Monday, 31 July 2023

Vehicle Crime be on your guard from BBNWA

Thieves are targeting unlocked cars, especially these models


Many residents are making it easy for thieves by not locking their vehicles and leaving items of value in cars on show.

We also regularly hear of the inconvenience it causes and the items that were in the car at the time such as push chairs, kid’s games consoles, sports equipment etc.

Stolen cars are regularly used to commit other offences and can regularly end up in police pursuits putting lives at risk.

Studies show that over 40% of our daily tasks or actions are not conscious choices but habits and that we are able to turn routines into habits. Thieves know if certain models of car are unlocked as the wing mirrors remain out so you may as well leave a sign on the car – UNLOCKED !

We ask all vehicle owners over this summer period and beyond, please, let’s get the most basic crime prevention action into a habit and lock our vehicles, even get into the habit of double checking before we go to bed.

Unfortunately the following cars are still being stolen to order and targeted in high numbers across London and the counties. A new device on the market makes many of these Korean and Japanese SUV’s / PHEV’s extremely vulnerable and even the use of a faraday pouch / box will not prevent them from getting stolen. If you or any of your family and friends own one of these vehicles we would strongly recommend fitting a secondary physical security device such as a steering lock / pedal lock / OBD port lock or wheel clamp that is Sold secure / Secured by design (SBD) approved.

Newly Targeted

  • Nissan Qashqai and Nissan Navara
  • Kia Sportage and Kia Niro
  • Hyundai Ionic and Hyundai Tucson
  • Mitsubishi Outlander.

Current top two stolen cars

  • Range Rover
  • Ford Fiesta’s

Guard Your Location: The Perils of Sharing on Social Media

In Colin's Blog, the dangers of sharing location information on social media are explored.

Posting geolocation tags that reveal exact addresses can lead to potential risks, such as being found in person by strangers or putting children at risk of unwanted contact.

Oversharing can also make one's home vulnerable to theft, especially if it's known that they are away on vacation.

To minimise these risks, Colin provides valuable tips on how to keep your location hidden, such as disabling location settings, checking app preferences, and adjusting privacy settings on social media accounts. The blog also highlights the impact of social media burglary on insurance policies, as insurance claims are being rejected due to posts triggering burglaries.

Insurance companies now emphasise the need for customers to exercise "reasonable care" in securing their property and discourage sharing vacation or purchase-related pictures on social media. By being discreet about location information, users can still stay connected with friends and family on social media without compromising their safety and security.

Thursday, 27 July 2023

How to Protect Your Nectar Points from Fraud

Nectar points (and other similar clubcards)

Social media reports circulating suggest fraudulent activity on their Nectar card.

Here are some tips on what to do if you experience this:

  1. Contact Nectar immediately. The sooner you report the fraudulent activity, the sooner Nectar can investigate and take steps to protect your account.
  2. Check your Nectar account activity. Go to the Nectar website or app and check your account activity. This will show you all of the transactions that have been made on your account, including the fraudulent ones.
  3. Keep a copy of your receipts. If you have any receipts from the stores where you used your Nectar card, keep them as evidence. This will help Nectar to investigate the fraud.
  4. Change your Nectar password. This will help to prevent the fraudsters from accessing your account again.
  5. Be vigilant about your online security. Make sure that you are using strong passwords and that you are not clicking on any suspicious links.

It is important to note that Nectar may not be able to explain what happened in your case. However, they should be able to investigate the fraud and take steps to protect your account.

Here are some additional tips to help you keep your Nectar points safe:

  • Never share your Nectar card number or PIN with anyone.
  • Be careful about what information you share online. Fraudsters can use information like your name, address, and date of birth to steal your Nectar points.
  • Keep your Nectar card in a safe place. If you lose your card, report it to Nectar immediately.
  • Check your Nectar account activity regularly. This will help you to spot any fraudulent activity early.

By following these tips, you can help to protect your Nectar points from fraud.

A massive list of usernames and passwords is also being used so check your Nectar account - the first thing they will do is change your security details and then have a card sent to their mule addresses (source: LatestDeals)

Go to this website and check your email address - It will tell you if you have been hacked so change your password immediately!

Visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to check yours.


Nectar Fraud was also reported by Watchdog in the article.


Nectar advice on Staying Safe Online.

