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We aim keep you up-to-date with news from the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit, local Police, Bromley Council and Action Fraud, among many others. Please forward to your members, friends and family.
BROMLEY TRADING STANDARDS – ALERT!
Alert! updates are posted directly to the LBB Website. Please tell your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, groups and members. To read the latest and receive an Alert! direct, visit: https://www.bromley.gov.uk/trading-standards/trading-standards-alerts
BROMLEY CYBER CRIME SUMMARY – NOVEMBER 2023
Number of Offences = 141
Total Loss = £454,935
Average per Victim = £3,226
Top 5 by Volume (number of reports) and type of Fraud:
Online Shopping and Auctions – 28 – £18,759
Other Advance Fee Frauds – 12 – £767
Push Payment – 12 – £60,430
Other Consumer non-Investment – 9 – £38,778
Cheque, Plastic Card & On-line Banking – 12 – £7,878
IMPERSONATION SCAMS – A GUIDE FROM AMAZON
In impersonation scams, a scammer reaches out to you pretending to be someone you trust to obtain sensitive information like national insurance numbers, bank information or Amazon account details. Scammers change tactics quickly making them hard to detect.
Scam Trend: Email attachment scams – Scammers send emails posing as Amazon and include PDF attachments stating your account will be suspended or put on hold. These attachments prompt you to click on a fraudulent link to “update your account.” These links then lure you to provide personal information. Do not click on any links or provide your information without authenticating the email or verifying the link. Visit the Message Centre which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.
Prime membership scams – These are unexpected calls/texts/emails that refer to a costly membership fee or an issue with your membership and ask you to confirm or cancel the charge. Scammers try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information to reinstate a membership. Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information for products or services over the phone. To verify your Prime Membership status or make payments, log into your Amazon account and go to Your Account.
Important tips to identify scams to keep your account and information safe:
Trust Amazon-owned channels –Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer service, tech support, or making changes to your account.
- Be wary of false urgency –Scammers try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you to act now.
- Never pay over the phone –Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards,” as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone.
- Verify links first –Review the link for misspellings or repeated characters. Legitimate Amazon websites contain “amazon.co.uk” or “amazon.co.uk/support.” Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices/services, orders or to make changes to your account.
- Verify email senders –Legitimate Amazon emails contain “@amazon.co.uk”. In your web browser, hover over the display name under “From” to see the full sender address. Look for misspellings or added or substituted characters. Visit the Message Centre to view authentic messages from Amazon.
Finally, for more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page. If you receive a communication — a call, text, or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it at, amazon.co.uk/reportfraud.
BROMLEY FILM OFFICE
Bromley Film Office has asked us to advertise a training opportunity. Residents aged 18 and over are invited to attend a Set Ready Training programme organised by FilmFixer, preparing the next generation of filmmakers. The training is a fantastic opportunity to learn the ins and outs of working on a film set a unique chance for those willing to put their foot in the door of the competitive filming industry. It is conducted by working industry professionals and the best part is that the organisers work to find paid placements for course graduates on professional film sets across south London.
The next London course will run on the 27 & 28 February. It’s completely free and there’s no requirement for previous industry experience. However, all applicants must be aged 18 or over and be residents of Southwark, Bexley, Bromley or Croydon. If you, your members or any of your family or friends meeting these criteria are interested, please access this website for further information.
Kind regards,
Bromley Neighbourhood Watch Association
