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 reach hundreds and 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 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.

Online Shopping Scams

When shopping online this season stay safe.

Auctions and online marketplaces are a wonderful way to get a good deal. Most items are genuine, but fraudsters use these sites to offer high value items like electronics or designer goods.

Check the seller or buyer's review history and feedback from other reviewers. Beware of accounts that may have been set up very recently with lots of favourable feedback that sounds similar.

You can visit the Action Fraud website for more tips on how to protect yourself at Online Shopping 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.

HMRC SCAM Alert

HMRC is reminding Self-Assessment customers to be alert to potential scams and criminals ahead of the filing deadline on 31st January 2025. Concerned customers reported nearly 150,000 scam referrals to HMRC in the last year, as Self-Assessment filers are warned to be alert to criminals.

With millions of people due to complete their Self-Assessment tax returns and pay any tax owed by 31st January 2025, criminals are targeting people with offers of tax refunds of demanding payments of tax to get hold of personal information and banking details. Around half of all scam reports (71,832) in the last year were fake tax rebate claims.

There has been a 16.7% increase in all scam referrals to HMRC.

If someone receives a communication claiming to be from HMRC that asks for their personal information or is offering a tax rebate, check the advice on Identify tax scam phone calls, emails and text messages - GOV.UK to help identify if it is scam activity.

HMRC will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest or ask for personal or financial information over text messages - only fraudsters and criminals will do that.

You can report any phishing attempts to HMRC by:

• Forwarding emails to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk

• Reporting tax scam phone calls to HMRC on GOV.UK

• Forwarding suspicious texts that claim to be from HMRC to 60599.

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

You can also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to Stay Safe From Scams.

Book Your Fraud Protect Presentation for 2025

It is Christmas and these presentations are FREE.

Our Fraud Prevent and Protect Officer is keen to give presentations to community groups, Businesses, Schools and the public on how to protect yourselves from the threat of scams and avoid criminals stealing your money.

If you are part of, or in charge of any groups that would benefit from this input in 2025, then please contact stephen.kelly@kent.police.uk.

Fake Email Impersonating The Perfume Shop

Action Fraud have received over 3,900 reports of FAKE emails impersonating The Perfume Shop, claiming to offer a free perfume and all you need to do is click on a link within an email, however it is a scam. If you click on the link, it will redirect you to a realistic looking website under the control of the 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.

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

You can also find valuable information from the Home Office at Stop! Think Fraud - How to Stay Safe From Scams.

Gift Card Scams

Gift cards are popular with criminals as they are more difficult to trace compared to bank transfers.

Criminals pose as organisations such as HMRC or the DVLA and invent a time-critical reason that they need the gift card.

This can include claims that you need to pay a tax, fine, or a fee to win a prize. Once you have bought the card and sent the voucher code to the fraudster, the money on the card is either spent straight away or the card is sold onto other criminals.

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 can 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)