Bexley Crime stats ward summary Jun 2026

 

Source: Bexley Watch Viz

Scam Alert: The Sneaky "Unpaid Parking Fine" Text Messages Targeting UK Drivers

Have you received a sudden text message warning you about an "unpaid parking fine"? If so, take a second before you tap that link. Consumer champion Which? has issued a major warning about a highly convincing, fast-growing SMS scam designed to steal your personal and financial details.

Here is what you need to know to keep your bank account safe.

What Does the Scam Look Like?

The scam arrives as a text message on your mobile phone, often spoofing official-looking sender IDs or appearing from a random mobile number.

The message claims that a record shows you have an outstanding Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) or an "unpaid parking fine." To make the threat feel urgent, the scammers include a tight deadline, warning that if you do not pay immediately, you will face:

• Increased court fees or legal action

• Bans from driving

• Negative impacts on your credit file

The message then directs you to click a link (often hidden behind URL shorteners like qrco.de or tinyurl) to settle the fee.

An example of the fake text message claiming a parking penalty charge is due.. Source: GOV.UK

 

The Trap: Copycat Government Websites

If you click the link, you are taken to a highly sophisticated copycat government website designed to look exactly like the official GOV.UK portal.

To trick you into lowering your guard, the fraudulent page links out to genuine government pages (such as actual challenge portals or public transport rules). However, once you click through to "pay," the site will ask you to input:

1. Your vehicle registration number (VRN)

2. Your full name, home address, and contact details

3. Your credit or debit card details

The only major giveaway is the URL (web address). While the page looks perfect, the address bar will not start with the official gov.uk domain.

Why Real Parking Fines Never Arrive by Text

The absolute simplest way to spot this scam is to understand how UK parking enforcement actually works:

Government bodies, local councils, and private parking companies will never contact you by text message to issue or chase a PCN.

They do not have access to your mobile number. Real parking tickets are either:

• Fixed physically to your vehicle’s windscreen in a yellow plastic packet.

• Sent strictly by post to the address of the Registered Keeper on file with the DVLA. Official letters will always contain your vehicle's make and model, specific details of the location, and photographic evidence of the alleged contravention.

What to Do If You Get One of These Texts

• Do not click the link: Even just clicking can let scammers know your number is active, leading to more targeted spam.

• Report the message: Forward the scam text to 7726 (a free UK reporting service). This helps mobile network providers investigate and block the sender.

• Report the website: You can report copycat or fraudulent websites directly to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

• Check securely: If you are genuinely worried you might have a real, outstanding fine, go directly to your local council’s official website or the government's official page by typing the URL into your browser yourself. Never use the link in the text.

If you have already entered your details: Contact your bank immediately using the trusted number on the back of your card to freeze your accounts and stop any fraudulent transactions.

Source: Which? (15 Jul 2026) 

Roof fire - Erith 🔥

Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters responded to a fire on Collins Way, Erith.

The fire was located in a semi-detached house of three floors. The buildings roof has destroyed by the fire and collapsed. The second floor of the property has also been destroyed as a result of the roof structure failing. One of the Brigade's 32m ladders was deployed to the scene to help firefighters tackle the flames from height. There are no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade was first called about the incident at 1250, and crews from Bexley, Erith, Greenwich and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene. Firefighters had the incident under control by 1436. 

The cause of the fire is not yet known. 

Source: LFB (15/07/2026)

What is the HM Land Registry Property Alert Service?

The Property Alert service is a free monitoring service provided by HM Land Registry for properties in England and Wales. It acts like a digital security alarm for your property deeds, immediately notifying you if there is any significant official activity on your property's record.

How It Works

• Free to Use: Setting up an account and monitoring properties costs absolutely nothing.

• Monitor Multiple Homes: You can monitor up to 10 properties at the same time.

• You Don't Need to Own the Property: You can monitor your own home, a buy-to-let property, or the home of a vulnerable relative to help protect them.

