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Hi Resident Getting scammed is being reported to us more often than usual. It is very common to receive emails, phone calls and texts from unknown numbers and companies but what you need to remember is that if you are unsure of anything at all, please don't feel obligated to give out any sort of information. They usually tend to rush you into sending personal information and bank account details. And scams can happen to people at any age old or young. Scams can take many forms like - Property maintenance scams, rogue trader scams and distraction burglary scams (Use no cold caller stickers in windows and doors!)Advertisements on social media, if it seems to good to be true, it probably is!Houseware sellers - These people usually claim to be on probation and wanting to turn their lives around. They are known to come across as pushy or rude but stand your ground and don't feel bullied into giving them money.Charity collectors - They will usually ask you to set up a direct debit for the charity, but please do research on charities you are donating to beforehand.Email scams - You can be sent an email (usually into your junk folder) that will read as though you haven't paid a bill or a certain tax or you owe money. The email address should match the website that the company is called. For example, there was a TV Licensing scam email and the email address the scammers had used to send it was ‘spp.tvlicensing.co.uk’ and they asked for personal details such as your card number, passwords, address etc. Again if you are unsure, please report any scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk . Don't click on any links as they could lead to viruses and could lead to them being able to take other personal information.Spoofing - This is where someone disguises or imitates an email address, phone number or website to convince you that they are contacting you through a legitimate company. Legitimate companies will not send text messages asking for personal information.(You can protect yourself from telesales and scam phone calls with a telephone call blocker. If you get multiple scam calls to your landline, you can receive a device that will continually update to stop a known scammers number from ringing your phone. It can be programmed to only allow certain phone numbers through. It is called ‘TrueCall’ and it is a device that just plugs in between the phone and the phone socket to block unwanted callers. You can ring them on 0800 0336 330 or visit www.truecall.co.uk ) Courier fraud Investment scams - to make sure you get advice before making an investment and make sure the firm is on the Financial Services Authority register. You can check at www.fsa.gov.uk Lottery and prize draw scams -This can look legitimate as they will use your full name. But again if it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Dating scams - never send anyone any money who you have just met. You need to remember that people are able to lie very easily online. Online shopping scams - For advice on cyber scams, visit the national Cyber Security website on www.ncsc.gov.uk HMRC scams - These scams are usually sent by email and text (which no legitimate company will ask for personal details over text) and will say something along the lines of ‘HMRC has detected an issue with your tax’ and that they could be arrested if they don't pay up. HMRC WILL sometimes ring people but it will always include your taxpayer reference number. They will never ask you about a tax rebate, penalty or personal details. (To report any suspicious contact, report the incidents to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk . You can forward suspicious texts, forward them to ‘60599’Report any scams and fraud directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Their email is www.actionfraud.police.uk To anonymously report crime, ring 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers.uk.org Get safe online helps you check whether a website is legitimate or a scam. They can also provide advice on firewall systems and an anti spam software. Visit www.getsafeonline.org.uk For reporting a trader, call citizens advice consumer helpline on 0800 223 1133 or visit www.safetrader.org.uk If you need any advice on any other scam related issues please feel free to get in contact with me and i'll be more than happy to try and help. If you would like a no cold calling sticker, we have plenty to give out, just drop me a reply with your address and i'll get one posted through your letterbox! Your replies are private so the message will come straight out to myself. For any issues that are urgent and an emergency, please ring us on 999, and for anything non urgent, contact us 101. You can also report non urgent issues to us online. Thank you! | 
