Bexley Crime stats ward summary Mar 2025

Source: Bexley Watch Viz

Identity fraud is on the rise

Identity theft is when a fraudster steals parts of your identity, such as your name, address and phone number, in order to commit identity fraud. It was the most prevalent type of fraud reported last year according to fraud prevention service, Cifas.

It can happen to anyone and scammers are now using artificial intelligence technology to scale their attacks. Our experts explain what you should do if you become a victim.

See the steps you should take

 

Source: Which? (17 Apr 2025)

Shopping scam alert

Purchase scams, where you pay for something you never receive, continue to lure victims in with tempting offers and adverts online.

Which? is warning online shoppers to be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true after spotting several scam ads this week. Find out what we discovered and how you can spot, avoid and report a purchase scam.

Avoid purchase scams

 

Source: Which? (16 Apr 2025)

How to stop scam pop-ups on Windows

Scam pop-ups on your computer are designed to cause panic, using urgent messages, flashing warnings and fake alerts to grab your attention. Click a link, and you risk handing over your personal information to fraudsters.

Our Tech Support experts have found an effective way to keep your data safe. Follow their simple steps to adjust your PC settings and keep your computer protected.

Banish malicious pop-ups for good

 

Source: Which? (16 Apr 2025)

Protect Your Garden, Protect Your Home: A UK Security Guide

How protecting your garden makes your home safer

 

It may not seem obvious, but protecting your garden and outbuildings like sheds not only keeps bikes, and other valuables safe, but can also stop burglars accessing tools to get into your home.

1. Low front boundary; keep hedges and walls at the front of your house low (under one metre) so burglars have nowhere to hide.

2. Secure side-gate, keep side gates locked at all times. Open gates mean burglars can easily access your home without being seen by passers-by or neighbours.

3. High side and rear boundaries with trellis and spiky defensive planting; keep hedges, walls and fences around your back garden high (over 1.8 metres). Add lightweight trellis to gates and fences and plant some prickly plants to make it harder for burglars to climb over.

4. Gravel driveway and path; gravel driveways and paths make it harder for burglars to go undetected.

5. Security light: install an outside security light so that intruders can’t approach without being seen.

6. Intruder alarm system; install a burglar alarm system.

7. Secure your shed; always keep your shed locked and secured, and make sure it is anchored down to prevent it from being lifted in order to gain access. Often sheds contain valuables such as power tools and bicycles.

8. Never leave tools lying around; never leave tools lying around as they can be used as a way of breaking into your home.

 

Stay secure in summer: Leaving ground floor windows, doors and patio doors open in the summer can give burglars the perfect opportunity. If you’re upstairs or out of the room, even just for a few minutes, close them and help shut burglars out.

Extra steps you can take: Consider buying a shed alarm. These are usually quite cheap but still effective. Add an extra layer of protection to shed windows with laminate sheets of film or internal metal grills.

Create a natural defence against burglary: Planting particular shrubs (in their mature or semi mature form) along garden walls and fences can make it harder for burglars to access your property or put them off completely. To maximise this effect, plant them close to each other. 

We recommend planting any of the following: -

• Berberis
• Osmanthus
• Forsythia
• Poncirus
• Crataegus
• Pyracantha
• Aralia
• Chaenomeles
• Ribes
• Oplopanax
• Elaeagnus
• Robinia
• Colletia
• Ilex (Holly)
• Climbing roses (consider specifying thorny varieties)
• Maclura (Osage Orange)
• Mahonia
• Ligustrum (Privet) (consider specifying dense or slightly prickly varieties)
• Laurus (Laurel) (consider specifying dense varieties)
• Smilax (Brambles - some varieties can be quite thorny)
• Zanthoxylum (Prickly Ash)

Protecting your garden is a simple yet effective way to create a safer and more secure home environment.

Don't Let Ticket Troubles Spoil Your Summer Fun: Action Fraud Warns of Soaring Scams

Summer in the UK means festivals, gigs, and sporting events galore! But as excitement builds for these much-anticipated occasions, so too does the risk of falling victim to ticket fraud. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, is urging everyone planning to attend this summer's events to be extra vigilant, as new figures reveal a concerning surge in ticket scams.

The latest data paints a stark picture: in 2024, a staggering £9.7 million was lost to ticket fraud, marking a nearly 50% increase from the £6.7 million reported in 2023. This significant rise is coupled with an 11% increase in the number of ticket fraud reports, with a total of 9,826 incidents recorded in 2024 compared to 8,719 the previous year.

These alarming statistics have prompted Action Fraud to launch a timely awareness campaign, urging the public to stay alert for criminals lurking online and on social media, ready to exploit the desire for tickets to sold-out events. Reporting insights highlight June and July as peak periods for ticket fraud, with 1,067 and 887 reports respectively last year.

Claire Webb, Acting Director of Action Fraud, stressed the importance of caution, stating: "With £9.7 million lost to ticket fraud last year, Action Fraud is urging people who are heading to the top events and those looking for last minute ticket deals this summer to stay vigilant and recognise the signs of ticket fraud."

She added a crucial warning about unsolicited offers: "Beware of fraudsters trying to take advantage by selling fake tickets to popular or sold-out events online or on social media, especially if you receive unsolicited or unexpected messages offering tickets."