• Instant Notifications: You will receive an email alert the moment HM Land Registry receives an application or a search request against the property (for example, if someone tries to take out a new mortgage or change the ownership details).

What the Alerts Tell You

If an alert is triggered, the email will tell you:

• The type of activity taking place.

• Who the applicant is.

• The exact date and time the request was received.

Please Note: The alert system itself does not automatically block transactions. It is designed to give you an early warning. If you receive an alert about a transaction you didn't authorise, you must act quickly and contact the Land Registry's property fraud team to stop it.

Ready to protect your home?

• Set up your alerts: Create a free account directly on the GOV.UK Property Alert page.

• Learn about further protection: If you want to proactively block unauthorized sales (and not just get alerts), read the main GOV.UK guide to protecting your land and property from fraud to learn about entering a protective "Form LL" restriction.

• Watch the expert advice: To see how these security layers work in practice, watch the HM Land Registry video guide on property fraud.

   

   

  Visit https://www.instagram.com/reel/DavXZ3RgO9F/ for further information.

   

Outlawing the Outlaws: How the UK’s SIM Farm Ban is Shutting Down Bulk Fraud

The UK is set to become the first country in Europe to officially ban the possession and supply of "SIM farms".Passed under the landmark Crime and Policing Act 2026, this legislation directly outlaws the physical tools criminals use to orchestrate bulk text message scams, marking a major leap forward in the fight against cyber-enabled fraud.

With fraud accounting for more than 40% of all reported crime in England and Wales, the ban provides law enforcement with a crucial weapon to disrupt scammers at their source.

What is a SIM Farm?

Also known as a SIM box, a SIM farm is a physical electronic device capable of holding five or more SIM cards simultaneously or interchangeably.

By connecting these boxes to a computer, fraudsters can send thousands of text messages or place automated phone calls at the touch of a button. Previously, these low-cost devices were easily purchasable online with zero identity verification, making them highly accessible to criminal gangs.

How Criminals Exploit Them

Before this legislation, SIM farms served as the engines behind some of the UK’s most persistent scam campaigns:

• Industrial-Scale Smishing: Criminals use them to blast out hundreds of thousands of fake parcel-delivery notifications, tax rebate warnings, or bank alerts in minutes.

• Creating Fake Accounts: Scammers use SIM farms to rapidly receive SMS verification codes, allowing them to mass-generate "verified" fake profiles on social media and messaging apps.

• Evading Detection: By routing messages across many different PAYG (pay-as-you-go) SIM cards, criminals could easily bypass standard telecom security filters.

How the Ban Helps Protect the Public

The new law introduces a powerful shift in how the police can prosecute fraudsters.

Old System	Under the Crime and Policing Act
Proof of Intent Required: Police had to catch fraudsters actively using the devices to commit a scam to secure a prosecution.	Illegal to Possess: Simply possessing, importing, or supplying a SIM farm without a legally proven, legitimate reason is now a criminal offence in its own right.
No Barriers to Entry: Devices were cheap, unregulated, and widely available to purchase online without ID checks.	Heavy Penalties: Offenders face unlimited fines in England and Wales, and a £5,000 fine in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Voluntary Industry Blocklists: Networks tried to block numbers, but criminals could quickly swap SIM cards.	Stops the Supply: Shuts down the local distribution of the hardware itself, forcing criminals to use more expensive, easily tracked web alternatives.

Legitimate Exceptions: The law does include protections for legitimate industries that use SIM multiplexers—such as public transport Wi-Fi routing, emergency broadcasting services, and telecom network testing.

By combining this ban with Ofcom's new rules restricting text volumes on PAYG cards, the UK is successfully dismantling the cheap, high-volume infrastructure that has plagued mobile users for years.

Ofcom’s rules target a major loophole used by international scammers. Scammers abroad know we are far more likely to answer a call displaying a familiar UK mobile number (+447) than an unknown international country code.

