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Dear Resident To make sure everyone stays safe during the festive season we are sending you this message regarding fraud and online scams that can happen at any time of the year but especially at Christmas. Scammers often take advantage of the holiday rush, so please be vigilant against these common threats: Phishing: Fraudulent emails or texts designed to steal your data.Pet Fraud: Fake adverts for puppies or kittens that don't exist.Online Shopping Fraud: Scam websites selling goods that never arrive.Social Media & Email Account Hacking: Compromising accounts to scam your friends and family.Courier Fraud: Scammers posing as police or bank staff to collect your cash or cards.Romance Fraud: Creating fake profiles to build trust and then ask for money.Gift Card Fraud: Being pressured to pay for goods or services using gift cards.Charity Fraud: Fake appeals that exploit your seasonal generosity.Investment Fraud: "Get rich quick" schemes and fake cryptocurrency offers.QR Code Fraud: Malicious codes used to redirect you to fraudulent payment sites.Holiday Fraud: Unbelievably cheap travel deals that turn out to be fake.Ticket Fraud: Selling counterfeit or non-existent tickets for Christmas or New Year events. How to Protect Yourself Secure Your Accounts: Use a strong, unique password for your email (try three random words) and enable 2-step verification (2SV).Do Your Research: Thoroughly check the authenticity of a company before booking holidays, tickets, or donating to charity.Pay Safely: Use a credit card for online purchases where possible. Never pay via bank transfer to someone you don't know, and don't be rushed into a transaction.Be Sceptical: If a deal on social media or via a QR code looks too good to be true, it likely is. Reporting Fraud Suspicious Emails: Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk.Spam Texts: Forward to 7726.If You Are a Victim: Notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud (now transitioning to the Report Fraud service).- Online: reportfraud.police.uk.
- Phone: 0300 123 2040 (Monday to Friday, 8am–8pm).
Note: Action Fraud cannot accept reports via direct email. All reports must be made via the online tool or phone to be officially recorded. | 
