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

How to block spam emails for good

Spam emails often lead to scams – potentially tricking you into handing over personal data and making it harder to spot the emails you actually want to see.

Blocking the sender and reporting the message won’t stop spam when the sender constantly rotates their address. But our experts at Which? Tech Support found a way to block junk before it even appears in your inbox - find out how to do it for yourself.

Say goodbye to spam

Source: Which? (16 May 2025)

Fed Up with Spam Texts and Nuisance Calls? Fight Back!

We've all been there. That jarring ringtone in the middle of a meeting, only to discover it's another unwanted sales call. Or the constant barrage of spam texts clogging up your inbox with dubious offers. It's frustrating, intrusive, and frankly, a waste of everyone's time. But what if you could do something about it? Well, you can!

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent authority set up to promote access to information and protect personal data. And they're on the front line in the fight against nuisance calls and spam texts. They want to hear from you!

Report Those Pesky Pests!

You can report nuisance calls and spam texts directly to the ICO. Whether it was a recorded message or a live caller trying to sell you something you don't need, the ICO wants to know. Every report helps them build a stronger case against the perpetrators.

Why Report? Because it Makes a Difference!

The information you provide is crucial. It helps the ICO investigate and take action against those responsible for these unwanted messages. Think of it as adding your voice to a growing chorus demanding an end to this digital nuisance. While the ICO can't respond to individual complaints, your report contributes to the bigger picture and helps protect others from the same annoyance.

The More Information, The Better

When reporting, you don't have to answer every single question. However, the more detail you can provide, the more effective the ICO's investigations can be. Things like the date and time of the call or text, the number it came from, and any specific details about the message itself are all valuable pieces of the puzzle. Think of yourself as a digital detective!

Your Privacy Matters

The ICO takes your privacy seriously. For more information on how they handle your personal data, you can check out their privacy notice.

Accessibility for All

The ICO is committed to accessibility. If you have an impairment and require a service adjustment to make a report, please let them know. They'll be happy to assist you.

Let's Take Back Our Phones!

So, the next time you're bombarded with a spam text or a nuisance call, don't just sigh and delete it. Take a few minutes to report it to the ICO. Together, we can make a difference and reclaim our phones from the clutches of spammers and cold callers. Let's make those unwanted messages a thing of the past!

#StopSpam #NuisanceCalls #ICO #ReportIt #TakeAction

Source: 

• https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/spam-texts-and-nuisance-calls/
• Report spam texts and nuisance sales calls

How to report scam text messages

Unwanted text messages can be extremely annoying and, in some cases, scams. Reporting them is important as it helps take that message out of circulation.

You can report spam or scam texts directly to your mobile-phone provider free of charge by forwarding the text message to 7726. Use our other tips to help reduce unwanted texts and calls.

How to deal with spam texts

Source: Which? (06 Feb 2025)

Don't Be Fooled: Protect Yourself from Scam Calls and Texts

Scam calls and texts are on the rise, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to trick people out of their money. It's essential to be vigilant and know how to protect yourself.

The alarming truth:

• Eight in ten people experienced a phone scam last summer.
• Fewer than two in ten reported these scams to the authorities.

Don't be a victim:

There's a simple, free way to fight back: 7726.

What is 7726?

• It's a number you can text to report unwanted messages or calls.
• It spells 'SPAM' on a phone keypad – easy to remember!
• Forwarding a scam message to 7726 helps your mobile provider investigate and potentially block the number.

How to report:

• Text: Forward the suspicious text to 7726.
• Call: Check out our video guides for iPhone and Android to learn how to report scam calls.

Landline users:

• Hang up if you receive a suspicious call.
• Don't share personal or bank details.
• Verify the caller's identity by calling the company directly.
• Report the scam to Action Fraud.

What if you've been scammed?

• Report it to Action Fraud immediately: 0300 123 2040 or Action Fraud website.

Spread the word:

Share this information with your friends and family to help protect them from scams.

By working together, we can make it harder for scammers to operate.

