brazen incident on her Neighbourhood Watch Whatsapp group, followed by reporting it to the Police and given a crime reference.

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

Another resident reported a silver van like ford connect transit hanging about the bridge and turned in towards Welling Way that maybe linked to this crime. This crime is very similar to a recent BMW cat theft in the area and about the same time.

This is an appeal to residents to check your CCTV footage or If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious, or have any information related to this incident then please contact East Wickham Police on 101, or 020 8721 2025, or via email at eastwickham.snt@met.police.uk alternatively you can call them above or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.


Bexley Fraud & Cyber Crime Summary for December 2021

 Bexley Fraud & Cyber Crime Summary  

December 2021 

 

Executive Summary 

 

Number of offences

129

Total loss

£455,217.46

Average per victim

£3,528.82


Top 5 

 

The top 5 by volume (number of reports) type of fraud is as follows: 

 

Fraud Type

Amount of Offences

Amount Lost

NFIB3A - Online Shopping and Auctions

34

£13,320.56

NFIB1H - Other Advance Fee Frauds

19

£19,238.94

NFIB2E - Other Financial Investment

11

£220,274.79

NFIB5A - Cheque, Plastic Card and Online Bank Accounts (not PSP)

10

£25,150.08

NFIB3D - Other Consumer Non Investment Fraud

7

£17,691.80


The top 5 by amount reported lost:


Fraud Type

Amount Lost

Amount of Offences

NFIB2E - Other Financial Investment

£220,274.79

11

NFIB1E - Fraud Recovery

£60,000.00

1

Push Payment

£37,378.50

5

NFIB2B - Pyramid or Ponzi Schemes

£26,316.71

3

NFIB5A - Cheque, Plastic Card and Online Bank Accounts (not PSP)

£25,150.08

10


Fraud Advice 

 

Advance Fee Fraud  

Advance Fee Fraud is an umbrella term to describe a particular fraud type where the criminal convinces a victim to make upfront payments for goods, services and/or financial gains.  But the goods/services don’t exist.  

 

Many different types of Advance Fee Fraud using various techniques and scams are used by criminals.  Some of these (including Romance Fraud and Recruitment Fraud) are covered more in-depth later in this book.  However, the numerous different tactics used by criminals means it’s worth describing the basic technique behind the fraud; the criminal will offer something to you, but in order to progress, you’ll need to pay something up front.  

 

Below is a list of types of Advance Fee Fraud.  This list is by no means exhaustive!  

 

Clairvoyant or Psychic Fraud– The criminal predicts something significant in your future, but they need money to provide a full report.  

 

Cheque Overpayment Fraud – The criminal overpays for something with an invalid cheque, and asks for change.  

 

Fraud Recovery Fraud – Once you’ve been a victim of fraud, the criminal contacts you, claiming that they can recover your losses, for a fee.  

 

Inheritance Fraud – The criminal tells you that you’re in line to receive a huge inheritance, but you’ll need to pay a fee to release the funds.  

 

Loan Fraud– The criminal asks you to pay an upfront fee for a loan.  

 

Lottery Fraud – You’re told you’ve won a prize in a lottery, but you’ll need to pay the criminal an admin fee.  

 

Racing Tip Fraud – The criminal offers racing tips that are “guaranteed” to pay off, for a small fee.  

 

Rental Fraud – The criminal asks for an upfront fee to rent a property, which may not be theirs, or even may not exist.  

 

West African Letter Fraud (aka 419 Fraud) – The criminal asks for help moving a large sum of money from one country to another, promising to cut you in, but asks for a payment upfront first.  

 

Work from home Fraud – The criminal offers you to make easy money working from home, but you need to pay a fee in advance, for business leads, or a website.  

 

Vehicle Matching Fraud – The criminal contacts you just after you’ve placed an advert trying to sell something (usually a car).  They ask for a “refundable” fee to put you in touch with a non-existent immediate buyer.  