Stopping this trick—known as Caller ID spoofing—is technically much harder for mobile numbers than it is for landlines. This is because roaming is a legitimate feature; a real UK mobile user needs to be able to make calls from Spain or the US and still display their genuine +447 number to friends back home. (Ofcom)

To solve this, Ofcom has introduced a clever two-pronged strategy targeting both network-level blocking and a new "withhold and verify" protocol.

1. Stopping Landline Spoofing (The Foundation)

To understand how Ofcom is tackling mobile numbers, it helps to look at what they have already successfully rolled out for landlines.

• Blocking Network Numbers: Telecoms providers must block international calls where the Network Number (the hidden background data showing where a call is physically routed from) is disguised as a UK landline.

• Blocking Presentation Numbers: Providers must block calls from abroad that try to display a UK landline as a Presentation Number (the caller ID number you actually see on your screen).

• The Result: When BT voluntarily piloted this rule, they successfully blocked up to 1 million scam calls a day from entering their network.

2. The New Mobile Spoofing Rules: "Withhold and Verify"

Because direct blocking would accidentally cut off legitimate UK tourists calling home from abroad, Ofcom’s latest guidance introduces a dynamic verification model:

      Incoming International Call (carrying a UK +447 number)
                                │
                                ▼
         Can the UK home network verify the SIM is roaming?
                     /                      \
                   YES                       NO
                   /                          \
                  ▼                            ▼
        [ Allow Caller ID ]           [ Withhold Caller ID ]
     Displays "+447..." to user      Displays "Number Withheld"

• Automatic ID Withholding: If an incoming call originates from an international network but presents a UK mobile (+447) number, the UK gateway provider must automatically strip away the caller ID and display the call as "Number Withheld" or "Unknown".

• The Roaming Verification Bypass: The original, genuine UK caller ID will only be restored if the recipient's home network can securely verify that the customer's actual SIM card is genuinely roaming on an overseas partner network.

• Protecting Legitimate Businesses: If a legitimate UK business operates an offshore call centre, they can only present their UK business number if they route their calls through verified, authenticated VoIP or cloud-PBX systems that prove their legal connection to a UK network.

Why This is Highly Effective

While scammers can still physically place the call, they can no longer trick you by displaying a fake, trusted UK mobile number.

Instead, their call will show up on your screen as "Withheld" or "Unknown." Because only 9% of UK consumers say they are likely to answer an unknown or withheld international call, the financial incentive for overseas criminal networks to target the UK is heavily disrupted.

Important: While these measures block a massive portion of automated spam, keep exercising caution with unexpected calls from withheld numbers, and never share security codes or transfer money over the phone.

 

How to Block Mobile Ads System-Wide (Without Downloading an App)

We’ve all been there: you’re trying to read an article or play a mobile game, and you are absolutely bombarded by pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing video ads.

While you can install ad-blocking extensions on desktop browsers, mobile devices are notoriously tricky. But what if you could block ads, trackers, and malicious domains across your entire phone—inside apps, games, and browsers—without downloading a single app or draining your battery?

Enter AdGuard DNS. By changing just one simple setting on your phone, you can route your web requests through a secure, ad-filtering server.

Here is everything you need to know about how it works, the pros and cons, and how to set it up in under two minutes.

AdGuard DNS filters web traffic at the domain level before ads can reach your mobile.. Source: Google Play

 

What is AdGuard DNS?

Whenever you visit a website (like google.com), your phone uses a Domain Name System (DNS) to translate that human-readable name into a computer-friendly IP address. Normally, this lookup is handled automatically by your mobile carrier or public Wi-Fi provider.

AdGuard DNS replaces your provider's default directory. When a game or website tries to load an ad or a tracker, AdGuard simply refuses to look up that specific domain, blocking the ad before it even has a chance to download to your device.

