KCC Scams Update – Great Mongeham Parish Council

22 September 2023

Dear Kent Residents

This week Kent Police informed us of courier fraudsters targeting residents in Dover, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells.

The Police never telephone and ask for your bank card and pin number to be collected by a courier or withdraw cash to assist in an investigation. Please continue to warn friends and family so we all stay safe.

For the latest scams alerts as we receive them please add us on Instagram or Facebook.

Kind regards

Victim Safeguarding Officer

Kent Police report numerous reports of Courier Fraud in Dover, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells.

Three reports were in Dover while other residents have now lost £5,000 to courier fraudsters in Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells – please warn and inform friends and family.

❌ All reports state residents receive a call from the Police and they either need to give their address for a courier to come and get their bank card or money. The scam can change from having a family member arrested and you need to call 999 or that fraud has taken place on your account.

These are all scams.

❎ The Police never telephone and ask your bank card and pin number to be collected by a courier or withdraw cash to assist in an investigation.

❎ Always check the dialing tone after your call to ensure scammers are not still on the phone, use another telephone if possible or call a trusted friend first.

If a courier arrives at your property ring 999.

Watch ‘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.

Scam Christmas Fair targeting Kent Residents

⛔ Often posted on Facebook, it is an invitation to stallholders to book a place. Once the money is taken they post disappears leaving the stallholder out of pocket.

This is a scam.

The Cost of Living means many want to make a little more money by selling homemade crafts, but before paying money ensure they are genuine, check with the venue

For advice and to report contact Citizens Advice on consumer helpline 0808 223 1133 or report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Action Fraud has received 468 reports in two weeks relating to fake emails claiming to be from Asda.

Watch out for these SCAM emails claiming you’ve won a free air fryer. The websites the emails link to are designed to steal your contact info and payment details.

✅ Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk

A Kent resident has reported a TV License scam. They received a message saying their direct debit had been cancelled and they needed to set up a new one by clicking on a link.

This is a scam. TV Licensing guidance says:

✅We include the name and/or part of your postcode in our emails. Many scams simply use your email address or say ‘Dear Customer’.

✅ We send our emails from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk (or donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk).

✅If you are a TV Licensing payment card customer and you make mobile payments via the TVL Pay app, you may receive emails from noreply@paypoint.com. The sender’s name will show as ‘TVL Pay’.

❌Scammers often hide the true email address they’re using, check the email address. On your device, select the sender’s name (or email address) to show the actual email address.

Read more here

Report and get advice from Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133.

Morrisons recalls Morrisons Spanish Chorizo Ring because of the presence of salmonella

Product details
Pack size 200g
Best before 08 December 2023

Advice to consumers
If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund (with or without a receipt).

Full information here

HL R-Team E-Bike Batteries and Chargers presenting a serious risk of electric shock, fire and explosion.

Product information
Type: Electrical appliances and equipment – E-Bike Battery

Affected models: 36V175AH, 36V15AH, 48V20AH, 48V13AH, 48V15AH, 36V15AH, 36V22AH, 48V19AH, 36V10AH

Product Description: Products are supplied individually in cardboard boxes with polystyrene inner. Boxes are marked with a sticky label that has the model number on them and a battery warning label.

More information here

Report scams and get advice from Citizens Advice consumer helpline

Watch Cost of Living Newscast Episodes

If you have information on doorstep criminals, counterfeit, fake or illegal goods, illicit tobacco, loan sharks or those selling restricted items to underage kids, call the charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111

Report to Crimestoppers

To report scams and get advice on consumer issues call Citizen’s Advice consumer helpline on
0808 223 1133.

Report to Citizens Advice

SPEAK UP. STAY SAFE

Trading Standards Checked carries out checks on traders so customers can have peace of mind when choosing a tradesperson to do work in their home.

Please help to keep your family and community safe. If you need work done in your home or garden, visit the website to find a safe local tradesperson.

Visit Trading Standards Checked

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