PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMMERS
According to the British Crime Survey crime, and in particular violent crime, has declined significantly in the UK since the 1990s. However, there is currently a huge surge in Cybercrime. This is mainly fraud. Normal people and companies are being manipulated out of huge amounts of money, sometimes to the point of bankruptcy.
Langford Budville Parish Council has created this page to help members of the community protect themselves. It thanks the BBC and the podcast series Scam Secrets for its superb advice, much of which is distilled below.
If you do just 3 things:
1. If someone claiming to be official contacts you and you find yourself in a state of alarm, do not follow their instructions without first checking their credentials. Click here to find out how to do this.
2. Listen to the BBC's Scam Secrets - find out how to recognise a different scam with each episode.
If you'd rather read than listen then retired bank manager Derek Sowden has written a 'Scamphlet' for each episode.
3. Check that you have your personal digital data secured by following the National Data Centre's top tips. Just as you don't leave your front door open, you should keep your digital property safe too.
Scam Alert - Derek's Scamphlets & Scam Secrets
Report Fraud
There are a few ways you should report cybercrime, depending upon how it takes place.
Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud): This is the UK’s national reporting centre for cybercrime and online fraud. You can submit a report 24/7 on reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm).
If You Suspect Immediate Danger or Financial Loss
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Contact Your Bank: If you’ve lost money, given out financial details, or noticed unauthorized transactions, call your bank immediately to freeze your account or card.
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Emergency: If you or someone else is in immediate physical danger, call 999.
There are an increasing number of reports in our area of fraudsters ringing up posing as police. They are well researched and persuasive and some are even capable of appearing to ring from official police phonelines. This attached document gives further information.
Keep Your Digital Data Safe
Please take half an hour to follow the Top Tips of the National Cyber Security Centre - it could save you days of hassle and huge amounts of money.
"You wouldn’t leave your front door open so why leave your devices unprotected?"
Don’t become another statistic – take action to secure your online accounts; from banking and shopping, to email and social media. It’s more important than ever to make your cyber security a priority.
You can check if your email address has been compromised by visiting Have I been Pwned. If it has, change your password immediately.
Further Information
If you have a smartphone you can sign up to the Langford Budville Community Discussion Group on WhatsApp, where locals can discuss everything from scam alerts to bin days and philosophy to lost dogs. Details on how to join are printed in your regular copy of our brilliant newsletter, Roundabout.