The Pros: Why You Should Try It

• Zero Battery or RAM Drain: Traditional ad-blocking apps run constantly in the background, hogging your device's memory and draining the battery. Because AdGuard DNS is configured natively in your phone’s operating system settings, it uses absolutely no extra resources.

• System-Wide Protection: It doesn’t just clean up your mobile web browser; it blocks trackers and advertisements inside your apps and games too.

• Encrypted Privacy (DNS-over-TLS): Standard DNS requests are sent in plain text, meaning your mobile provider or a dodgy café Wi-Fi host can spy on the sites you visit. Configuring a "Private DNS" encrypts these queries, keeping your browsing habits private.

• A Strict No-Logs Policy: AdGuard has a highly transparent privacy policy. For their public DNS service, they do not log your IP address or track the domains you visit.

The Cons: The Trade-offs to Keep in Mind

As brilliant as this method is, it is not without a few minor quirks:

• An "All-or-Nothing" Approach: Because there is no app interface to quickly toggle on and off, you can't easily "pause" the blocking if a website breaks. If a retail link (like a sponsored Google Shopping search result) won't open, you have to dig back into your system settings to turn the Private DNS off temporarily.

• Blank Spaces on Webpages: AdGuard DNS stops ad content from loading, but it cannot rewrite the code of the webpage you are viewing. You may occasionally see empty grey boxes or awkward blank spaces where an ad was supposed to sit.

• It Can't Block First-Party Ads: Because it blocks ads at the domain level, it cannot stop ads that are served directly from the same servers as the content. This means ads on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok will still get through.

How to Set It Up

To get started, you just need to choose which server profile suits your needs:

Profile Mode	Hostname to Copy/Paste	Best For
Default (Standard)	dns.adguard-dns.com	Standard ad, tracker, and malware blocking.
Family Protection	family.adguard-dns.com	Blocks ads, blocks adult content, and forces SafeSearch.

On Android (Android 9 and newer)

1. Open your phone's Settings and go to Network & Internet (sometimes called Connections).

2. Tap Private DNS (this is often located under "Advanced" or "More connection settings").

3. Select Private DNS provider hostname.

4. Paste your chosen hostname (e.g., dns.adguard-dns.com) and tap Save.

On iOS (iPhone & iPad)

Apple does not allow you to manually type in a custom DNS hostname directly within the native iOS settings. Instead, you have to use a lightweight configuration profile:

1. Head to the official AdGuard DNS Setup Page.

2. Select iOS and download their official configuration profile.

3. Open your iPhone's Settings, tap Profile Downloaded at the top of the screen, and follow the prompts to install it.

(Note: While you may see older guides referencing dns.adguard.com, the official and updated hostname to use is dns.adguard-dns.com.)

The Verdict: If you want a free, set-and-forget way to make your mobile browsing cleaner, faster, and significantly more private, setting up AdGuard DNS is an absolute no-brainer.

Ofcom Announces Tough New Rules to Defeat Mobile Scammers

Mobile phone users in the UK are set to receive much stronger protection from scam texts and "spoofed" calls, following a robust package of measures finalised by Ofcom today.

With fraud making up roughly 45% of all reported crime in England and Wales, these new rules aim to shut down the gaps that international criminal gangs exploit to target British consumers and businesses.

How scammers exploit mobile networks. Source: ISP Review

 

Why Now? The Scale of the Problem

• The Cost: In 2025 alone, victims in the UK lost a staggering £1.28 billion to fraudsters.

• The Reach: Four in ten (40%) UK mobile users report receiving at least one suspicious message in the last three months.

To address this, the UK communications regulator is introducing strict new requirements for mobile providers to intercept scams at their source.

How the New Rules Work

The strategy splits mobile scams into two main categories: person-to-person (P2P) and business (A2P) messaging, applying targeted rules to block both.

1. Person-to-Person (P2P) Scams

These occur when a fraudster uses a standard SIM card to impersonate a friend or family member in distress (e.g., the infamous "Hi Mum" text).

