Dear Watch Member,
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has published its annual assessment covering 2022-23 and its findings include:
- Phishing emails continue to be the most common way frauds are started
- Hacking (Social media and email) is the top cyber crime type
- Online Shopping and Auction Fraud is the top fraud type, which means people are buying goods that possibly don’t exist.
- Courier Fraud reports are DOWN but losses have INCREASED by 96%.
Across London we know residents are still being conned through telephone and online frauds, and the fraudsters can be persuasive, and manipulative.
If you receive a telephone call or email to say you are entitled to compensation, or you could help with a Police situation relating to your bank account, or your broadband / energy company / phone provider is giving you money back – it’s likely to be the start of a fraud as the criminal will try to hook you with something that seems too good to be true. Any reputable company you do business with would have your postal address and would send you a letter about any money owing to you – they really wouldn’t phone, text or email you.
If you, or a family member or friend has been a victim, please report to the Metropolitan Police by ringing 101 or online via www.met.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v1/fraud/.
Please forward any suspicious texts to Action Fraud at 7726 (spells SPAM on your keypad). Please report scams and attempted scams to Action Fraud.
Please visit www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/ for information about how you can stay one step ahead of the scammers.
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]
Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team