How to Stop Scammers in Their Tracks: Key Lessons from Today’s Channel 5 Broadcast

In today’s episode of Matt Allwright on Channel 5, consumer champion Matt was joined by fraud prevention expert Harleen Nottay to break down the latest tactics fraudsters are using—and, more importantly, how we as a community can protect ourselves.

At Bexley Neighbourhood Watch, keeping our local residents safe from fraud is a top priority. Here is a roundup of the core advice and action points highlighted during today’s show.

1. The Golden Rule: Stop, Challenge, Protect

Scammers rely heavily on creating a sense of urgency—whether they claim your bank account is compromised, a parcel couldn't be delivered, or a family member is in emergency financial trouble.

• Stop: Take a moment to pause. Legitimate organizations, banks, or police officers will never pressure you into making an immediate financial decision or transferring funds on the spot.

• Challenge: Ask yourself: Could this be fake? It’s okay to reject or ignore requests for personal information. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

• Protect: If you suspect a contact is fake, report it immediately and contact your bank using the trusted number on the back of your card.

2. Common Scam Tactics Highlighted Today

• Number Spoofing: Criminals can fake the caller ID displayed on your phone to make it look like your bank or the Metropolitan Police are calling. Tip: Hang up immediately. Wait at least 5 minutes (or use a different phone) to ensure the line is clear, then call the official organization directly.

• Suspicious Texts (Smishing) & Emails (Phishing): Never click on links in unsolicited messages claiming you owe money or need to update account details.

• Safe Account Lies: No real bank or police department will ever ask you to transfer money to a "safe account." If someone tells you to do this, it is a scam.

3. Actionable Tips to Protect Yourself & Neighbours

1. Use the 159 Hotline: If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from your bank or credit card provider, hang up and dial 159. This secure, national hotline routes you directly to your bank's genuine customer service team.

2. Report Suspicious Messages:

   • Texts: Forward scam text messages free of charge to 7726 (which spells 'SPAM').

   • Emails: Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.

3. Set Up Call Blockers: For elderly or vulnerable relatives in Bexley, consider setting up landline call blockers or checking if their phone provider offers free nuisance-call shielding.

4. Talk to Your Neighbours: Scammers thrive in isolation. Check in on your neighbours and share these tips. If a crime is currently in progress or someone is at your door, call 999.

Need Further Support?

If you think you have lost money to a scam, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Stay vigilant, look out for one another, and let's keep Bexley safe!

— Your Bexley Neighbourhood Watch Team

Watchpoint: Stopping Fraud - click to view enlarged

​🚨 Scam Alert: Watch Out for Fake "NatWest Payment Hold" Texts

If you’ve recently received a text message claiming to be from NatWest about a blocked payment to Alan Motors LTD, do not call the number provided. It’s a sophisticated phishing attempt designed to panic you into handing over sensitive personal and financial details.

Here is an exact example of the fraudulent message currently circulating:

NatWest Text Alert: We've placed a hold on a payment of £917.23 to Alan Motors LTD on 2026-07-20 14:54:22. Not you? Call us on 020 3896 5000.

How This Scam Works

1. Creating Panic: Scammers deliberate specify a high dollar/pound amount (£917.23) and a specific business name (Alan Motors LTD) to make you think someone is currently spending your money.

2. Fabricated Urgency: The timestamp makes it feel official and immediate, prompting an emotional reaction rather than a logical one.

3. The Trap Number: The number included in the text (020 3896 5000) does not belong to NatWest. Calling it connects you directly to fraudsters posing as the bank's fraud prevention team. They will attempt to coax you into revealing security PINs, one-time passwords (OTPs), or transferring money to a "safe account."

What to Do If You Receive This Text

• ❌ Do NOT call the number in the text.

• ❌ Do NOT click any links if a similar message includes one.

• 📱 Forward the text to 7726: In the UK, 7726 is the free reporting service run by Ofcom. Simply forward the message to this number so network providers can investigate and block the sender.

• 🗑️ Delete the message.

What to Do If You're Unsure or Already Called

• Verify Independently: If you ever want to check if a text from NatWest (or any bank) is real, log in securely via your official mobile banking app or call the number listed on the back of your debit card.

• Call 159: If you are in the UK and suspect you are speaking to a scammer or want to contact your bank quickly, call 159. This is a secure national hotline that connects you directly to your bank's official fraud department.

• If You Shared Details: Contact NatWest immediately using the number on the back of your card or via 159, and report the incident to [suspicious link removed].

Quick Rule of Thumb

Banks will never ask you to transfer money to a "safe account," nor will they ask for your full PIN, passcodes, or banking passwords over the phone.

Stay vigilant, share this warning with friends and family, and always double-check the source before picking up the phone!

Rogue traders conned a victim out of £6,000

After contacting what appeared to be a well-reviewed local roofing company, Maureen was scammed out of £6,250 by rogue traders.

Initially Santander refused to reimburse her, but after our scams expert stepped in and investigated, the bank agreed to pay up. Find out what you need to do to recover your money if something like this happens to you.

How to recover your money after a scam

Source: Which? (27 Mar 2025)

5 biggest banking security threats

More and more of us are banking on the go using apps on our phones, and criminals are taking advantage of this.

We're seeing record levels of mobile banking fraud, so we've rounded up the five biggest threats – from account hacking to phone theft – and what you can do to protect yourself.

Take these precautions now

Source: Which? (13 Feb 2025)

£15,500 lost to Revolut scam

A convincing impersonation scam resulted in one victim losing £15,500 from her Revolut account earlier this year.

The scammer claimed the victim's Natwest account had been 'compromised' and instructed her to move money to her Revolut account – a worryingly common scam tactic. But we're even more concerned about how infrequently Revolut refunds customers.

See how this scam works

Source: Which? (07 Nov 2024)

An elaborate Facebook Marketplace scam

Scammers will go to extraordinary lengths to con you out of your money. Even after seeing official paperwork, carrying out independent checks and searching official registers, Sarah Harding from Somerset was left £7k out of pocket to a Facebook Marketplace scam.

Sarah's bank, Monzo, refused to reimburse her – find out what our scams expert advises them to do next.

Facebook Marketplace cons

Source: Which? (23 Oct 2024)

Worst banks for reimbursing fraud victims

Is your bank doing enough to reimburse victims of fraud? New data reveals an alarming gap between the best and worst banks for returning stolen money.

While the best firm returned 88% of customer losses, the worst returned just 9%.

See how your bank compares

Source: Which? (01 Aug 2024)

Report A Scam In 60 Seconds

To protect yourself from falling victim to scam and fraud phone calls, it's important to take certain precautions.

If you receive a call claiming to be from your bank but you're unsure if it's legitimate, do not panic or dial the number provided by the caller.

Instead, use a different phone to dial 159, which is a secure line for verifying the authenticity of the call.

Keep in mind that 159 will never initiate a call to you, so if you receive a call from this number, it's likely a scam attempt.

By taking these steps, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of phone scams and fraud.

Further information is available as follows:-

• https://stopscamsuk.org.uk/159
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09xzms6
• https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/can-the-new-159-anti-fraud-hotline-stop-impersonation-scams-a3sp35C1gDCC