• Action taken: Providers must collect scam data from customers and anti-fraud organisations, block identified numbers, and dynamically filter out messages containing known malicious weblinks or phone numbers in transit.

• Volume Limits: Strictly limiting the number of texts that can be sent from pay-as-you-go SIM cards to prevent automated mass-messaging.

2. Business Messaging Scams

This is where scammers hijack or fake corporate sender names (like bank or courier names) to make their phishing links look authentic.

• "Know Your Customer" (KYC): Strict background checks on new businesses before they can send mass messages.

• Sender ID Verification: Providers must verify that the business sending a text actually owns the sender ID (e.g., stopping a sender claiming to be a delivery company if they are registered as a local hair salon).

• Incident Management: Swiftly rooting out scammers and holding platforms accountable if they fail to perform proper due diligence.

Cracking Down on "Spoofed" Foreign Calls

Additionally, Ofcom is tackling the menace of international calls that disguise themselves with UK mobile numbers to trick people into answering.

Under the updated guidance, UK telecoms networks must withhold caller ID displays for any incoming international call mimicking a UK mobile number—unless the network can prove the caller is a legitimate UK customer roaming abroad.

What You Can Do

While these network-level defences will significantly reduce the number of scam messages slipping through, some may still occasionally bypass filters.

Important: If you receive a suspicious text, call, or message, you can help train the network filters by forwarding the message or reporting the number to 7726 (which spells "SPAM" on an alphanumeric keypad). This service is completely free and helps providers quickly shut down active scam runs.

If you have fallen victim to a scam and lost money, report it immediately to Action Fraud (by visiting www.reportfraud.police.uk or calling 0300 123 2040) or to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Source: Ofcom 

A shockingly sophisticated email scam

One of our Travel experts, Trevor Baker, was recently targeted with a well-researched scam attempt. Years after he published a book, he was contacted by someone claiming to be a literary agent from the publishing house Hachette.

The scam was extremely sophisticated, using the image and contact information for a real employee at the publisher, making it almost undetectable. Our fraud expert Faye Lipson explains what the scammer wanted and how they managed to create such a convincing targeted scam.

Source: Which? (08 Jul 2026) 

Phone scams we're seeing right now

Three quarters of Brits received a scam call last year, with victims each losing an average of £784. The rise of artificial intelligence, which enables nasty tactics like voice cloning, makes them increasingly difficult to spot.

Our scams expert, Tali Ramsey, has rounded up the latest phone scams you're likely to encounter. Check out the full list, including a convincing call that referenced legitimate emails and texts from Lloyds Bank.

Source: Which? (09 Jul 2026) 

Our latest warnings: an Aldi air-con scam

As well as phone and email scams, our fraud experts are always on the lookout for any trending scams targeting people across the UK.

This week, watch out for an Aldi scam with a too-good-to-be-true offer on an air conditioning unit. Check out the full list, based on your reports to our Which? Scam Action Alerts Facebook community and scam sharer tool

Source: Which? (08 Jul 2026) 

Beware of holiday scams fuelled by social media

A third of UK holidaymakers have reported an increase in travel scams on social media, with fraudsters posing as dodgy customer service agents and using sophisticated artificial intelligence tools to appear convincing.

Follow these five simple steps to be sure the dream holiday you've spotted isn't a scam.

Source: Which? (01 Jul 2026) 

How to spot a text message scam

Fraudulent text messages are designed to steal your details and can convincingly impersonate a range of senders, from couriers to banks and even the government.

This week, reports of Evri scam texts have spiked. Find out how to spot the telltale signs of a delivery scam and stay one step ahead of the scammers. 

