Stay Safe in Our Community: Latest Scams to Watch Out For and How to Protect Yourself

Community Alert: New Fraud Tactics & How to Stay Safe

Criminals are constantly updating their tactics to exploit trust, using artificial intelligence, deceptive phone calls, and high-pressure situations to catch people off guard. To help keep our neighbourhood safe, we have put together a summary of the latest scams circulating across the UK and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbours.

1. AI Voice Cloning & Deepfake Emergency Scams

• How it works: Scammers use short audio clips or video snippets taken from social media to replicate the voice or appearance of a loved one or authority figure using artificial intelligence. They then contact you claiming there is an urgent emergency — such as a relative being arrested, involved in an accident, or needing immediate bail money.

• Red Flag: High pressure to transfer funds straight away using untraceable methods like gift vouchers, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

2. "Digital Arrest" & Government Imposter Frauds

• How it works: Criminals pose as police officers, HMRC officials, or UK Border Force agents over video or telephone calls. They claim that you or a family member are linked to a crime and force you to stay on the call (a simulated "digital arrest") until you pay a fine or move money into a fake "safe account".

• Red Flag: Threats of immediate arrest, being told you must stay on a video call, or demands to transfer money to "protect" your bank accounts.

3. Remote Work & Fake Job Recruitment

• How it works: Posing as recruitment agencies or tech employers, fraudsters advertise high-paying work-from-home jobs (such as data entry or testing AI systems). After a brief online interview, they ask for money upfront for office equipment or request sensitive bank details under the guise of setting up payroll.

• Red Flag: Job offers made without a proper face-to-face or official video interview, or requests to buy equipment upfront.

4. Fraud Recovery Scams

• How it works: Fraudsters specifically target individuals who have previously lost money to a scam. Posing as police officers, legal representatives, or recovery agents, they claim they have recovered the stolen funds and can return them — provided you pay an upfront administrative fee.

• Red Flag: Any request to pay money in advance to recover previously stolen funds.

5. One-Time Passcode (OTP) Interception Bots

• How it works: A fraudster attempts to log into your online banking, triggering your bank to text a real security code to your phone. At the exact same time, an automated phone call (a "bot") contacts you pretending to be your bank warning of a security breach, asking you to type that security code into your telephone keypad.

• Red Flag: Unexpected automated calls asking you to enter security codes you have just received on your mobile phone.

Key Rules to Stay Safe

• Agree on a Family Password: Set up a memorable, secret word or phrase with relatives to easily verify genuine emergency calls.

• Take Five & Challenge: If you receive an unexpected call claiming to be from your bank, HMRC, or the police, hang up immediately. Wait five minutes for the line to clear, then call the organisation back using an official number from a bill or website.

• Never Share Passcodes: Legitimate banks and police officers will never call or text asking for your one-time passcodes, PINs, or banking passwords.

• Report It: If you suspect a scam or have lost money, report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040 (or Police Scotland on 101), and inform your bank immediately.

Please share this advice with elderly neighbours, relatives, and friends who may not be online.

N E I G H B O U R H O O D WAT C H C O M M U N I T Y A D V I S O RY (pdf) 

🎄 Take Care Over the Christmas Period: Stay Safe & Savvy!

The festive season is fast approaching! For many of us—especially Mums, Dads, and Grandparents—this means diving headfirst into the whirlwind of Christmas bazaars, school plays, last-minute shopping, and bracing for the onset of the school holidays. It's easy to reach the big day feeling a potent combination of exhaustion, depleted bank balances, and the seasonal outbreak of 'Christmasitis.'

We all look forward to the joy Christmas brings, hoping that the presents we've bought will actually work (and that Santa remembered to pack those essential batteries!).

Sadly, in our materialistic society, the true meaning of Christmas often gets lost or obscured. While we acknowledge the pressures from media and retailers, it’s important to remember the deep meaning this time holds for believers worldwide.

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A Time for Community and Preparedness

Christmas offers an ideal opportunity for organisations to promote their good work. This includes Bexley Neighbourhood Watch (Bexley NW) and all its dedicated volunteers—the street coordinators and committee members.

It’s also a timely reminder for all of us to be well-prepared for Christmas and the New Year. Make sure you have a good supply of food and warm clothing in case the bad weather makes an unwelcome return. As good, caring citizens, we should always be ready to help others in need of support in your community, especially at this time of year.

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🛡️ Be Cyber Aware: Combatting Festive Fraud

“With a sharp rise in fraud reporting at Christmas time it is more important than ever that people do everything they can to protect themselves from fraudsters stopping them from enjoying the holiday season at the expense of others.”

Action Fraud has provided key tips for protecting yourself from becoming a victim of shopping fraud this Christmas:

Think Before You Buy

• Bargains: If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. It's probably poor quality, fake, or doesn't exist.

• Emails/Texts: Never click on unsolicited emails or text messages. Criminals are skilled at making these look like they come from a legitimate business.

• Tickets & Travel: Always buy tickets from official sources and never pay by direct transfer. If booking a holiday, research it thoroughly and check it's registered with ABTA and ATOL.

• Payments: When buying on auction sites, use secure methods like PayPal. Never transfer money directly to someone you don’t know.

• Wi-Fi: Secure Wi-Fi is vital for your privacy. Check that the network you're using is secure before making any financial transactions.

Keep Your Purchases Secure

• Software: Ensure your anti-virus software, operating systems, and other security measures are up to date on all your electronic devices.

• Passwords: Create strong passwords that are unique for each account. A great tip is to use three random words for a memorable yet secure password.