 

How to protect yourself  

  • * Be extremely wary about giving money to anyone upfront, especially a stranger, for any reason.  

  • * If they claim to be an official, double check their identity, but don’t do so using any contact details they give you.  

  • * Don’t be pressurised into making a decision in that moment.  Always take time to think, don’t forget to Take 5.  

 

REMEMBER – Criminals will try any lie to get your money  

 

CAUTION – Don’t give money upfront if you have even the slightest suspicion  

 

THINK – Why should I give this person money?  Why have they targeted me? 

 

Online Shopping and Auction Sites  

Online shopping can save you time, effort and money. Millions of people use websites such as eBay and AutoTrader to buy new or second hand goods for competitive prices. These sites give you the opportunity to purchase a huge choice of goods from all over the world. However, among the genuine buyers and sellers on these sites, there are criminals who use the anonymity of the internet to offer goods for sale they do not have, or are fake.  

 

In the majority of transactions, the buyer and seller never meet. Which means when making a purchase or sale on a website, you are reliant on the security measures of the site.   

 

Fraudsters will advertise an item for sale, frequently at a bargain price compared to other listings of a similar type. They may have pictures of the item so it appears to be a genuine sale.  

 

A favoured tactic is to encourage buyers to move away from the website to complete the transaction, and the criminal may offer a further discount if you do so. Many websites offer users the opportunity to pay via a recognised, secure third party payment service, such as PayPal, Android Pay or Apple Pay. Read the website’s advice and stick to it. Fraudsters might be insistent you pay via bank transfer instead. By communicating and paying away from the website, contrary to their policies, you risk losing any protection you had.   

 

Criminals may also email or contact you if you have ‘bid’ on an item but not been successful in winning the auction. They will claim that the winning bidder pulled out or didn’t have the funds and offer you the chance to buy the item. Once you agree, they will either provide bank details or even insist payment is made via a third party payment service for mutual protection. Once you agree, they ‘arrange’ this. You then receive a very legitimate looking email which appears to be from the website or a third party payment service directing you how to make the payment. Some are very sophisticated, even having ‘Live Chat’ functions that you can use to speak to a sales advisor! Unfortunately, you will again be communicating to the fraudster, so beware!  

 

In both these scenarios, once the payment is made, the ‘seller’ won’t send the item. They’ll either not reply to you or make excuses as to why they haven’t sent the goods.  

 

If they do send the item, they’ll send counterfeit goods instead of the genuine items advertised. Again, you may struggle to receive any compensation or resolution to this problem from the legitimate website, as it could be against their policies.  

 

Fraudsters also use e-commerce websites to pose as ‘buyers.’ If you have an item for sale, they may contact you and arrange to purchase this. It is common for criminals to fake a confirmation that payment has been made. Before posting any item, log in to your account via your normal method (not a link on the email received) and check that you have received the money.  

 

You must also be careful what address you send items to. Fraudsters may ask you to send items to a different address. They may claim they need it sent to their work address or to a friend or family member. If you send the item to an address other than the one registered on the user account, you may not be provided any protection from the website or payment service.   

 

How to protect yourself  

  • * Stay on site!  

  • * Be wary of offers that look too good to be true.  

  • * Read the consumer advice on any website you are using to make a purchase. Use the recommended payment method, or you may not be refunded for any losses to fraud.  

  • * Research the seller/buyer and any of their bidding history.  

  • * Don’t be convinced by pictures, they may have been taken from somewhere else on the internet. You can check photos using a reverse image search on the internet through websites like www.tineye.com or https://reverse.photos/ 

  • * Be suspicious of any requests to pay by bank transfer or virtual currency instead of the websites recommended payment methods.  

  • * Never buy a vehicle without seeing it in person. Ask to see the relevant documentation for the vehicle to ensure the seller has ownership.  

  • * If you are selling online, be wary of any emails stating funds have been sent.  Always log in to your account via your normal route (not via link in email) to check.   

