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.

Warning Over Mobile Phone Delivery Frauds

Residents have been warned to be on guard against an increasingly common method of fraud after two men were arrested and sentenced. Fraudsters are using stolen details to order mobile phones in the names of people from Kent and arrange for the phones to be delivered by legitimate courier companies. The homeowners tend to be puzzled when the devices are delivered, but a fraudster then arrives minutes later pretending to be from the courier company and saying there has been a mistake. They ask the resident to return the item, which they can then sell or use in further offences.

An investigation by detectives from Kent Police linked two men to seven such offences which were carried out in the Maidstone, Sittingbourne, Orpington and Bexleyheath area in May and June 2021. When police saw that a phone used in those offences had arranged another phone purchase in Gillingham, they arrived at the delivery address at the same time as the fraudster, Babatunde Olaonipekun, and arrested him.

Olaonipekun, 42, of Lodge Hill Lane, Rochester, and his accomplice Afis Quadri, 44, of Limeburners Drive, Rochester, were both given suspended sentences at Maidstone Crown Court on 11th September 2024 after admitting conspiracy to defraud.

Detective Chief Inspector Helen Smithers said:

‘We are pleased to have brought these two men to justice, but my team believe offences of this kind are very common and under-reported. Often people do not realise they are victims until it is too late, and sometimes deliveries will be rerouted to a neighbour to reduce suspicion when the second apparent courier asks for the item to be returned. We believe many of the phones, particularly iPhones, which are obtained using these frauds are quickly sent for sale abroad, making the crime difficult to detect. I urge anyone who receives a package which they have not ordered, or has suspicious people calling at their front doors, to check with their banks or the phone company involved and report any offences to the police. Fraudsters often attempt to or succeed in setting up false bank accounts in the names of their victims as part of the fraud, so I urge people to keep an eye on their accounts and report anything suspicious.’

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.

Heartless Criminal Convicted of Romance Fraud

A man behind a romance fraud in which a victim was scammed out of more than £120,000 has been jailed following an investigation by Kent Police. In May 2024, a victim came forward to tell police she has transferred a lot of money to a man she had met online, but now believed she had been defrauded. The woman, who was living in the Medway area, had joined a website to meet new people and had been contacted by a man who claimed to be an army officer involved in ‘covert operations’ in Mali.

Following further messages between the two, the man said he wanted to live with the victim when he returned to the UK. He told her he had a consignment of gold which he needed to import back to the UK and asked if she could help his friend pay the relevant duties and taxes. The woman agreed and in 16 separate transactions in 2022 and 2023, paid £128,500 into accounts the man claimed belonged to his colleague. Detectives found that the accounts had actually been set up by a Maxwell Rusey, formerly of Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

He was arrested in March 2024 and later charged with fraud and money laundering offences after a fake passport used to set up one of the accounts was found in his possession. The 53-year-old admitted money laundering and possession of articles for use in fraud before Woolwich Crown Court and was jailed for five years on Monday 23rd September.

Detective Constable Mark Newman, Kent Police's investigating officer, said:

“Romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence which causes serious emotional harm for victims, as well as the financial impact it entails. Many victims struggle to report offences due to the level of deception used by fraudsters and I would like to praise the victim in this case for coming forward and supporting this prosecution. I am pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of the offence in the sentence handed down and I hope it sends a message to other offenders that jail awaits 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.

Car Sale Scams

We have recently been advised on several reports of people being scammed when selling their vehicles online, in particular in West Kent.

The scam involves 2 or 3 people attending the sellers address and whilst one distracts the seller, another will put oil in the coolant or water in the oil of the vehicle for sale.

They will then show this to the seller and state that the engine, if not blown, has blown and offer a much lower amount for the vehicle.

Best Advice-

• Stay with the buyers- do not leave them alone with the car or allow yourself to be distracted at the rear of the vehicle whilst someone is looking at the engine.

• Be aware of suspicious behaviour- scammers will often request an enormous discount due to the ‘fault’ with the vehicle.

• Be confident to refuse the sale- if you are doubtful about how genuine the buyer is or believe that something suspicious is going on, do not hand over the keys.

  
  

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

Beware of criminals calling pretending to be from Amazon, saying that your account has been hacked.

They will then proceed to ask to access your device where they will encourage you to open an online account to secure a refund.

These criminals are experts at persuasion and speaking to someone on the phone can make it seem more genuine.

Stop and apply the principle of ABC and never Assume or Believe a call is genuine and always Confirm by hanging up and contacting them directly or check your account through a trusted source. If it is real, they will be happy to help.

Additionally, remember that Amazon do not make unsolicited calls to customers, and they will never ask for personal information over the phone.

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.

Fake AA Emails

A fake email impersonating the AA has been reported over 8000 times to Action Fraud.

The fake emails state that you have won a free car emergency kit and all you need to do is click on the link and supply your details. However, 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 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.

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

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)