More information at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/p/reporting.html

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams

• How to forward a scam text to 7726 on iPhone - https://youtu.be/wb-FaJmjJaI
• How to forward a scam text to 7726 on Android - https://youtu.be/B7LY1NmYCsw
• How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on iPhone - https://youtu.be/XxYSPseveYk
• How to report a scam mobile call to 7726 on Android - https://youtu.be/-VCe8GgXWv0

Source: Ofcom - How to report scam texts and mobile calls to 7726

Fight Spam with Email Aliases

Aliases are a great tool to help reduce spam in your inbox. Here's how they work:

• Creating an Alias: An alias is essentially a different email address that forwards emails to your main inbox. You can create aliases with many email providers or use third-party services like Firefox Relay (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/create-email-mask-through-firefox-relay).
• Using Aliases Strategically: The key to reducing spam is to use a different alias for every website or service you sign up for. This way, if a website leaks your email address or starts sending spam, only that specific alias gets affected.
• Benefits of Aliases: There are several advantages to using aliases:
• Reduced Spam: By containing spam to specific aliases, you can keep your main inbox clean and organized.
• Privacy Protection: You don't have to give out your real email address to every site, reducing the risk of your information being sold or breached.
• Easy Unsubscribe: If you start receiving spam on a specific alias, you can simply delete it without affecting your main account.
• Limitations of Aliases: It's important to remember that aliases aren't a foolproof solution:
• Not All Services Accept Aliases: Some websites might not recognize email addresses with "+" symbols or other characters used for creating aliases.
• Catch-All Issues: Enabling "catch-all" on your domain to accept any email address can backfire, turning your inbox into a spam magnet.

Overall, aliases are a valuable tool in your fight against spam. By using them strategically and understanding their limitations, you can significantly reduce unwanted emails and protect your privacy.

Useful videos:

Check if your email address is in a data breach at https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Report phishing https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/news/phishing

Spotted a suspicious email, website or text message?

 Report it via these free online tools: ⬇️

• Forward an email to report@phishing.gov.uk 
• Report a website at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/section/about-this-website/report-scam-website
• Forward a text to 7726

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Visit https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/p/reporting.html for further ways of reporting.

You can use London's Metropolitan Police Service Contact Centre (MetCC) twitter link to report for non-emergency enquiries 24/7/365. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Beware housing disrepair or energy phone spam call

A local borough resident had a cold-call from 016229377396 claiming to be from Housing Disrepair. 

If it is out-of-the-blue needless to say do not respond to such scam calls.

https://www.unknownphone.com/phone/01622937739 and https://who-called.co.uk/Number/01622937739 revealed that it is likely to be a spam call as follows:-

Find out more and how to report to Action Fraud at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/reporting-a-scam/

For further information visit https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/search/label/vishing

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

 

How to Spot Any Spoofed & Fake Email Scam

An extremely useful video and guide that shows how to spot the signs and what to look for and how to better protect yourself in a spoofed and fake email scam.

You may want a soft beverage, sit down and watch it a few times to get your head around it!

Needless to say do no click on links that turn out of the blue. Take time to research and check this blog for advice and further information on similar scams.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Fake 'Sign in to keep using Microsoft Account' email

A local resident received the following scam and fake email (see screenshot below):-

When tested in a safe browser, the 'Sign in now' button takes the recipient to the following fake URL:-

With the contents below 'CLICK HERE TO VERIFY" in the screenshot below:-

Notice the caption below the screenshot stating 'made in webflow'.

When tested in a safe browser, the link plus clicking it takes you to a fake and deceptive site as shown in the screenshots below:-

The tell-tale signs are evident and links are deceptive and hence unsafe. The recipient alerted Bexley Neighbourhood Watch.

This is doing its rounds as evident in one external site here.

Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.

Reporting cyber crime, fraud or phishing attempt to Action Fraud.

Report suspicious emails: If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, you can report it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding the email to - report@phishing.gov.uk.

Beware Hermes phishing scam text message

The following Hermes text message with the suspicious phishing link (see screenshot) was received by a local resident of Bexley Borough. The google messaging app on the mobile device picked it up as spam as shown in the screenshot.

This was reported by sms to 7726* (short for SPAM) along with the mobile number it was sent from as shown and acknowledged by this service, and the number blocked as shown by selecting the tick box.

Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious texts or emails.

Reporting cyber crime, fraud or phishing attempt to Action Fraud.

Report suspicious emails: If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, you can report it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding the email to - report@phishing.gov.uk.

Report suspected scam texts* which they’ve received but not acted upon to their mobile network provider by forwarding them to 7726, which is free of charge.

Report spam texts and nuisance sales calls

You can report nuisance calls and spam texts to the ICO here.

Report spam texts or report cold calls – that either played a recorded voice or were from a real person – to us and help us stop nuisance marketing messages.

We will use the information you provide to help us investigate and take action against those responsible. We don't respond to concerns individually.

You don't have to answer all the questions we're about to ask you, but please give us as much information as you can. The more evidence we can gather, the more power we have to take action against those making nuisance calls or sending Spam text messages.

Source: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/