 

REMEMBER - Stay on site.  

 

CAUTION - Be wary of paying by bank transfer or virtual currency.  

 

THINK - Why is this item so cheap? Is it a scam? 

 

Fraud Recovery Fraud 

When someone who has been a victim of fraud in the past is contacted again by fraudsters. They pretend to be a government, police or law agency that can help recover the money that was lost, but ask for a fee to get it back. 

 

If you’ve been a victim of fraud in the past, whoever took your money may keep your contact information and contact you again. 

 

This time, they’ll pose as an organisation that has been made aware of your loss. They’ll claim they can arrest the fraudster, or even recover the money you lost. In either case, they say you’ll need to pay a fee first. This is a form of advance fee fraud; you’ll never get any money back. 

 

How to protect yourself 

  • * Be ready for fraud recovery scams if you’ve been a victim in the past. Challenge any calls, letters or emails from people you don’t know or companies you’ve never contacted. 

 

  • * If you’re asked to pay, or give your bank account details, end all contact 

 

  • * Ask how they found out that you had been a victim. Any report of fraud is protected by law and can’t be shared with anyone else outside of law enforcement agencies. 

 

REMEMBERGenuine agencies never ask for fees to recover money lost to fraudsters and don’t use webmail such as @Gmail or @Hotmail. 

 
CAUTIONFraudsters make their emails look genuine by including graphics and using official-sounding language. 

 
THINK how do they know that you have been a victim. 

 

Pyramid or Ponzi Schemes 
Pyramid scheme fraud involves an unsustainable business which rewards people for enrolling others into a business that offers a non-existent or worthless product. 
 
A fraudster advertises a multi-level investment scheme that offers extraordinary profits for little or no risk.  You’re required to pay a fee to enter the investment scheme. 
 
You’re then required to recruit friends or family members to enter the scheme. If you do this successfully, you’re paid out of their receipts. They are then told to recruit others to keep the chain going. 
 
Your money is not actually invested in any product. Instead, it’s simply passed up the chain of investors. Because pyramid schemes are unauthorised and make no profits, you’re very unlikely to recover any lost investment. While the fraudster at the top will collect most of the profits, those who entered the scheme later end up losing out.  Legitimate trading schemes rely on valuable goods and services, while illegal pyramid schemes focus simply on recruiting more and more investors. 
 
Using hard-sell techniques, fraudsters try to pressure you into making rushed decisions, giving you no time to consider the nature of the investment. 
 
Fraudsters aim to make their business seem legitimate. This means they will often use technical jargon, impressive job titles and mock websites to look credible. If you have any suspicions about a scheme’s authenticity, you should investigate the company’s status and contact details. 
 
How to Protect Yourself 

  • * If you’re considering any type of investment, always remember: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. High returns can only be achieved with high risk. 
     

  • * Pyramid schemes often involve products that are overpriced and have no real resale value. You should think about the true  

 

Remember: 

 

Your bank, the police, or tax office will never ask you to attend your bank, withdraw, transfer or pay money over the phone or send couriers to collect your card or cash. Nor would they ask you to buy goods or vouchers.  

 
This is a scam.  

 

  1. 1. Hang up (Never give details or money following a cold call) 

  1. 2. Take 5 (Seek a second opinion, tell someone what has happened) 

  1. 3. Verify (if concerned, contact the company via a pre-confirmed method) 

 

All of our videos and electronic leaflets can be found on the following link; www.met.police.uk/littlemedia 
Free cyber advice can be found https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home 

 

Always report, Scams fraud and cyber crime to Action Fraud,  
either online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by telephone on 0300 123 2040. 

 

 

STOP 

Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. 

 

CHALLENGE 

Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. 

 

PROTECT 

Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud. 

 Bexley Fraud & Cyber Crime Summary for December 2021

The strangest scams of 2024

We often warn you about some of the most convincing and sophisticated scams doing the rounds. But what about the more bizarre and far-fetc...