Kent Police have made us aware of a number of frauds being carried out in Kent during February.
Courier Fraud Alert!
There has been an increase in reports of courier fraud across the county with 6 being reported in Dartford in one day.
Those 6 attacks have been using various ways to target individuals but the most popular has been to call stating they are an officer from a London Police Station and that someone has either been arrested with the victim’s card or that they have arrested a family member with their card. They will then ask for money or the victim’s cards as evidence, which they will collect by courier. The criminals may even ask you as part of an investigation to purchase gold/gold bullion for them to collect!!!
Another call impersonated HMRC stating the victim owed Tax and that they need to pay a courier by that evening or they face being arrested by Police.
All of these are scams, the Police and HMRC will never contact you like this.
If 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.
Life Insurance Fake Emails
Watch out for these FAKE emails claiming to sell life insurance. Action Fraud has received 800 reports of these scam emails, designed to steal your personal information. Always report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. If 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.
Email Account Take Over - Urgent Fraud Alert!
Last week Kent Police received several reports of people’s emails being compromised. The criminals will take over the victim’s account and then impersonate them. They will email people within their friends’ list stating that they are ill or injured and cannot get out of the house and need to get a gift card for a family member’s birthday and ask them to do this for them and to email the gift card code. However, it is a scam. If you get an email like this apply ABC and never Assume or Believe a message asking for money is genuine and Confirm by calling the person and speak to them.
Additionally, you can check to see if your email address has been compromised by checking on the below publicly available website – https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Shoulder Surfing at Cash Points
Kent Police have recently been speaking to colleagues in the banks who have informed me of a rise in shoulder surfing incidents in Kent. This basically involves when you go to use a cash machine and the criminal then looks over your shoulder to see your PIN number. They will then follow you away and distract you, whilst an accomplice steals your Bank Card. When using a cash machine always be aware of anyone standing too close behind you and shield your hand when inputting your PIN Code. If you think that someone is standing too close or acting suspicious, then do not carry out the transaction and report it to Bank Staff or the Police. If 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 - Mystery Box with Prizes
Watch out for these FAKE emails claiming to give away a mystery box with free prizes. Action Fraud has received 7,902 reports of these scam emails, designed to steal your personal information. Always report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. If 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 TV Licensing Emails
Watch out for these FAKE emails claiming to be from TV Licensing and stating that your license is about to expire and that you need to click on a link to update your details. However, it is a scam and it is designed to steal your personal information. Always report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. If 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
