The Highway Code: 8 changes you need to know from 29 January 2022

Rules for all types of road users have been updated in The Highway Code to improve the safety of people walking, cycling and riding horses.

There are 8 changes that you need to know about. 

1. Hierarchy of road users
2. People crossing the road at junctions
3. Walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
4. Positioning in the road when cycling
5. Overtaking when driving or cycling
6. People cycling at junctions
7. People cycling, riding a horse and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts
8. Parking, charging and leaving vehicles

Click here to learn more.

Web browsers (and Search Engines) are the gateway to the internet - which door is yours?

Web browsers are the gateway to the internet so it is no surprise that they often become the target of companies or hackers who want to collect information about YOU! Not only can websites track you, but browsers themselves can also send back information about you to the browser’s parent company - In other words, your browsers become spies for the likes of Google or Microsoft and send all these information back to them to monetize! This video will compare the most popular browser options out there and help you make an informed decision best suited to you!

The major browsers discussed in this video are Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Tor Browser, Microsoft Edge, and Brave. There is often a trade-off between privacy and convenience with browsers, but there are some great options that give you a good degree of both. An important note: A privacy-focused browser is essential for private internet usage… but it’s not sufficient. There are many ways your internet usage can be tracked. To learn more, check out some of the other videos in my privacy series, that will give you a great introduction to how to live a modern, privacy-conscious lifestyle!

Watch the useful video to find out which door is yours?

Search engines completely revolutionized how we access the web. If you want to find a website, you can type in keywords and search engines will show you a list of websites that match your criteria.

Watch the useful video to find out about Search Engines and privacy.

Description in the source video.

Beware of A New Phone Scam Bypasses Two-Factor Security Codes

Why it is important to use a unique password for each website or login. Here is why in this useful video to avoid being scammed.

Pwned Passwords are 613,584,246 real world passwords previously exposed in data breaches. This exposure makes them unsuitable for ongoing use as they're at much greater risk of being used to take over other accounts. They're searchable online below as well as being downloadable for use in other online systems.

More at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2021/08/whos-been-pwned.html

Check if your password has been pwned at https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords.

Use a FREE secure password manager to generate secure passwords to use online such as one available at https://bitwarden.com/pricing/.

Be more Cyber Aware and Learn more about Cyber Security at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware.

New Scams to Watch Out For in 2022

Mostly related to the US but the UK scam that is highlighted in this useful video is the Fake NHS Omicron PCR test scam and how it works and what to look out for to not fall for it.

Also to be aware of bold new scams to watch out for in 2022.

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.

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.

Warning about unauthorised pet microchip registry

*WARNING - ‼️Please share on all sites your on. We need to make owners aware that they may not be on a DEFRA approved database and this will have a major impact if their dogs are scanned after going missing or escaping. 

This could be why as scanners we are seeing more and more unregistered chips when we find dogs.

They are the top search for microchipping and do not mention they are not DEFRA approved. 

Why? 

BECAUSE THEY WANT YOUR MONEY‼️❗️

🛑Scam Microchip Database 🛑 

Some people register their pets microchip on the fraudulent microchip database which is allowed to be number one on Google search!  

If you are on UkPetChipRegistry UK database with up to date contact information your pets microchip will read as unregistered!  Defra know about this!!!

Warning about unauthorised pet microchip registry

https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/news-room/2021/warning-about-unauthorised-pet-microchip-registry 

You must make sure that your dog is registered on one of the following databases (they all meet government standards):

• Animal Microchips
• Animal Tracker
• Chipworks
• Identibase
• MicroChip Central
• MicroDogID
• My Animal Trace
• MyPet
• National Veterinary Data Service
• Pet Chip Register
• Pet Identity UK
• Petlog
• PetScanner
• ProtectedPet
• SmartTrace
• UK PETtrac MicroChip Database
• We Trace Pets

Check which Database you are on and call them to make sure they have your correct contact information: https://www.check-a-chip.co.uk

More info:- https://www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped

Warning about unauthorised pet microchip registry

www.tradingstandards.uk (https://www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/news-room/2021/warning-about-unauthorised-pet-microchip-registry)

*Source: Vicki Hudson (Facebook)

NHS Scam warning from a North Cray Residents Association member

A local borough resident received a text message saying his Covid pass was ready, and to use a link* provided below it with a code. It would charge him £4.99 which he thought appropriate with the current deficit the NHS are facing.

The link* navigated to an official looking Government NHS site and asked him to sign in and enter his card details, which he inadvertently did. It then asked for the sort code and bank details which alarmed him.

Quickly deleted everything and froze his bank account.

 
He tried to report this but found it was not easy. He alerted Neighbourhood Watch to warn others that if anyone receives the same text message, to please delete immediately.

It is apparent from this experience a victim can fall for such a scam in this way.

*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.

Please heed the advice in this link at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2022/01/beware-fake-phishing-email-scam.html that shows how to protect yourself.

The https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/ website also shows how to challenge and stop such fraud.

Further guides and information on how to prevent fraud and cyber crime is also available at https://www.met.police.uk/littlemedia. This booklet is a very useful guide which you can download from The Little Book of Big Scams, fifth edition (pdf)

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.