Protect Yourself: Key Steps to Avoid Ticket Fraud

Action Fraud and the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) have issued clear advice to help you stay safe and ensure your summer events are memorable for the right reasons:

• Stick to Official Sources: Only purchase tickets from the venue's box office, official promoter or agent, or well-known and reputable ticketing websites. Look for the STAR logo for added peace of mind.
• Avoid Bank Transfers: Be extremely wary of sellers asking for payment via bank transfer, especially if you don't know them. Credit card payments often offer better protection against fraud.
• Strengthen Your Online Security: Use a unique and strong password for your email and ticket purchasing accounts. Consider using three random words and enable two-step verification (2SV) for added security.
• Be Suspicious of Unbelievable Deals: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of unsolicited emails, texts, or adverts promising heavily discounted tickets.
• Check for STAR Membership: If buying from a ticket agent, check if they are a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR). STAR members adhere to a strict code of practice and offer an Alternative Dispute Resolution service. You can find more information at star.org.uk/buy_safe (pdf)

Jonathan Brown, Chief Executive of STAR, echoed this advice: "Buying from a STAR member means you’re getting tickets from a trusted, authorised seller who follows our strict code of practice. It also gives you the added protection of access to our approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service, should anything go wrong."

He further emphasised the need for consumer awareness: "With another packed summer of gigs and festivals ahead, it’s vital that fans don’t let fraudsters cash in on the excitement. Scammers are getting smarter, but so can consumers. By following Action Fraud’s advice and sticking to safe, verified sources, you can make sure your ticket leads to the real experience - not a costly disappointment."

What to Do If You Suspect or Become a Victim of Fraud:

• Report Suspicious Emails: If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk.
• Seek Online Security Advice: For more tips on staying secure online, visit cyberaware.gov.uk.
• Learn More About Fraud Prevention: Visit the Stop Think Fraud campaign website at https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk.
• Report Fraud: If you have been a victim of ticket fraud, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland on 101.

Don't let fraudsters ruin your summer plans. By staying vigilant and following these simple steps, you can protect yourself from ticket scams and ensure you have a fantastic and fraud-free summer of events!

Source: Action Fraud (14-04-2025)

Beware of scam subscriptions

Unauthorised subscriptions are one of the most common complaints reported to our scam sharer tool. Victims often assume they’re giving their card details to legitimate companies, but later find they’re paying money to unrecognised recipients every month.

Which? senior researcher, Chiara Cavaglieri, recently helped someone recover their money after they'd been unwittingly paying £40 a month to an unknown company. Find out how she convinced NatWest to reimburse the victim, plus five things you need to know if you spot a dodgy recurring payment.

Steer clear of 'scamscriptions'

 

Source: Which? (09 Apr 2025)

Latest scams doing the rounds

Stay in the know about recent scams that are targeting people across the UK.

The latest warnings to be aware of include a surge in Whatsapp scams, dodgy Facebook posts and a fake Screwfix email. Take a look at the full list based on your reports to our Which? Scam Action Alerts Facebook community and to our scam-sharer tool.

See the trending scams

 

Source: Which? (10 Apr 2025)

What are 'phishing', 'smishing' and 'vishing' scams?

While the names of these scams sound complicated, phishing, smishing and vishing scams are simply messages and calls sent by fraudsters to target you for your personal and financial information.

Nine in 10 people say they’re confident they can spot a scam email or text, but according to recent research, one in six people in the UK have experienced a phishing scam. Find out how to recognise this type of scam to avoid falling victim.

Get clued up with some examples 

Source: Which? (07 Apr 2025)

House fire - Welling🔥

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters responded to a fire on Eastcote Road, Welling. 

The fire was located in a mid-terraced house of two floors. Part of the ground floor was damaged during the incident, and an external pergola was destroyed by the fire. There are no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade received the first of 20 calls reporting the fire at 2103, and Control Officers mobilised crews from Plumstead, Eltham and East Greenwich fire stations to the scene. Firefighters had the incident under control by 2208. 

The fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials. 

Five essential safety tips for smokers

1. It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
2. Never throw cigarette butts from a balcony, they could start a fire elsewhere.
3. Never smoke in bed, and avoid smoking on arm chairs and sofas – especially if you think you might fall asleep.
4. Use deep, heavy ashtrays which can’t tip over. Add a small drop of water to the ashtray and stub cigarettes out properly.
5. Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended, or sat on the edge of an ashtray – they can tip and fall as they burn away.

 Source: LFB (28 Mar 2025)

Hackers are targeting Microsoft users

Microsoft account holders are receiving dozens of emails containing 'single-use codes', triggered by login attempts to their accounts.

This is most likely the result of a brute force attack, where hackers attempt to access accounts by trying multiple passwords. Find out what to do if you receive single-use codes you didn't request, and how to secure your accounts.

Secure your accounts now

 

Source: Which? (02 Apr 2025)

How to spot a WhatsApp scam

WhatsApp allows users to message friends and family all over the world for free, but these features are sometimes exploited by scammers. In fact, fraud on the app accounted for 21% of all reported scams in the UK in 2024 according to recent data analysed by Revolut.

If you haven't done so already, add an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp by setting up two-step verification. Check out our step-by-step instructions on how to do so, and take a look at the top six most common scams on the app.

What to watch out for

 

Source: Which? (01 Apr 2025)

Amazon 'iPhone in your basket' scam warning

Amazon customers continue to be targeted by phone scammers who claim that iPhones or other expensive items have been added to their shopping baskets.

Reports of this scam continue to come through on our scam sharer tool – take a look at the latest tactics being used and find out how you can secure a hacked Amazon account.

See how this scam works

 

Source: Which? (03 Apr 2025)