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
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Rising fuel costs are on scammers’ radars, inspiring them to create new ways of tempting you to part with your money. A scam Facebook ad impersonating BP claims to give you the chance of receiving 200 litres of fuel for just £1.78. It’s a sponsored post – which means the scammer is paying to get it in front of as many people as possible.
Find out how to identify, avoid and report this scam.
Please be aware that on Friday 24 June 2022 03:40hrs a male offender attempted a car entry by trying car door on a resident's drive in Cold Blow Crescent, Bexley - as shown in the video footage.
The resident immediately alerted the incident to their coordinator on Neighbourhood Watch.
So far report of two vehicles looted but nothing of value taken. The coordinator had further report of two tents in woods at the back of Cold Blow Crescent, that may or may not be related.
This is a warning 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 the police on 101, or 020 8721 2816, or via email at stmarys.stjames.snt@met.police.uk alternatively you can call them above or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.
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Phone networks will have a duty to block obvious scam calls under Ofcom plans
Scam callers will be blocked from displaying obviously fake caller IDs to potential victims under tough new rules.
The new measure aims to tackle the problem of 'number-spoofing' scams, in which scammers display fake numbers or text message shortnames to mask their true identity.
Loopholes in the current technology and regulation mean scam victims can receive, for example, calls that appear to come from the genuine helpline of their bank, or texts which display a bank's name.
Almost 45 million people were targeted by scam calls and texts in the summer of 2021, according to Ofcom.
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Good news. Hundreds of banks and building societies must soon introduce the name-checking tool Confirmation of Payee (CoP) to help prevent bank transfer scams.
But what is CoP? Well, it’s easy to assume that your bank will warn you if you make a mistake when sending an electronic payment. But this isn’t always the case. CoP is the only way your bank can tell you if the name you've entered matches the account details held by the receiving bank.
This is something we’ve repeatedly called for as a crucial layer of scam protection. In the first half of 2021, bank transfer scams overtook card fraud – and with UK victims losing on average £28,203 an hour, it’s absolutely essential the banks move fast on this.
Does your bank offer a Confirmation of Payee? From Which? Find out here.
Scammers are targeting iPhone users with claims that their Apple Pay has been suspended. This latest text scam tells recipients that their Apple Pay – Apple's mobile payment service – has been suspended and that they need to follow a link to reactivate the account. Find out how to spot, avoid and report this scam.
Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/iphone-users-targeted-with-new-apple-pay-text-message-scam-aRiJ77u99MJQ?utm_source=which&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=text_share - Which?
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a scam text and one that’s legitimate.
Criminals use a technique called “spoofing” to make it look like you’re being contacted by a genuine organisation. Avoid clicking on any links, and instead log in to your accounts to update your information or make any payments. You should report scam texts to your network provider by forwarding them to 7726.Nextdoor (social media app) posted the following:-
"This is what a wildfire looks like. Wildfires put people in danger and can devastate natural habitats. With warm weather expected in parts of the country this week, the risk is increased. You can reduce the risk through a few simple actions: -Don’t light fires in the countryside -Only have BBQs where signs allow, or better still – pack a picnic -Take rubbish home with you If you see a fire unattended in the countryside, note its location, get to a safe space and dial 999. Take care this weekend by following the Countryside Code: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/countrysidecode/?utm_campaign=coco_22&utm_medium=NE_organic&utm_source=Nextdoor. Share to spread the word. See Nextdoor post for Video credit: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service tackling a wildfire in Yateley, Hampshire (April 2022)"
LFB advice regarding Disposable barbecues are a serious concern as if they are left unattended or not disposed of safely they could result in a huge fire, especially when grass is tinder dry. Disposable barbeques can remain hot and be a fire risk after use, so take care when disposing of them.
LFB are warning people to take care not to overload extension leads after a house fire in #Bexleyheath. There were multiple extension leads plugged in together. Some electrical appliances use more power than others, so be mindful not to overload your sockets orlo.uk/SSTa9
Whether you've planned or are planning a holiday, romantic break or just a night away, often the excitement distracts you from essential tasks, leaving home security at the bottom of the list.
Here's some advice and ideas to consider from the police before you go, to help give you peace of mind while you're away.
Before you go
While you're away: Consider getting a relative, friend or neighbour to park on your drive if you have one, open and close the curtains, collect the post from the mat and water the garden.
It’s no surprise, scammers like to use seasonal events as a hook for their fake competitions. Promoted as a Father’s Day present, scammers are sending fake WhatsApp messages that advertise a hoax competition to win a beer cooler.
While coolers full of Heineken beers sound tempting in this hot weather, always act with caution with messages out of the blue. See what the message looks like here.
In time for Father’s Day, scammers are impersonating B&Q to offer you the opportunity to participate in a fraudulent contest.
The phoney WhatsApp message reads ‘B&Q Father’s Day Contest 2022’ and goes on to advertise 5,000 free gas barbecues to be won by entering a competition. See what the message looks like here.
This scam is back, with fraudsters impersonating Carphone Warehouse to target would-be customers under the pretence of selling a new mobile phone. But this time, Which? have documented the whole elaborate scam journey.
While they recommend that you always hang up on a suspicious call, they've gone along with this scam to show you how it works, what to watch out for and how to report a call such as this.
The "Screwfix Free Drill" Father's Day giveaway scam competition, which claims participants will get a free DeWalt drill, is spreading like wildfire on social media platforms WhatsApp and Facebook. The Screwfix Giveaway scam tricks potential victims into visiting the spam and fake survey website, "tinyurl5 ru", which tricks them into buying unwanted products or services, and disclosing their personal information, which will be used fraudulently.
If you have received the Screwfix Competition scam, just delete it as it is scam.
Screwfix is aware of the "Screwfix Fathers Day" scam. They said they would never ask their customers to provide any personal details via WhatsApp in order to enter a competition. And, if you believe you have been a victim of a scam, please report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
Needless to say do not click on links that turn out of the blue. Take time to research and check this blog for advice and further information on similar scams.
Hundreds of banks and building societies must soon introduce the name checking tool ‘Confirmation of Payee’ (CoP) to help prevent bank transfer scams. With victims losing £28,203 an hour, Which? have repeatedly warned that CoP is a crucial layer of protection.
But what is CoP? Well, it’s easy to assume that your bank will warn you if you make a mistake when sending an electronic payment. But this isn’t always the case. Only with CoP can your bank tell you if the name you've entered matches the account details held by the receiving bank.
Find out more about this form of payment protection and whether your bank offers it.
Phoney BT direct debit email
BT is being impersonated by scammers in an email that asks you to change your direct debit details.
As fraudulent emails go, this is a convincing one. It includes BT’s branding, logo and even BT’s customer service phone number. But the link behind the button directs you to a fake website. If you receive a message out of the blue about payment details, please always check with your provider directly before you click.
See what the email looks like and what to do if you receive one.
Examples of such ads include:
