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

One 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 country as we are all affected by similar offences. The ECRC publishes Stephen Kelly’s weekly K’FAs for its 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.

Latest Fake/Phishing Email – iCloud

Action Fraud have received over 1800 reports of a fake/phishing email, claiming that your iCloud storage is about to run out and that you need to click on a link to buy more storage. However, it is a SCAM.

If you click on the link, you will be taken to a realistic looking website where criminals will look to steal your Apple ID login details, as well as other personal and financial information.

If you get an email like this or any other suspicious looking emails, you can report these by forwarding to report@phishing.gov.uk

Over 345,000 malicious websites have been removed as a result of your reports.

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 Penalty Charge

We are still seeing reports of a parking fine, commonly known as a Penalty Charge Notice, being received via text message. It is a SCAM.

Do not click on the link, as it is designed to take you to a realistic website under the control of the criminals, where they will look to steal your personal and financial data.

If you are not sure if a text message is genuine, then always apply our Scam Awareness message ABC, which is never assume or believe a message is genuine but always confirm. In other words, contact the sender by using a trusted phone number.

You can always report Scam text messages by forwarding to 7726.

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.

Royal Mail Parcel Delivery Text Scam

People are still reporting receiving this type of text message impersonating various delivery companies, saying that you have missed a delivery and that you need to click on a link to rearrange your delivery.

Be wary of clicking on links within emails and text messages, as they are normally scams designed to take you to a realistic looking website under the control of criminals, where they will look to steal your personal and financial data.

If you get an email like this or any other suspicious looking emails, you can report these by forwarding 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.

Romance Scams

We still see a significant number of reports where people have been victims of Romance Scams.

Help protect your friends and family who are online dating by raising awareness of the signs of romance fraud. It could help protect them and their money.

It is important that no matter how long you have been speaking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met them in person, it is important that you do not send them any money or Gift Cards.

Please see the following from Action Fraud - Romance 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.

Netflix Phishing/Fake Email

Be on the lookout for fake emails impersonating Netflix. It is designed to rush you into clicking on a link which will take you to a fake website under the control of the criminals, where they will steal your credit card details.

If you are unsure if an email like this is legitimate, then go to Netflix’s official website and access your account that way. Do not click on suspicious links.

If you get an email like this or any other suspicious looking emails, you can report these by forwarding 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.

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)