Source: Which? (29 Jun 2026) 

How scam refund rules are helping

Which? campaigned for refund rules to help people who lost money to bank transfer scams. These rules have helped cut losses by £73m a year according to a new report. Find out more about reimbursement rules and how they're helping

Source: Which? (02 Jul 2026) 

ASB Week of Action - MetEngage Bexley SNT

 

Caption:

💬 Talk to your neighbour — it all starts with a conversation.
Many situations linked to anti-social behaviour can be resolved early through understanding, communication, and mutual respect.

This Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, we’re encouraging communities across Bexley to look out for one another and work together to prevent issues from escalating. A simple conversation can make a big difference.

📣 Stay informed and connected with your local policing team by signing up to Met Engage for updates, advice, and community alerts:
🔗 https://www.metengage.co.uk/

Together, we can create stronger communities in Bexley 💚

For more information, visit www.bexley.gov.uk/asb

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/460891/ASB-Week-of-Action 

ASB Week Of action - MetEngage Bexley SNT

 

Caption:

🚫 Anti-social behaviour isn’t just one thing. It can include vandalism, noise nuisance, bullying, intimidation, harassment, and public disorder. These behaviours may seem small in isolation, but together they can have a serious and lasting impact on individuals, families, and communities across Bexley.

Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live, work, and spend their time. That’s why BCSP and its partners work all year round to tackle ASB, support those affected, and act where needed.

📣 Take a stand: don’t ignore it! Report concerns, support those affected, and help create a safer, more respectful environment for everyone.

🚨 Need help or concerned about ASB? Report it to Bexley Council or contact 101. If there’s immediate danger, always call 999.

For more information, visit www.bexley.gov.uk/asb

Together, we can reduce anti-social behaviour in Bexley 💚

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/460889/ASB-Week-Of-action 

Local Priorities Theft Of Motor Vehicles Message - MetEngage East Wickham

I wanted to provide an update regarding the theft of motor vehicles,  which members around this area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the Met Engage priority survey.

Local Priorities Update – Theft of Motor Vehicle / Theft from Motor Vehicle
Current Concern:
Theft of motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles remain a local policing priority. Recent reports indicate that offenders are targeting vehicles left insecure, as well as vehicles containing visible valuables such as bags, tools, mobile phones, and electronic devices.
Police Activity:

High-visibility patrols continue in identified hotspot locations.
Officers are conducting reassurance patrols and engaging with residents and businesses.
Intelligence gathering and crime pattern analysis are being used to identify repeat offenders and vulnerable locations.
Partnership work is ongoing with local authorities and community groups to reduce opportunities for vehicle crime.

Crime Prevention Advice:
Residents are encouraged to:

Always lock vehicles and fully close windows.
Remove valuables and avoid leaving items on display.
Use steering wheel locks, immobilisers, or tracking devices where available.
Park in well-lit and secure locations whenever possible.
Report suspicious activity, persons, or vehicles immediately via 101 or 999 in an emergency.

How the Community Can Help:
Information from the public remains vital. Anyone with information relating to vehicle crime is encouraged to report it to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers.
Outcome Sought:
Reduce vehicle crime through prevention, disruption of offenders, increased community awareness, and targeted police enforcement activity.

We know that people can be concerned about the personal and financial impact of having their vehicle stolen, which is why we will pursue and arrest those who break the law. Please consider taking the following steps to keep your vehicle safe:  

• Check that your vehicle is locked and secure every time you leave it. Thieves often look for easy opportunities to steal from vehicles. They will usually try the handles until they get lucky and find one that has been left unlocked.  

• Keep your keys safe, out of view when at home and away from your front door.  

• If you have a keyless entry vehicle, keep the key well away from the vehicle while at home and turn off wireless signals on your fob when its not being used. Consider putting the keys in a screened or signal blocking pouch, such as a Faraday Bag and check that it is still working every few months.  

• Park your vehicle in a private garage if you can. If you don’t have access to one, try to park in a well –lit open space.  

• Try to use public car parks that are part of the police approved Park Mark safer parking scheme.  

• Secure your number plates with tamper resistant screws to avoid them being stolen and used by others. 

