Steer clear of scam traders

We recently spoke to Briony, who paid a scam builder £1,050 for materials for her project. Three months later, only two hours of work had been completed, and what had been built was later deemed unstable.

See what happened in this nasty case of a serial scam trader, and find out how to avoid this type of fraud.

Source: Which? (15 Oct 2025) 

Ask Silver scam checker: now available on your desktop

Ask Silver: 

Got a suspicious text, message or email?

Grab a screenshot, and Ask Silver now.

 Visit https://www.getsafeonline.org/asksilver/

Before you start

Please do not upload screenshots with personal or sensitive information, including:

Telephone numbers

Postal addresses

Email addresses

Photographs of you or anyone else you know

Financial information (including bank account numbers, sort codes and card numbers)

While Ask Silver aims to provide you with an accurate result, the final result is not guaranteed to be 100% correct. Always do your own research.

It is also available on Whatsapp. 

Visit previous post at https://bexleywatch.blogspot.com/2025/02/ask-silver-scam-checker.html

The latest scams doing the rounds

You can always keep up to date on the most recent scams targeting people across the UK.

The latest warnings to be aware of include a TV Licence scam, fake Screwfix ads and dodgy cryptocurrency emails. Take a look at the full list, based on your reports to our Which? Scam Action Alerts Facebook community and to our scam sharer tool.

Source: Which? (07 Oct 2025)

Deepfake scams warning

Last year, we exposed a global financial scam called Quantum AI, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to impersonate well-known people, aiming to lure victims into dodgy investment schemes.

It's now reappeared, but this time on YouTube, where we found eight dodgy videos. Take a look at what we uncovered and what you can do to avoid falling victim to similar AI scams.

Source: Which? (08 Oct 2025)

30% of bank transfer fraud claims are rejected

A year ago, new rules were introduced, requiring firms to reimburse victims of bank transfer fraud (when you accidentally transfer money to a scammer) within five business days in all but exceptional cases. The good news is that the reimbursement rates are relatively high, however 30% of claims were rejected in first nine months of the scheme.

Find out how it works and how to fight your corner if a claim gets rejected and you think you've been treated unfairly.

Source: Which? (08 Oct 2025)

Peace of Mind in a Booklet: Age UK’s Free LifeBook

🌟 Stop the Paper Chase: Organise Your Life (and Loved Ones’ Future)

If you’re anything like us, you have a cupboard, a drawer, or a folder somewhere that holds all your essential life admin. You know the one—the place where insurance policies, utility bills, and that elusive car registration paper go to live (and be forgotten).

But what if you suddenly needed to access that information quickly? More importantly, what if a family member or a trusted friend needed to sort out your affairs in an emergency?

The thought alone is stressful.

That’s where Age UK’s LifeBook comes in—a completely free and invaluable resource designed to help you bring all those practical details together in one safe place. It’s not just for older people; it’s a brilliant tool for anyone who wants to get their life admin sorted.

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📘 What is the Age UK LifeBook?

The LifeBook is a structured guide that encourages you to record the key practical details of your life. It ensures that your loved ones have the non-sensitive information they need if they ever have to sort something out on your behalf, providing immense peace of mind.

It breaks down your life into easy-to-manage sections, so you don’t have to do it all at once:

Section	What it Covers	Why it Matters
Personal Details	Family and friend contacts, pets, and key medical information.	Immediate contacts for emergencies.
Life Contacts	Solicitors, doctors, utility suppliers (gas, water, electricity), and clubs.	Helps a loved one know who to call to manage ongoing services.
Financial	Names of your banks, savings, insurance, and investment providers.	Provides an index of where your money and policies are.
Documents	Location of your Will, Power of Attorney, birth, and marriage certificates.	Crucial for settling an estate or managing your care.
Possessions	Details of your home, car, and other valuable items.	Aids in inventory and insurance management.
Final Wishes	Your preferences for funeral arrangements and any personal thoughts.	Ensures your wishes are respected and relieves a major burden on your family.

🔑 Crucial Safety Alert: How to Use the LifeBook Securely

Because the LifeBook brings so much important information together, safety is paramount. Age UK is very clear that you must treat this document as highly confidential.

1. NEVER Include Key Security Information

The purpose of the LifeBook is to act as an index and contact list—not a master key to your finances.

🛑 Do NOT write down: Full bank account numbers, PINs, passwords, or key security codes.

Do write down: The name of the bank, the type of account (Current, ISA, etc.), and the contact telephone number for the organisation.

2. Keep it Safe and Secured

• If you are using a physical copy, store it in a locked place, such as a fireproof safe or a locked filing cabinet.

• If you download the digital version to complete on your computer, ensure the file itself is password-protected on your device.

3. Communicate Its Location to One Trusted Person

The LifeBook is only helpful if the right person can find it when needed. Be sure to tell a trusted individual—such as your Power of Attorney, spouse, or executor—exactly where you keep it and, if applicable, what the password or key is.

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🏃‍♀️ Ready to Get Organised? How to Get Your Free Copy

This resource is an essential part of later-life planning, and Age UK provides it completely free.

• Download Online: Visit the official Age UK page to download a copy to fill out on your computer or print:

  https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/end-of-life-planning/lifebook/

• Order a Print Copy: If you prefer a physical booklet, you can order one for free by calling the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602.

Taking this small step today will make a monumental difference to your future organisation and the peace of mind of your loved ones.

Source: LifeBook | Age UK 

LFB are facing a record number of e-bike fires for 2025, according to our latest data

 

As of 28 September, 165 e-bike and e-scooter fires have been recorded in London in 2025, including 134 e-bike fires, an average of around 18 e-bike or e-scooter fires a month.

 

If this trend continues for the rest of the year, London will surpass 200 incidents in a single year for the first time.

 

Tragically, one of these fires claimed the life of a 30-year-old woman after a fire broke out at a bedsit in Wood Green on 21 June.

 

Eden Abera Siem was discovered unconscious inside the property and rescued by firefighters, but she sadly died in hospital later that day.

Following an investigation by our Fire Investigation Team, the probable cause was the failure of a charging lithium-ion battery pack for an e-bike.

 

This was the fourth fatal fire involving an e-bike recorded in London and the first since 2023. In all four cases, the person who died did not own or use the e-bike involved in the fire.

 

We have also seen several other serious incidents across the capital resulting in life-threatening injury, serious burns, serious injury from jumping from a window and numerous rescues by firefighters.

 

Assistant Commissioner for Prevention & Protection, Pamela Oparaocha, said: “We continue to see the devastating consequences of e-bike and e-scooter fires in London. Our thoughts are with the family of Eden as well as all those who have been impacted by fires in recent years.

 

“Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are worryingly common in London. Since the beginning of 2023, we have attended a fire, on average, every other day, and some of these fires have destroyed homes and claimed lives.

 

“We launched our #ChargeSafe campaign in 2023 to highlight the fire risks with e-bikes and e-scooters; however the rising number of incidents we attend clearly demonstrate the urgent need for further awareness to help protect lives and avoid future tragedies.”

 

For vital information on how to safely store, charge and use your e-bike or e-scooter, please check out the #ChargeSafe area of our website.

 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/17Qw6J463C/?mibextid=wwXIfr