Dodgy Facebook ads offering free train travel

Fraudsters are creating Facebook ads claiming that Network Rail is offering 150 travel cards for free. Clicking these ads will take you to a fraudulent website that requests your personal information, including bank details, to pay £3 for postage.

See our example of what this scam looks like and what actions to take if you come across it.

Bogus travel cards

Source: Which? (25 Jul 2023)

5 holiday scams you need to beware of this summer

Peak travel season is here and scammers are attempting to take the shine from your summer trip. One scam involves fraudsters installing ‘skimming’ devices on cash machines to steal banking information while victims withdraw their money.

Did you know that in 2022-23, there were more than 6,400 reports of holiday fraud, with £15m lost to scammers?

Find out about the scams you’ll need to be on your guard against and follow our tips on how to dodge them.

Stay safe abroad

Source: Which? (25 Jul 2023)

Monday, 24 July 2023

Keeping Your Children and Grandchildren Safe Online This Summer

The summer holidays are a time for children to relax, have fun, and make new memories. But it's also a time when they're more likely to spend time online. With all the extra screen time, it's important to make sure that your children and grandchildren are safe online.

Here are some tips to help keep your children safe online this summer:

  • Talk to your children about online safety. Talk to your children about the risks of online predators, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content. Explain to them that they should never give out personal information to strangers online, and that they should always tell you if they see anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Set up parental controls. Most devices and apps come with parental controls that you can use to restrict your children's access to certain websites, apps, and features. Use these controls to block inappropriate content and to limit the amount of time your children spend online.
  • Monitor your children's online activity. It's important to keep an eye on your children's online activity, even if you've set up parental controls. Check their browsing history and social media accounts regularly, and talk to them about what they're doing online.
  • Teach your children about online privacy. Help your children understand the importance of online privacy. Explain to them that they should never share their passwords or personal information with anyone online, and that they should be careful about what they post on social media.
  • Be a role model. Children learn by example, so it's important to be a good role model when it comes to online safety. Be careful about what you post on social media, and make sure that you're setting a good example for your children.

By following these tips, you can help keep your children safe online this summer. Remember, the internet can be a great place for children, but it's important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect them.

For more information on online safety, visit the following websites:

Stay safe online this summer!

Read the leaflet and for more information visit here.

Thursday, 20 July 2023

The scams you need to know about this month

Our scam tracker highlights the latest scams that you need to know about this month, including Apple Pay phishing texts and fake fuel cards. Our goal is to help you stay ahead of fraudsters.

Discover what this month's trending scams are.

Stay updated

Source: Which? (18 Jul 2023)

Dodgy YouTube ads

The YouTuber MrBeast has around 170 million subscribers and regularly gives away money to guests who overcome challenges in his videos. Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this by creating fake ads that promise cash giveaways in MrBeast's name.

If you click on one of these ads, you'll be taken to a phishing website where your personal information can be compromised or malware can be downloaded onto your device.

Learn more about the different dodgy YouTube ads and how to avoid them.

Dodgy ads

Source: Which? (18 Jul 2023)

Mobile antivirus protects you from phishing scams

Did you know that mobile antivirus apps can protect you from phishing scams? We put free and paid-for antivirus apps through our lab tests and compared them against the built-in security that comes with Apple and Android phones.

We subjected each mobile antivirus app to at least 200 known phishing sites on the internet and found that all of them were more effective than the built-in protection from Apple and Android. What’s more, we even found a free Best Buy, meaning you can protect your device without needing to pay.

Discover which antivirus apps are the most effective in safeguarding your mobile phone against phishing scams.

Reduce your risk

Source: Which? (19 Jul 2023)

Wednesday, 19 July 2023

Thamesmead Festival is just around the corner!

Less than a month to go until the festival returns on 12 August. We're so excited to see you all there!

If you're a stall holder, make sure to get active on social media and let people know you'll be there. It's a great way to create a buzz and get people along.

Thanks in advance for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Carly at carly.lewis-oduntan@peabody.org.uk

Event: Trust Thamesmead Festival Southmere Park.

Date: Saturday 12th August 2023 (Calendar)

Location: Event info and map

Meet Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association volunteers at our stand at this event, we will be there! We can't wait to see you at the festival!

Thamesmead Festival 2023


Thursday, 13 July 2023

Fraudsters exploit easyJet customers affected by cancellations

Customers affected by easyJet's latest flight cancellations are being bombarded on Twitter by fake customer service accounts. Although some of the accounts have been shut down, we found five that are still active.

