Local Crime

Below is a checklist of what you should do:

1. If you’ve already responded to a scam, end all further communication immediately.
2. Call your bank directly and cancel any recurring payments – for speed and ease, you can alternatively call the new 159 hotline from Stop Scams UK.
3. Report the scam to the police through Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or report a scam anonymously on the Action Fraud website.
4. If you wish to seek further help, contact Citizens Advice Scams Action via the Citizens Advice website, or call its Scams Action helpline on 0808 250 5050. Alternatively, you can contact the Financial Conduct Authority’s helpline on 0800 111 6768.

The Metropolitan Police Service has produced a guide on how to avoid some of the most common scams:

The Little Book of Big Scams

Holiday makers heading to sunnier climes this summer are being urged not to fall victim to travel scams.

Here are some tips on what to watch out for:

New global health insurance card – if you aren’t aware of the new global health insurance card then this scam could easily catch you out.  This card is free from the NHS, but scammers are paying for adverts on Google to direct you to their site where they will subsequently charge you for this card. Top tip: don’t follow links to the NHS website. Instead, visit the NSH website directly. If you are still unsure and the site is asking for a payment, then you are probably in the wrong place.

International driving permits – these are only required for individuals with an old paper licence and are not applicable if you have a photo card licence. Adverts have been found online where scammers are selling ones for Spain for €49, when they are £5.50 from a post office. Top tip: be wary of following links on Google which have been paid for by an advertisement. Always go directly to the site wherever possible.

Fake refunds for Covid holidays – lock down and ongoing restrictions due to Covid affected many of us and often resulted in the cancellation of holidays. There are currently scammers who are calling people on the premise that they are authorised to issue a refund. This is a phishing call and the main purpose is to gain access to your bank details in order for them to take money out of your account. Top tip: if you receive a call from a travel company, make sure it is the one you used to book the holiday originally. Hang up on the call, find your documentation with the name of the travel company on, and call them direct. Do not use any contact numbers given to you on the call.

Rogue travel companies – Action Fraud figures from 2020 show that half of all travel scams were related to airfares. These often occur through cloned booking or comparison websites, but the main difference is you will then get a call from a scammer asking you to pay directly to them and not continue through the booking site. Top tip: if you receive a call asking you to pay directly think twice, and always pay through the platform wherever possible.

Fake vaccine passport – vaccination status is an important part of travel these days and fraudsters have been quick to take advantage. A fake NHS website has been created with links to apply for a digital vaccine passport. Hurry tactics were then used to rush people into following the link to the payment page, and subsequently making the payment. Phishing emails were sent out hoping to catch people in the scam. Top tip: don’t click on unsolicited emails or the links within them. If they are of interest, come out of the email and do a Google search yourself.