Tell-tale signs of ATM fraud

Things to look out for are devices attached to the machine – some are more obvious than others. If you do see something suspicious contact the police and the bank.

Remember, if it doesn’t look or feel right then steer clear and, if possible, go inside the bank where it will be safer. And always keep a regular check on your transactions.

Be alert

We know it’s not always easy, but try to be aware of anyone near you when you’re at an ATM. Being aware of your surroundings and not being distracted makes it harder for people to take advantage and less likely that they’ll try to.

Thieves will watch as you key in your PIN or distract you while you’re withdrawing cash. Be vigilant. Cover your PIN and keep an eye on your card at all times. If someone taps you on the shoulder or tries to speak to you, just ignore them.

When you've left the ATM, put your card away immediately.

You should also be careful with contactless cards. You can get a card holder to prevent your card details being inadvertently read

Further to the earlier post, Kent Police have now produced a leafet showing a number of ways you can contact them. Please click on this link  Kent Police Contact Information to read

Kent Police have received multiple reports of Kent residents being sent letters pretending to be from the People's Postcode Lottery.

HOW THIS SCAM WORKS

• You receive a letter from People's Postcode Lottery
• It says you have won £375,000
• To claim the money you must ring a telephone number and give your bank account details

PROTECT YOURSELF

• Do not respond to this scam
• You must enter the People's Postcode Lottery in order to win it
• People's Postcode Lottery will see you in person if you win the big Street Prize

Find out more about People's Postcode Lottery scams

REMEMBER Legitimate lotteries don't ask you to pay taxes, custom fees, insurance shipping, handling fees etc before you can receive your 'winnings'

Please warn vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours

Is it an emergency?

Does it feel like the situation could get heated or violent very soon? Is someone in immediate danger? Do you need support right away? If so, please call 999 now.

For non-emergencies 

If you've witnessed or been the victim of crime, please report it here and click on the "Report" button. It will help the police to bring the offender to justice and make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else. Just answer a few quick questions find out the best way to get in touch. The kind of information you provide here plays a huge part in how Kent Police plan their policing.

Kent Police NHW have sent a link to a 20 minute learning package regarding details of new scams and how to deal with them.  It covers the following

1. Why is learning about new scams important?

2. Types of scams

3. How to spot a victim

4. Anyone can be a scam victim

5. Spot the signs

6. Top tips- what can you do to protect yourself and/or others?

7. Reporting a scam

etc etc

If you are interested in learning more please follow the link to Friends Against Scams 

We’d like you to enjoy Halloween, but it’s important to remember that not everyone likes to take part!

Here's a few things to remember when you're out this Halloween.

10 top tips for staying safe this Halloween

1. Some masks can obstruct vision, a potential danger, when crossing roads. Consider using face paints instead.
2. If your children are out on the streets, make sure they are wearing visible clothing – consider using reflective tape.
3. When trick or treating, Children should go out in groups, younger children should be accompanied by an adult.
4. Older children should agree with parents or guardians in advance exactly where they are going and when they will be back.
5. Make sure children know not to enter anyone’s house and not to accept lifts in people’s cars.
6. Talk through the idea of trick or treat, and make sure your children don’t do anything to upset or annoy the people they visit.
7. Keep to pavements and trick or treat on one side of the street before crossing safely to the other side – don’t criss-cross.
8. Stay in well-lit areas where there are plenty of houses.
9. Carefully check all the things children have been given. Sweets and food that are still in their original wrappers are safest.
10. Remember – have fun but be safe!

 ‘no trick or treat’ poster. If you have an elderly or vulnerable friend or relative who doesn’t like callers at their door, help them display the poster clearly in the window. If you do receive an unexpected caller at the door, don’t feel pressured to answer if you don’t want to. If you are taking your children out trick or treating, please be considerate and avoid houses who are displaying the poster.

In recent weeks there have been a number of planters and hanging baskets stolen.  Two planters from the bottom of Charlton Lane, one from the top Charlton Lane (similar to the attached and also hanging baskets from The Bull at East Farleigh and The Walnut Tree in Forge Lane.

If you see or hear anyone acting suspiciously or tampering with baskets and planters please do let one of the Neighbourhood Watch team know.

We are warning members of the public to be on the lookout after conmen made multiple attempts to defraud vulnerable victims of their savings by posing as police officers.

The fraudsters are believed to be targeting victims in the west Kent area, and detectives are urging people to be on their guard. 

Neither police officers nor banks would ever ask you to hand over cash or for personal confidential material over the phone. 

In one incident, a vulnerable victim from the Tonbridge area was persuaded to hand over more than £12,000 to people posing as officers from the ‘Hammersmith Serious Fraud Squad’. She received a phone call at around midday on 6 March 2019 from a purported police officer who told her to take money out of the bank, tell no one and someone would come to collect it from her. The victim went to the bank, withdrew the money and handed it over to a man driving a black car who appeared at her door.

Other victims, who are often vulnerable or elderly, have reported receiving phone calls from people purporting to be police officers from forces all over the country asking people for bank details, credit card details and to withdraw money to give them.

Det Sgt Marc Cananur, from our Volume Fraud Team, said: ‘Legitimate police officers would never ask members of the public to give them money or for their bank or other financial details. ‘The people carrying out these frauds are the lowest of the low, preying on vulnerable victims and stealing their money.

If anyone receives any calls of this nature, or other similar approaches, Please get in touch with Kent Police, on 01622 604100.  Alternatively, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A few hints to keep you and your belongings save this Christmas and during the winter months:

. Close your curtains when you have the lights on inside, in the dark winter months it is easy to tell when a house is unoccupied and burglars can use this to their advantage.

• If you’re out for the night, leave a light on inside to look like the house is lived in.

• Whilst Christmas shopping don’t let your handbag out of sight and make sure it is secure, as in busy crowds you can be an easy target for pick pockets.

• Be sure to leave your presents out of sight and well hidden, away from a window, and if you’re out Christmas shopping in your car be sure to leave them out of view and locked in the boot

• Be careful what you post on social media. As tempting as it is to show your friends what Santa’s bought you for Christmas, think carefully who will be able to read your posts, and make sure you check your privacy settings to see who can and who can’t read them

• After the mania of present opening, discard your cardboard packaging in your bin outside or better still take to your local recycling centre, don’t leave on show outside for thieves to see what presents you’ve got.

• Fairy lights can be a fire risk, consider buying new ones to ensure they have a good standard of safety, make sure you turn them off when unattended and don’t leave them on overnight

• Check your insurance policy, presents kept in your home will be covered by your usual contents insurance, but if you’ve bought big ticket items as gifts they may need to be listed separately. Typically, the limit for single items ranges from £1,000 to £2,000, so check your policy and call your insurer if you’ve purchased anything above your limit.

• Also check to see your insurance policy covers accidental damage cover, for any breakages to new items such as laptops, or wine spillages over the Christmas period.