The Latest Frauds - Alert System From Kent Police

The ECRC works closely with local policing to ensure that our members benefit from the free tools and services offered by local policing.

One valuable tool is the Kent Fraud Email Alert System (K'FAs), created by Stephen Kelly, the Fraud Prevent and Protect Officer for Kent Police. This system provides weekly alerts to inform the public and businesses about current scams and how to best protect themselves.

The K'FAs, reach hundreds and thousands, not just in Kent but in other areas up and down the country as we are all affected by similar offences. The ECRC publishes Stephen Kelly's weekly K'FAs for our members so you can stay informed and learn about the latest threats targeting businesses and the general public. For further information about fraud, visit Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

Courts Impersonation Scam

There have been recent alerts regarding residents receiving telephone calls from criminals impersonating County Courts from around the country. They will state that you owe money for a fine or some type of non-payment of fees etc.

If you get a call like this, STOP!

If you are not aware of any possible Court action, then apply our scam awareness message of ABC and do not Assume or Believe the call is genuine and Confirm. Disconnect the call and call the relevant County Court with a number that you have reached and not one the caller has provided. Also remember to ensure the line is disconnected and wherever possible, use a different phone. If one is not to hand, then wait 5 minutes to ring a family member or friend to ensure the line is clear and then call the relevant number.

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.

For further information about Fraud, visit our website at Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

You will also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

Ticket Fraud

Buying tickets online this summer?

Across the UK, over 9800 people reported being a victim of ticket fraud last year, with losses of £9.7 million.

Stay safe whilst securing your tickets for summer events this year.

Paying with a credit card can increase your chances of recovering your money if you are affected by fraud.

Best advice is to only buy tickets from the venue's box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.

You can find out more about how to protect yourself from these types of scams by going to - Ticket Fraud | Action Fraud.

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.

For further information about Fraud, visit our website at Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

You will also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

Fake Telephone Call Impersonating DVLA

There have been reports of residents receiving letters impersonating the DVLA and telling the intended victim that they need to renew their over 70s driving license. The letter provides a link to go to an online website where it asks for personal information and requests a payment £78 to renew the licence.

Fortunately, no money had been lost as the intended victims have contacted DVLA who confirmed that it was a SCAM.

Please be on the lookout for any letters, emails, text messages or calls of this nature.

For further information about other DVLA type scams go to - DVLA releases latest scam images to help keep motorists safe online - 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.

For further information about Fraud, visit our website at Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

You will also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

Courier Fraud

We have received multiple reports of Courier Fraud in the past couple of weeks in the North of Kent, including Gillingham, Gravesend, Chatham, Longfield, Faversham, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford and Deal.

The criminals are still employing various methods from posing as Police Officers from multiple Kent Police Stations stating that they have arrested someone in possession of the victim's bank card to requesting financial information or asking victims to withdraw cash for a courier to collect as evidence.

If you get any calls like this, STOP, it is a scam.

The Police will NEVER ask you for financial details on the phone or request to collect your card or cash or gold as part of an investigation.

Remember the ABC of Scam Awareness and Never Assume or Believe a call is genuine and always Confirm. If you get an expected call from someone claiming to be Police or any other organisation, then take their details and end the call. Then call back using a different phone if available. If another phone is not available, then wait 5 minutes and ring a family member or friend to ensure the line has been disconnected and then ring 101.

Never call a number they have supplied and never ring 999 whilst still on the call with them. You must always disconnect the call first before ringing 101. Watch - Courier Fraud Warning: Courier Fraud Warning: Stay Wise, Don't Compromise.

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.

For further information about Fraud, visit our website at Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

You will also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

WhatsApp Scam - They Want Your 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 is a member of a WhatsApp group you are 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 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.

• THINK. CALL. If you 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 is 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.

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.

For further information about Fraud, visit our website at Advice About Fraud | Kent Police.

You will also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

How can the ECRC support?

By joining the ECRC as a free member, your organisation will be supported in making the small changes that make the biggest difference when it comes to cyber resilience. Becoming a free member means you will receive the latest cyber resilience guidance via email, which will drip feed you ways in which you can improve your cyber resilience without costing any money.

The ECRC website also contains several links to helpful National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) resources, which are all free, up-to-date, and easy to use. Tools such as Exercise in a Box and the NCSC Cyber Action Plan are particularly useful in terms of identifying areas where you could improve your cybersecurity. They also have many informative guides that are sector specific, which will give you useful and detailed information.

If you would like more information about how the ECRC can help your organisation specifically, please book a chat with us today!

Reporting a live cyber-attack 24/7:

If you are a business, charity or other organisation which is currently suffering a live cyber-attack (in progress) please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 immediately. This service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Reporting a cyber-attack which is not ongoing:

Please report online to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You can report cybercrime online at any time using the online reporting tool, which will guide you through simple questions to identify what has happened. Action Fraud advisors can also provide the help, support, and advice you need.

Alternatively, you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (textphone 0300 123 2050).