Here are the latest fraud alerts from Kent Police.
Courier Fraud Alert
In the last 3 weeks, more than 50 reports of Courier Fraud across Kent have been reported.
Courier fraud occurs when a criminal contacts a victim by telephone purporting to be a police officer or bank official. To substantiate this claim, the caller might be able to confirm some easily obtainable basic details about the victim such as their full name and address.
The criminal may also offer a telephone number for the victim to telephone or ask the victim to call the number on the back of their bank card to check that they are genuine or to not disconnect the call and ring 999. In these circumstances, either the number offered will not be genuine or, where a genuine number is suggested, the criminal will stay on the line and pass the victim to a different individual. After some trust has been established, the fraudster will then, for example, suggest,
– Some money has been removed from a victim’s bank account and staff at their local bank branch are responsible.
– Suspects have already been arrested but the “police” need money for evidence.
– A business such as a jeweller or currency exchange operates fraudulently and requires assistance to help secure evidence.
– An offender has been arrested with the victim’s bank card.
Victims are then asked to co-operate in an investigation by attending their bank and withdrawing money, withdrawing foreign currency from an exchange or purchasing an expensive item to hand over to a courier for examination who will also be a fraudster. At the time of handover, unsuspecting victims are promised the money they’ve handed over or spent will be reimbursed but there is no further contact and the money is never seen again.
THE POLICE WILL NEVER CONTACT YOU ASKING YOU TO WITHDRAW MONEY FROM YOUR BANK OR PURCHASE HIGH VALUE ITEMS FOR THEM TO COLLECT. NEITHER WILL THEY ASK TO COLLECT YOUR BANK CARD(S).
f you think that you may have been a victim of this or any other type of scam, then contact your Bank immediately, which you can do by calling 159 and report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
Fake email impersonating DeWalt offering free products
Action Fraud has received over 3,500 reports about this scam email. The email claims to be offering various free products and asks you to click on a link to access your free item. However, it is all a scam and the link will take you to a realistic-looking website, where the criminals will steal your personal and financial data. Always report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk
Car selling scams on social media
Just recently there has been an increase in reports of people being scammed when buying vehicles online. Typically, these scams involve criminals posting non-existent vehicles or vehicle parts on social media. Scammers will use stolen images of genuine vehicles and sometimes even feature a fake address. The victim then sends the criminals money in anticipation that the vehicle will be delivered. However, it never is and when the victim attempts to contact the seller, they discover the ad and the seller have disappeared. To avoid falling for these scams, use our top tips when browsing online for a new car:
• Be wary of a bargain, as this is common tactic scammers use to lure you in.
• Be especially careful when using an online marketplace.
• Check documents – ask to see the seller’s vehicle logbook (V5C). This is needed when a vehicle is sold, so legitimate sellers should have it.
• Ask for the registration number and check that the details match up on the DVLA’s vehicle enquiry service.
• Look out for pressure-selling tactics, such as telling you that a lot of other people are interested in the vehicle, or you only have a limited time to buy it.
• Don’t pay for anything until you’ve inspected the vehicle. During your inspection, check that the documents and vehicle details all match up.
• Don’t pay via bank transfer, as it offers little protection. Instead use a platform such as PayPal or a credit card for additional protection if
things go wrong.
WhatsApp scams
Banks have recently stated that they are seeing a re-emergence of the “scam of mum and dad,” when criminals will contact a family member stating that they have lost or damaged their phone and advise that they have a new number. They will then ask for financial assistance and request that money is paid into a friend’s bank account, to pay an urgent bill, as due to them having to change their mobile number they cannot access their online banking etc. Of course, it is all a scam. If you get a message like this requesting money, always apply ABC and do not Assume or Believe it is genuine but Confirm by ringing on the existing number that you have for them, as you will find that they know nothing about it.
