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

One such valuable free 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 reaches hundreds of thousands not just in Kent but in other areas up and down the county as we are all affected by similar offences. Starting this week, the ECRC will begin publishing Stephen Kelly's weekly K'FAs for its members. Stay informed and learn about the latest threats targeting the public and bushiness by reading on.

For further information about Fraud, visit Advice about fraud | Kent Police

Calls impersonating Medway Council

Medway Council have issued the following alert in relation to a member of the public having received a call from a number that was spoofing a Medway Council number.

“Residents are being warned about potential scam calls from a false Medway Council phone number.

In a recent case reported on Monday, July 29, a householder received two calls in which a recorded message stated there had been unexplained activity on their bank account – which proved to be incorrect.

The calls are believed to be made using a “spoof” number, which is when scammers change their caller ID to disguise their identity from the person they are calling.

To avoid risk of fraud, never give out personal information in response to a call or rely upon the Caller ID as the sole means of identification, particularly if the caller asks you to do something which might have financial consequences. If someone rings you asking for your bank details, do not provide them.”

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

Nat-West Fake/Phishing Emails

Be on the lookout out for these FAKE NatWest emails claiming that your account's contact number has been updated.

Action Fraud have reported receiving over 151 reports of these across the UK. The email will state that your request to change your mobile number on your account has been received and updated but that if it was not you requesting the update, then click on the link within the message to cancel the request.

However, it is a scam and the link will take you to a realistic looking website under the control of the criminals where they will steal your personal and financial data.

If you receive a communication from your Bank and are uncertain, you can contact them by ringing 159.

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

How to Report various Fraud Types

If you are a victim of fraud or an online crime (cybercrime) you can report to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Additionally, you can report other types of Fraud and Scams to the following,

• business or personal tax fraud to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs)

• scams to do with HMRC directly to them

• benefit fraud on GOV.UK

• immigration fraud to the Home Office

• counterfeit (fake) medicine or medical devices to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)

• online child abuse or suspicious online behaviour involving a child to your local police force or to the Child Exploitation Online Protection Command

• Report fraud, bribery or corruption | Kent Police

• Electoral fraud | Kent Police

You can report fake/phishing emails by forwarding to Report@phishing.gov.uk and fake text messages by forwarding to 7726 (Spam).

Fake Evri Text messages

A Kent resident asked that I remind everyone about the threat of fake text messages impersonating Evri, as they received a text from a mobile number about re-delivering a parcel. As the intended victim was expecting a parcel, they unfortunately clicked on the link within the text message and started to complete their details. However, when it started to ask for personal data, they realised it was scam. Then applying the scam awareness of ABC (never Assume or Believe a message is genuine and always Confirm) they contacted the company who confirmed it was scam.

Information on Evri’s website states the following –

How will Evri contact you?

Generally, we will contact you by email or text message to advise where your parcel is in our delivery process. At times, this may include a tracking link. We may also contact customers by email or text message and ask for information in relation to an ongoing claim.

Our emails will typically be from @evri.com, @hermes-europe.co.uk or @myhermes.co.uk.

Our SMS messages:

• Will not show the sender’s name as a mobile phone number.

• Will never ask you for payment.

• Will never include a link except for a tracking link called https://evri.link/...... (Please be aware even if the link does show as https:/evri.link/..... we cannot guarantee this is genuine. If you are unsure do not click a link and do not enter any personal details.

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

Amazon Scams

Whilst travelling around the county delivering presentations to various groups, several people have stated there is a high level of fake Amazon phone scams and text messages circulating. Therefore, I thought it would be useful if I circulated the official information from Amazon on how to identify if a call or text message is fake. Please see the following -

How do I know if a call was from Amazon?

If you receive a suspicious phone call claiming to be from Amazon, here are some things you can look out for:

• Amazon will never ask for payment or offer you a refund you do not expect.

• Amazon will never ask you to make a payment outside of our website (EG via bank transfer, e-mailing credit card details, sharing gift card details over the phone, etc.)

• Amazon will never ask you for remote access to your device EG by asking you to install an app.”

  
  

In relation to fake text messages, they state the following –

How do I know if an SMS was from Amazon?

Smishing scams are becoming increasingly advanced: Scam messages can be inserted into a thread of legitimate messages that you might have received from Amazon. If you receive a suspicious SMS claiming to be from amazon (sometimes called Smishing), here are some things you can look out for:

• Scam texts will often say there is a problem with your account, ask you for sensitive information like passwords, or state that you are owed a refund. Amazon will never ask for your password or personal information by text Message.

• Amazon will never ask for your personal information, or ask you to make a payment outside of our website (EG via bank transfer, emailing credit card details, etc.) and will never ask for remote access to your device EG by asking you to install an app.”

  
  

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

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)