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Local Alert: On the evening of 18th January 2021 around 20.00 hrs a resident and member of the Watch noticed three youths acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the crossing. Joining with another resident (also a member), the two walked towards the youths who were moving between a vehicle and the owners property opposite. The youths took off travelling down Station Road to the village centre. The two residents approached the vehicle as the owner appeared from the property. The owner said that the youths had returned having broken the window of his vehicle the night before. The police have been informed and using information from a subsequent event have a shrewd idea who the culprits might be. Keep yours eyes out, the youths were out and about on a scooter and bikes. Thanks to our members for raising the alarm and letting us know. Image of the damaged vehicle below.

A Member of the Neighbourhood Watch has signed up for the newly introduced ‘Which Conversation Scam Alerts’. The first report is of a dangerous fake NHS text that has been circulating, telling people they’re eligible to apply for the COVID-19 vaccine. That text is copied below.

The URL in the text (blue highlight above) takes you through to an extremely convincing fake NHS website that asks for personal details. The Which member who originally was in receipt of the text, became suspicious when it asked for his bank/card details in order to ‘check his identity’.

 

There are spelling mistakes on the website page and in the SMS itself, which are signs of a phishing scam. But on first sight it is convincing stuff and circulating just when we are all taking an interest in the vaccine roll out.

‘Which’ report that the fake site was also registered just two days ago – another reason to be suspicious, and that demonstrates the importance of reporting these scams as soon as you receive them so that others can be warned.

We have, since receiving the heads up from our Member, signed up to receive future Scam messages from ‘Which Conversations’. I’m not sure if you have to be a Which subscriber to sign up for and receive the Alerts. You might just be inclined to subscribe to Which yourself. If not, as we are already subscribers and have just signed up for the alerts, we will make sure you are duly alerted.

Action Fraud has seen a surge in reports relating to fake emails and texts purporting to be from DPD. The messages claim that DPD was “unable to deliver your parcel today” and provide instructions on how the recipient can arrange another delivery. The links in the emails and texts lead to fake websites that are designed to steal money, as well as personal and financial information. Victims of this scam have reported losing over £242,000 since June. For more information, please visit here. How you can protect yourself: If you’re unsure whether the email or text is genuine, then don’t use the link. Instead, visit the DPD website by entering the official web address directly into your browser’s address bar, or search for it and follow the search results. Remember, your bank will never ask you to transfer money to another account, or contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN or full password. If you have received an email which you’re unsure about, you can report it by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk. You can report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to 7726. For more information about how to protect yourself from fraud and cyber crime, please visit here.

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Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Nottinghamshire Alert: From Get Safe Online Team

Having a safe online Christmas is about more than just shopping: it’s how you set up and use those new connected devices, make sure the young people in your life are going online safely and responsibly and remain vigilant when there’s so much going on around you, including keeping yourself and the family protected from the virus.

This year, it may also be more difficult to physically get together with loved ones and friends, so you’ll also need to take care when connecting with them online.

This month we’ve created some expert advice on how to enjoy a safely connected Christmas in the leaflet attached.

You can also find lots of useful information here.

We hope you have a merry Christmas.

Many thanks,

the Get Safe Online team

A Member of the Neighbourhood Watch reports receiving an email that purports to be from DVLA, Vehicle Taxation. The email is shown below as a screen print  (so link is not active). The link actually takes you to a page, also shown below, that requires you to key in your vehicle registration. Well, out of curiosity, from behind a Virtual Private Network (VPN) I provided a rather unlikely and quite vulgar registration number. That registration number I was informed was not taxed (no great surprise in that!). Following the original email there are 3 more stages, the final stage asking for  bank details, also below.

So, please be careful when you check over your emails. Even though there are plenty of signs that this is yet another scam, spelling and grammar, you can bet that a few have been taken in. Thanks to our Member who shared and those of you who that have also shared  the many scam emails received during the course of this year.