Latest Scam Alerts his Week
Published: 17 September 2022
As the number of scams continues to increase, this is our regular round-up of the latest scams reported by Kent residents. Anyone can be a victim of a scam. It is important to stay alert and follow the guidance
Reputable traders and contractors do not cold-call for business and they will NEVER ask you to go to the bank or cash point.
If you receive a scam phone call, hang up and don't return their calls. NEVER disclose any personal information such as bank details, no matter who the person claims to be.
1. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗠𝗥𝗖 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺
The potential victim received a phone call claiming to be from the Criminal Court in Birmingham on behalf of HMRC. They were told that they were being investigated and an arrest warrant was issued for their arrest. The victim was asked to pay what supposedly was owed to HMRC or face going to court and prison. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺!
2. 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿
KCC Public Protection have received a report from a Kent resident who answered the door to a fraudster pretending to be a Trading Standards Officer. The doorstep criminal claimed that the resident owed £24,000. Fortunately, the resident was alert to doorstep criminals and reported it immediately. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲!
3. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺
We have had a report of a Kent resident who was scammed by Provisional Driving Licence application fraud. When applying for a driving licence, always complete the application on the
GOV.UK website. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 £𝟯𝟰!
4. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝘆𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗳𝘁
Never keep your bank card with your phone! The BBC offers great advice about how to protect yourself following a spate of thefts from gym lockers in London.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-62809151 The thief steals your phone and bank card, and can then access your bank account once they get an access code from your bank via your phone
or telephone them on 0808 223 1133