For more information and tips on how to protect yourself online, visit the Moneywise hub in partnership with Cyber Aware – Stay secure online: How to be Cyber Aware - and see Cyberaware.gov.uk.

If you think you've been a victim of fraud, contact your financial provider immediately, and notify Action Fraud via its website or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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🏡 Seasonal Safety Tips for Home & Away

With Christmas rapidly approaching, here are a few seasonal tips to help keep you safe at home, shopping, visiting, and after Christmas too:

Home Security

• Storage: If storing food, drink, or presents in garages and outbuildings, ensure they are out of sight and that the building is securely locked with good quality, well-fitted locks.

• Visibility: Avoid tempting window shopping burglars; don't leave presents and valuables on full view in front of a window.

• Deliveries: If having parcels delivered, make sure you arrange a suitable secure delivery location to reduce the risk of theft.

• When Leaving: Always ensure that your windows and doors are closed and locked. Don’t attract burglars by leaving your home in darkness; use lights on timers, or even treat yourself to a TV simulator.

• Rear Access: Lock back gates to keep unwanted visitors from accessing the rear of your home.

Car Safety

• De-Icing: Never leave your car unattended with the engine running to de-ice it. It takes seconds to steal, and it will invalidate any insurance claim.

• Parking: Park safely; look for a Parkmark accredited car park (find one at www.parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder).

• Valuables: Check your car is locked before you leave it and don’t leave valuables and gifts on display in your car.

Out & About

• Personal Belongings: Whether you're enjoying an evening out or Christmas shopping, keep your bags, wallets, and mobile safe. Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times.

• Christmas Get-Togethers: Consider how you are getting home in advance and avoid using unlicensed taxis. Ensure you drink responsibly, social distance, and are aware of your surroundings while keeping your drink and belongings safe. (See more personal safety tips at www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/personal-safety).

Post-Christmas

• Social Media: Watch what you put on social media; check your settings to ensure you are not broadcasting when you are not at home and the lovely gifts you may have received.

• Packaging: Don’t advertise your nice gifts to thieves by putting the empty boxes out for collection. Disguise them, fold them up inside out, or put them inside another non-descript box.

• New Property: Record your new property free on www.immobilise.com. Install tracking and security apps on relevant electrical and computer products.

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Wishing you all a Great Christmas and New Year!!

For further crime prevention advice, including useful resources and guidance on reporting incidents, see our Bexley NW-Blog at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/.

You can also check out our recent post on security tips: Visit https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2025/10/secure-your-haul-how-to-beat-black.html for further tips.

To join Bexley NW and get our bi-weekly newsletter informing you of all the latest scams and crime prevention items, you can sign up here: https://www.bexleywatch.org.uk/volunteer_form.php.

Passkey Support in KeePassXC and Bitwarden 🔑

Both KeePassXC and Bitwarden have integrated support for passkeys, allowing you to store and manage them within your password manager vault, which is a significant development for those who rely on these tools for security.

• Bitwarden: Bitwarden offers comprehensive passkey support. You can create and manage passkeys directly within your Bitwarden vault, use them as a two-step login for your Bitwarden account itself, and even log in to Bitwarden securely with a passkey instead of a master password. This functionality is available across its web, desktop, and mobile apps, with a focus on a seamless user experience.

• KeePassXC: KeePassXC also supports passkeys, though it requires the use of its browser extension. Passkeys are saved as new entries in your database, and the browser extension acts as the bridge between your browser and the desktop application to enable authentication. The passkeys are stored securely within your KeePassXC database, making them portable across devices.

Using passkeys with Bitwarden

This video provides an overview of how passkeys work with the Bitwarden password manager, which is a great starting point for anyone looking to understand the process. 

Using passkeys with KeePassXC

This video provides an overview of how passkeys work with the KeePassXC password manager, which is a great starting point for anyone looking to understand the process. 

Further information:

•  https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2025/05/what-is-passkey.html
•  https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2024/07/lock-down-your-digital-life-free.html

No, Don’t Write Down Passwords

Read the blog on using password managers instead. The following useful advice explains why it is not safe nor secure:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3_fN0P6zGQ&t=3s (Ask Leo video)
• https://askleo.com/no-dont-write-down-passwords/ (Ask Leo)

 

What is a Passkey?

In essence, a passkey is a digital credential that's unique to a specific website or application and is securely stored on your device (like your phone, computer, or a security key). Instead of typing in a password, you authenticate using a biometric method (like fingerprint or face recognition) or a PIN that unlocks your device.

Think of it this way:

• Traditional Password: Like a physical key that you have to remember and can be copied or stolen.
• Passkey: More like your fingerprint or face ID – it's unique to you and your device, and can't be easily phished or reused on another website.

Here are some key benefits of passkeys:

• Stronger Security: Passkeys are resistant to phishing attacks, brute-force attempts, and other common password-related threats because they are cryptographically tied to the website or app and your device.
• Convenience: Logging in becomes much faster and simpler – no more trying to remember complex passwords!
• No More Password Management: You don't need to create, remember, or update multiple passwords.
• Multi-Device Sync (Optional): Some platforms allow you to securely sync your passkeys across your devices, further enhancing convenience.

While passkey adoption is still growing, major platforms like Google, Apple, and Microsoft are embracing them, and more and more websites and apps are starting to support them. It's definitely looking like the future of secure authentication!

Useful information:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lBixL_qpro&t=1s (Ask Leo video)
• https://askleo.com/what-is-a-passkey/ (Ask Leo)