'Are You Okay' Street harassment video and campaign

If you witness street harassment, when it is safe to do so, ask the person who experienced it if they are okay. This lets them know that you stand by them and that street harassment is never okay.

click image to view enlarged

Source: Street Harassment and Report and support.

Vehicle Crime be on your guard from BBNWA

Thieves are targeting unlocked cars, especially these models

Many residents are making it easy for thieves by not locking their vehicles and leaving items of value in cars on show.

We also regularly hear of the inconvenience it causes and the items that were in the car at the time such as push chairs, kid’s games consoles, sports equipment etc.

Stolen cars are regularly used to commit other offences and can regularly end up in police pursuits putting lives at risk.

Studies show that over 40% of our daily tasks or actions are not conscious choices but habits and that we are able to turn routines into habits. Thieves know if certain models of car are unlocked as the wing mirrors remain out so you may as well leave a sign on the car – UNLOCKED !

We ask all vehicle owners over this summer period and beyond, please, let’s get the most basic crime prevention action into a habit and lock our vehicles, even get into the habit of double checking before we go to bed.

Unfortunately the following cars are still being stolen to order and targeted in high numbers across London and the counties. A new device on the market makes many of these Korean and Japanese SUV’s / PHEV’s extremely vulnerable and even the use of a faraday pouch / box will not prevent them from getting stolen. If you or any of your family and friends own one of these vehicles we would strongly recommend fitting a secondary physical security device such as a steering lock / pedal lock / OBD port lock or wheel clamp that is Sold secure / Secured by design (SBD) approved.

Newly Targeted

• Nissan Qashqai and Nissan Navara
• Kia Sportage and Kia Niro
• Hyundai Ionic and Hyundai Tucson
• Mitsubishi Outlander.

Current top two stolen cars

• Range Rover
• Ford Fiesta’s

Guard Your Location: The Perils of Sharing on Social Media

In Colin's Blog, the dangers of sharing location information on social media are explored.

Posting geolocation tags that reveal exact addresses can lead to potential risks, such as being found in person by strangers or putting children at risk of unwanted contact.

Oversharing can also make one's home vulnerable to theft, especially if it's known that they are away on vacation.

To minimise these risks, Colin provides valuable tips on how to keep your location hidden, such as disabling location settings, checking app preferences, and adjusting privacy settings on social media accounts. The blog also highlights the impact of social media burglary on insurance policies, as insurance claims are being rejected due to posts triggering burglaries.

Insurance companies now emphasise the need for customers to exercise "reasonable care" in securing their property and discourage sharing vacation or purchase-related pictures on social media. By being discreet about location information, users can still stay connected with friends and family on social media without compromising their safety and security.

How to Protect Your Nectar Points from Fraud

Nectar points (and other similar clubcards)

Social media reports circulating suggest fraudulent activity on their Nectar card.

Here are some tips on what to do if you experience this:

1. Contact Nectar immediately. The sooner you report the fraudulent activity, the sooner Nectar can investigate and take steps to protect your account.
2. Check your Nectar account activity. Go to the Nectar website or app and check your account activity. This will show you all of the transactions that have been made on your account, including the fraudulent ones.
3. Keep a copy of your receipts. If you have any receipts from the stores where you used your Nectar card, keep them as evidence. This will help Nectar to investigate the fraud.
4. Change your Nectar password. This will help to prevent the fraudsters from accessing your account again.
5. Be vigilant about your online security. Make sure that you are using strong passwords and that you are not clicking on any suspicious links.

It is important to note that Nectar may not be able to explain what happened in your case. However, they should be able to investigate the fraud and take steps to protect your account.

Here are some additional tips to help you keep your Nectar points safe:

• Never share your Nectar card number or PIN with anyone.
• Be careful about what information you share online. Fraudsters can use information like your name, address, and date of birth to steal your Nectar points.
• Keep your Nectar card in a safe place. If you lose your card, report it to Nectar immediately.
• Check your Nectar account activity regularly. This will help you to spot any fraudulent activity early.

By following these tips, you can help to protect your Nectar points from fraud.

A massive list of usernames and passwords is also being used so check your Nectar account - the first thing they will do is change your security details and then have a card sent to their mule addresses (source: LatestDeals)

Go to this website and check your email address - It will tell you if you have been hacked so change your password immediately!

Visit https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to check yours.

Nectar Fraud was also reported by Watchdog in the article.

Nectar advice on Staying Safe Online.

Dodgy Facebook ads offering free train travel

Fraudsters are creating Facebook ads claiming that Network Rail is offering 150 travel cards for free. Clicking these ads will take you to a fraudulent website that requests your personal information, including bank details, to pay £3 for postage.

See our example of what this scam looks like and what actions to take if you come across it.

Bogus travel cards

Source: Which? (25 Jul 2023)

5 holiday scams you need to beware of this summer

Peak travel season is here and scammers are attempting to take the shine from your summer trip. One scam involves fraudsters installing ‘skimming’ devices on cash machines to steal banking information while victims withdraw their money.

Did you know that in 2022-23, there were more than 6,400 reports of holiday fraud, with £15m lost to scammers?

Find out about the scams you’ll need to be on your guard against and follow our tips on how to dodge them.

Stay safe abroad

Source: Which? (25 Jul 2023)

Keeping Your Children and Grandchildren Safe Online This Summer

The summer holidays are a time for children to relax, have fun, and make new memories. But it's also a time when they're more likely to spend time online. With all the extra screen time, it's important to make sure that your children and grandchildren are safe online.

Here are some tips to help keep your children safe online this summer:

• Talk to your children about online safety. Talk to your children about the risks of online predators, cyberbullying, and inappropriate content. Explain to them that they should never give out personal information to strangers online, and that they should always tell you if they see anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Set up parental controls. Most devices and apps come with parental controls that you can use to restrict your children's access to certain websites, apps, and features. Use these controls to block inappropriate content and to limit the amount of time your children spend online.
• Monitor your children's online activity. It's important to keep an eye on your children's online activity, even if you've set up parental controls. Check their browsing history and social media accounts regularly, and talk to them about what they're doing online.
• Teach your children about online privacy. Help your children understand the importance of online privacy. Explain to them that they should never share their passwords or personal information with anyone online, and that they should be careful about what they post on social media.
• Be a role model. Children learn by example, so it's important to be a good role model when it comes to online safety. Be careful about what you post on social media, and make sure that you're setting a good example for your children.

By following these tips, you can help keep your children safe online this summer. Remember, the internet can be a great place for children, but it's important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect them.

For more information on online safety, visit the following websites:

• Get Safe Online: https://www.getsafeonline.org/
• Internet Matters: https://www.internetmatters.org/
• Childnet International: https://www.childnet.org

Stay safe online this summer!

Read the leaflet and for more information visit here.