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.  

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. 

 We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years.

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/464131/Local-Priorities-Theft-Of-Motor-Vehicles-Message 

Antisocial Behaviour Awareness Week - MetEngage Bexley SNT

 

Caption:

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week is an important opportunity to highlight the work being done across Bexley every day to prevent and tackle ASB. 

Through partnership working, early intervention, enforcement, and community engagement, the BCSP is committed to supporting residents and keeping our borough safe and welcoming for all. We are here to listen and provide support when it’s needed.

📣 Take a stand: start a conversation, share this post, and help raise awareness of anti-social behaviour and the support available in Bexley.

🚨 Need help or worried about anti-social behaviour? Report it to Bexley Council or contact 101. If there’s immediate danger, always call 999.

For more information, visit www.bexley.gov.uk/asb

Together, we can keep Bexley safe for everyone 💚

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/460887/Antisocial-Behaviour-Awareness-Week 

These are the most convincing scams

Fraudsters are constantly evolving their tactics, and even scam-savvy people can be tricked by a particularly convincing scheme.

Our fraud experts, Chiara Cavaglieri and Faye Lipson, have shared the five most convincing scams circulating this year so far. Find out what they are and how to stay safe.

Source: Which? (12 Jun 2026)

How to tell if a website is safe

Scam websites have become harder to spot, with professional-looking designs intended to gain your confidence and convince you to enter your personal and financial information.

The good news is you don't need specialist software or expert knowledge to see the warning signs. Our experts have found a couple of quick ways to check whether a website is safe or dangerous.

For tailored 1-2-1 tech help from our team, including advice on security and scams, you can join Which? Tech Support. Our friendly experts are there to chat on the phone or by email as often as you need. Find out more about the support on offer.

Source: Which? (11 Jun 2026)

Sneaky emails leading to suspicious websites

It's not only the dodgy websites you need to watch out for, it's the sneaky messages that convince you to click. Here, we reveal one of the tactics fraudsters use.

It involves special offer emails using well-known brands, including Boots, B&Q and the AA. We've highlighted a few examples of these emails and given tips to help you spot them in your inbox.

Source: Which? (25 Jun 2026)

Local Priorities Burglary Message - MetEngage Sidcup

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding burglary, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

Good Evening

Unfortunately we have one burglary to report, which occurred on the ward.
On Monday 22nd June the victims left their property locked and secure in Hatherley Crescent at 1600hrs.
Between the hours of 1600hrs and 0030hrs, suspects have managed to force the kitchen window open to gain access and steal the keys to a Mazda. It's also believed some jewellery was also taken in the process.

Sadly, we also had a BMW X5 stolen in the early hours of this morning. Two suspects can been in Selborne Road at 03:15hrs, before one of them gains access into the car. The other suspects can be seen holding a device, appears to be a signal jammer, to knock out the wifi signal in peoples properties. The theft took no longer than a minute, from approaching the vehicle, to driving off in it.

While we will continue to pursue burglars in the area, there are steps you can do to help keep your property safe. Make sure that you:  

• Double lock your door every time you leave the house  

• If you can, move garden furniture or bins away from windows so that thieves cannot use them to gain access.  

• Use laminated glass or security film on ground floor and accessible windows.  

• Use a sash stop if you have sash windows to prevent people opening them enough to climb through.  

• If your windows open outwards, use a key operated lock – check these are locked before leaving the house.  

• Make sure all valuables are out of sight. 

• Keep handbags and keys away from letterboxes or cat flaps.  

• In the evening shut the curtains and leave lights on.  

• Set your burglar alarm 

• Lock your  shed or garage 

• Mark, register or record your valuables. 

Please go to our website to find the latest advice and guidance on keeping yourself safe.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.met.police.uk/, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.  

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey

 

We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years.

Source: https://www.metengage.co.uk/Alerts/A/461547/Local-Priorities-Burglary-Message