Some of these accounts included dodgy links to an 'online help hub' in their bio. These lead to phishing websites where scammers try to obtain your personal information.

If you’ve been affected by easyJet's cancellations, see examples of the easyJet scams currently circulating.

Dodgy accounts

Source: Which? (11 Jul 2023)

Taylor Swift ticket scams

Taylor Swift's 2024 UK tour is set to go on sale, and scammers will be looking to take advantage of fans who miss out on tickets.

If you don't get tickets in the general sale, you may be tempted to turn to resellers. However, fraudsters can create fake websites and images to deceive buyers into thinking they're purchasing legitimate tickets.

Did you know that in 2022, £6.7m was lost to ticket fraud? Be cautious of potential ticket scams when purchasing event tickets online. Here are some tips for buying tickets safely.

Our expert tips

Source: Which? (12 Jul 2023)

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

The latest scam alerts from Which?

The scams you need to know about this month, including Royal Mail phishing emails and AI impersonation scams.

Source: Which? (11 Jul 2023)

Thursday, 6 July 2023

Beware of fake Microsoft ‘spyware’ pop-ups on your computer

Scammers are impersonating Microsoft in pop-ups warning your computer is infected with spyware.

These pop-ups appear suddenly on your screen. They claim that your device has a virus and that your personal and financial data is at risk, before asking you to call a phone number for support.

Read the stories about victims targeted by this scam and get advice on what to do if you’re targeted by dodgy pop-ups.

Dodgy pop-ups

Source: Which? (5 Jul 2023)

Great news for consumers!

With the UK still in the grip of a fraud epidemic, new rules are set to be introduced to end the current ‘reimbursement lottery’ for victims of APP scams, and lead to fairer and more consistent outcomes.

Rocio Concha, Which? director of Policy and Advocacy, said: ‘Which? has led the way in campaigning for new laws to give greater protection to consumers and prevent them suffering losses should they fall victim to a bank transfer scam.

Click here to learn about how the new laws could help you if you're tricked into sending money to a fraudster.

Recover your loss

Source: Which? (29 June 2023)

Our new rolling scam alert page

To help you keep up-to-date with the latest scams, we've created a new ‘rolling’ scam alert page in addition to our newsletter. This covers a variety of the latest scams, including fake gift card texts and dodgy ticket giveaways, just make sure you bookmark it.

Click here to check out the latest scams that are trending this month.

Stay alert on scams

Source: Which? (5 July 2023)

If you love it, Log it!

Register your valuables FREE and improve your chances of getting them back if lost or stolen at https://www.immobilise.com/

Here's why?



Wednesday, 5 July 2023

Fraudsters are targeting homebuyers with fake mortgages

The latest wave of gift card scams involve fraudsters impersonating one of your email contacts and asking you to buy a gift card for them as a favour.

Action Fraud has warned about a rise in mortgage scams at a time when rates are soaring. In the past two weeks alone, it has received 538 reports of fake emails from supposed mortgage lenders.

The emails claim to offer low-rate mortgages on limited-time deals and include links to check your eligibility or get a personalised rate. However, these links lead to fraudulent websites designed to steal your banking information.

See our examples of mortgage scams currently circulating and protect yourself from falling victim.

Cheap mortgage scams

Source: Which? (27 June 2023)

Scammers impersonate your friends for gift cards

This scam begins with a fraudster sending a bogus email posing as someone in your contacts list. They then request gift cards for retailers such as Amazon, claiming that they need help purchasing the cards for a sick family member.

As the message appears to come from someone you know, you might think it's real and agree to buy the cards. However, it's important to be careful and double-check any unusual requests, even if they appear to be genuine at first glance.

Discover how fake gift card messages are written and how to keep yourself safe.

Gift card scams

Source: Which? (28 June 2023)

How to spot an online shopping scam

Did you know that in 2022, consumers lost £67m to online shopping scams?

It can be difficult to spot a fake, fraudulent or scam website as fraudsters are experts at replicating official sites, but our guide offers tips for spotting and dodging online scams.

It's essential to keep yourself informed about online security practices to protect yourself while shopping online.

Shop safely online

Source: Which? (28 June 2023)

BBC Scam Safe week 23rd-30th November 2024

  BBC Scam Safe week [click image to view enlarged] Don't get caught out! BBC Scam Safe Week returns Nov 23rd with content across TV, Ra...