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Crime/Warnings

SCAM WATCH

 (28/10/2023)

Take care if you’re shopping on online marketplaces like Facebook.

 

There has been a 75% increase in people getting scammed when shopping for things like cars, tickets and clothes on Facebook Marketplace.

 

Here are some things to look out for:

 

  • Always remember the simple test. ‘Is it too good to be true?’

 

  • It’s not a bargain if it never turns up.

 

  • Do you have to pay right away?

 

  • A genuine seller won’t pressure you into a quick sale.

 

  • Can you meet the seller in person?

 

  • Look for things nearby so you can check the item before you pay.

 

  • Will they let you pay by card?

 

  • Never pay by bank transfer.

 

  • Pay by debit or credit card to protect your money.

 

NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY CENTRE

(10/10/2023)

 

Suspicious message reporting.

 

Timely alerts help us to act quickly and protect many more people from being affected. As of May 31st 2023, the number of reports received stand at more than 20,995,000, with the removal of more than 129,000 scams across 235,000 URLs. We are unable to inform you of the outcome of our review, but we can confirm that we do act upon every message received.

 

We will analyse the content of the email you have sent to us and any websites it links to. If we discover activity that we believe to be malicious, we may:

  • seek to block the address the email came from, so it can no longer send emails

  • work with website hosting companies to remove links to malicious websites

  • raise awareness of commonly reported suspicious emails and methods used with the help of our partners

 

Please note…You should not report a suspected crime to us. If you think you may have been a victim of fraud or ‘cyber crime’, you should report it:

  • to Action Fraud if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland: www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040

  • to Police Scotland if you live in Scotland: call 101

 

There are a number of ways you can protect yourself from attacks like this and the NCSC has published plenty of advice that will help you to stay secure online; for example:

  • The NCSC’s top tips for staying secure online

  • Phishing attacks: how to deal with suspicious messages and emails

  • Securing your devices

 

For a full overview of the NCSC’s advice for the general public please see our dedicated individuals and families webpage.

 

How we handle the information you send to us.

 

Transmitting information over the internet is generally not completely secure, and we cannot guarantee the security of an individual’s data, which is sent at your own risk. We do however have procedures and security features in place to keep data secure once we receive it.

We may share details with various government departments, our Law Enforcement partners (such as the National Crime Agency and the City of London Police) and other organisations where doing so is necessary and proportionate for the proper discharge of our statutory functions. We won’t share an individual’s information with any other organisations for marketing, market research or commercial purposes.

 

The information we hold is exempt from Freedom of Information requests.

 

For further detail on how we handle information you send us, please see our Privacy Statement.

Further information about reporting suspicious emails to the NCSC can be found at www.ncsc.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails

 

NATIONAL CROSS-SECTOR SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS

CSSC MESSAGE

 

Of note, the link to the FREE ACT training is attached, we need to get as many of the public to do this as we can, especially those who work in business, or the Community irrespective of role. It is in modules and can be completed in bitesize portions, though only takes 45 mins in total.

a good thing to put on any premises risk assessment!

 

Always trust your instincts: Report suspicious behaviour and save lives - ProtectUK publication date 31/03/2023

 

You may have seen reports in the media a few weeks ago about a man from Surrey, who was reported to

Counter Terrorism Policing after IT repair men noticed suspicious content on his laptop. It’s a timely

reminder of the important part business can play in stopping terrorist activity early.

 

Asad Bhatti appeared to be a normal 47-year-old financial analyst from Redhill, Surrey. Yet, the

unsuspicious businessman assembled home-made explosives and an extremist handbook.

Bhatti was making nitro-glycerine, an explosive liquid, and was testing in his garden. Less than eight

miles away, he had also hired a storage unit where he housed his chemicals and equipment. As well

as his explosives, Bhatti wrote a document titled ‘The Believer's Handbook’. The document was

found on his computer and detailed how to make bombs along with extremist views.

 

Bhatti took his laptop to a computer repair firm in Caterham where the owner, discovered suspicious

files on weapons and even a detailed guide titled 'How to make nitro-glycerine in your kitchen'.

Due to the IT technicians trusting their instincts, Bhatti's harmful ploys were prevented from becoming

reality. The employees reported their findings to the police which meant Counter Terrorism Policing

could get involved and arrest Bhatti. He was arrested and charged in January 2021 and will be

sentenced in April of this year.

 

It only takes a moment to report online. If you’ve seen or heard something that could be related to

terrorism, trust your instincts and report it. Your actions could save lives.

 

Report online here:

https://www.protectuk.police.uk/advice-and-guidance/awareness/act-report-suspicious-activity

ProtectUK offers free ACT Awareness e-Learning - a counter terrorism awareness course. The

course takes 45 minutes in total to complete – 45 minutes that could save lives. To take part in the

course, sign up to ProtectUK and visit: https://www.protectuk.police.uk/group/2?type=catalog

 

ProtectUK -  National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) - Counter Terrorism Policing

 

 

ACTION FRAUD LEAFLET

Please click here to access further fraud information.

