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 and thousands not 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.

Rogue Traders

This week we have seen reports of Rogue Traders operating in Maidstone, Ashford, and Gillingham.

Please be wary of cold callers offering to undertake work on your property as this work may not be necessary or may not be completed to a satisfactory standard or not completed at all. You may also be overcharged or out of pocket.

If seeking a tradesperson to undertake some work on your property, please remember to always:

• Obtain at least three written quotes.

• Ask family and friends for recommendations.

• Agree payment arrangements and start and finish dates in writing beforehand.

• Never pay in full until you are completely satisfied with the work.

• Never accept a quote on the doorstep from an unsolicited caller.

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.

Winter Heating Subsidy Scam

There have been a couple of reports this week of people receiving a text message, stating that they were eligible for support but needed to click on a link to update their data.

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

If you are eligible for the winter fuel payment, you will be paid automatically.

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.

A Reminder of Useful Telephone Numbers and Websites

Reporting a Scam-

• If you need to contact your bank quickly, then ring 159. You will hear an automated message and will then be asked which bank you require. Simply state the bank and you will be connected to their customer services department.

• To report a fraud, then contact Action Fraud. You can report either on line via the following website at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

• You can report fake/phishing emails by simply forwarding to report@phishing.gov.uk and there is no need to explain why you are forwarding it, just simply send it.,

• Like fake emails, you can report fake texts by forwarding to 7726.

Useful Websites-

• Kent Police - Advice About Fraud | Kent Police 

• Home Office fraud campaign - Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams.

• If you want to know if your email account has been compromised, in other words, do criminals know the password for your email, then visit – Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach and follow the instructions. If it has been compromised, then to fix it, you simply need to change your password. To find out how to create a strong password visit – National Cyber Security Centre - NCSC.GOV.UK

Contacting Kent Police-

• To report a non-urgent crime online to Kent Police, then visit www.kent.police.uk/Report.

• To talk to Kent Police via LiveChat then visit www.kent.police.uk/contact.

• In an emergency, if a crime is in progress or life is in danger call 999.

• For non-emergency calls you can also ring 101.

• If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use Kent Police textphone service 18000 or text them on 999 if you are pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.

Quishing Attacks - Be Alert

Criminals create malicious QR codes that, when scanned, lead to fraudulent websites or prompt downloads of harmful software. As people increasingly use QR codes for various purposes, such as accessing menus or making payments, they may unknowingly scan these deceptive codes, putting their personal information at risk.

Canterbury City Council found a number of fake QR codes on their car parking machines recently and want to remind residents not to scan any QR code you see on a parking machine. Payment for parking by QR code is not something Canterbury City Council offer at any of their car parks or for on-street parking.

Before scanning a QR code, like in a car park, restaurant, or some other public space, check that it hasn't been tampered with or got a sticker placed over an original code. If you see a QR code that is on a card in a public place, ask a member of staff before proceeding.

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.

Romance Scams

We are seeing an increase in requests/use of gift cards by criminals in their scams, in particular, for romance scams.

Gift cards are easily negotiable for the criminals and makes it difficult for banks to stop and block the transaction.

Never send money or gift cards to a person you have only ever met online, no matter how time critical a reason they give.

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)