SCAMS & CYBER CRIME

 

‘ACTION FRAUD’

National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre.

 

Tel. No. 0300 123 2040

 

If you fear that you may have been scammed you can report fraud and cyber-crime to Action Fraud any time of the day or night using an online fraud reporting tool https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud 

 

You can also report and get advice about fraud or cyber crime using the telephone number 0300 123 2040.

Forward any suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Centre via the following email address: report@phishing.gov.uk   Just forward the email there is no need to attach any message .

 

WHATSAPP SCAM

Information from City of London Police, National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

‘National Policing Lead for Fraud’

 

Action Fraud has received over 60 reports relating to a scam that steals access to a victim’s WhatsApp

Account.

 

The scam begins when a criminal gets access to another WhatsApp account which has you listed as a

contact. The criminal, posing as your friend or someone that’s a member of a WhatsApp group you’re in,

will then send you seemingly normal messages to try and start a conversation with you. However, around

the same time you will receive a text message from WhatsApp with a six-digit code. This is because the

criminal has been trying to login to WhatsApp using your mobile number. The criminal will claim that they

sent you their code by accident and ask you to help them by sending it to them. Once the criminal has this code, they can login to your WhatsApp account and lock you out.

 

The criminal will then use the same tactic with your WhatsApp contacts in an effort to steal more accounts and use them to perpetrate fraud.

 

What you need to do

 

  • Set up two-step verification to give an extra layer of protection to your account.

      Tap Settings > Account >Two-step verification > Enable.

 

  • STOP. THINK. CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity.

 

  • Never share your account’s activation code (that’s the 6 digit code you receive via SMS)

 

  • You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions

 

For more information about how to protect yourself online visit

www.cyberware.gov.uk and takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

 

Every Report Matters: If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to us at Actionfraud,police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040


ON LINE SAFETY

 

Ensure that you passwords are different for your various accounts.

 

Passwords should ideally not be words and a mixture of letters, numbers and symbols.

 

Make sure that you periodically update/change your passwords.

 

If possible don’t write passwords down. If you have to write them down don’t the leave information by your computer. It is also best practice not to save them to your computer or web browser.

 

As a result of data losses at B.A., Amazon and Facebook I was informed, through my bank, that they thought that my security had been compromised. It became apparent that my email account had been ‘hacked’. This has all been made secure and is now available for me to use again.

 

You can be so careful with your data but you are very dependent on others to keep your data safe. If you ever have any doubts about the security of your computer use your anti-virus to complete a ‘deep scan’ and change your passwords.

 

CURRENT SCAMS

(01/04/2023)

PARCEL DELIVERY- UPS or DPD stating  that there is a missed delivery and require you to contact them for re-delivery. Then state there is a charge and want payment.

 

BT – payment requests, an issue with email account along with threats of service loss and payment required

 

Stay safe and check with a number you trust. Report any suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Centre email: report@phishing.gov.uk

​

CURRENT SCAMS

(10/03/2023)

 

TV LICENCE- a very genuine looking email circulating that encourages you to pay your TV Licence via a link in message. After your personal details and banking information.

 

BT – warning of loss of email/broadband service or current bill available to pay. This has been doing the rounds for some time.

 

Stay safe and check with a number you trust. Remember to report any suspicious emails to  the National Cyber Security Centre email: report@phishing.gov.uk

​

***SCAM***

EXPENSIVE TELEPHONE CALL

 

There is another telephone scam going around. You could receive a message on your answering service, or a text, to ring a number commencing 0808 or 0809. The reason could be you have won a prize, regarding money due to you, message or concerning a delivery.

 

As much as the number would appear to be like our free or local call codes the calls actually originate from abroad and you could be charged £1,500.00 for contact them.


DEWIS WALES

Dewis Cymru is a website full of helpful organisations available to support you and your wellbeing. Type the website address below into a web address bar on your phone, tablet or computer to start your search.

www.dewis.wales

Please click here for Dewis Cymru document.
 

ANTI-SCAM & SECURITY ADVICE

 

No organisation, including law enforcement agencies, would ever contact you by email, letter, phone or in person, requesting ‘User Names’, ‘Passwords’, ‘PIN Numbers’ or security information. Never give them out to anybody.

 

There has been a large increase in scams involving BT recently. This has a lot to do with the activity in and around the area with the introduction of fibre broadband.

 

The main thing to remember is that no one who rings you, if it be a Bank, BT, HMRC, Police, etc will ask for passwords, usernames and bank or credit/debit card details. Don't be intimidated or threatened. Ring off and find a number that you know is correct from your contract(s) or account(s).

 

Also don't be misled by items received in the post. There have been very good forged letters received which request you contact a given number which is bogus. This has led to personal and security being requested. Always contact the customer services number you know.

 

If you have any doubt of the legitimacy of any email don't open any attachments or contact any emails or phone numbers contained in them. They may contain viruses to disable your machine or glean passwords and security information.

 

If you are not happy about a phone call just hang up.

 

REMEMBER the information is yours to keep you and your money and information safe.

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