What is "Know Your Neighbours"?

"Know Your Neighbours" is a grass-roots community group in Seal, near Sevenoaks in Kent. The group is made up of anyone in the village who wants to get involved - individuals, clubs and societies, businesses, church and schools, parish council,and many others.
We organise local events through the year - fetes, street parties, Christmas events etc. - and we hold social gatherings, just so that people can get to "know their neighbours". There's no "committee" - anyone who turns up for meetings is welcome to help in any way they are able.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE, OR BE ADDED TO THE EMAIL LIST, contact Marion Gilchrist , who coordinates the group, or Anne Le Bas, who maintains this blog.

Monday 23 March 2020

A word of warning about keeping safe from scammers during the coronavirus pandemic

Not wishing to scaremonger, but this is an official email, so please watch out for the more vulnerable members of our community who may fall prey to such outrageous behaviour at this time. 

Many thanks,
Marion.


Afternoon All, 

Please check out the latest messages and advice from Neighbourhood watch in response to Covid 19 here:https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/news/NW_national-news/covid-19

Covid 19 Scam Prevention Advice
Scammers and criminals are already looking for opportunities to scam people as a result of the Coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic. Happily, there are many more stories of kindness and generosity but we want to make people aware of the scams as they emerge – which they seem to be on a daily basis.
There have been reports received by Kent Police of people door-knocking and claiming to be from the Health Authority.

What happens:
  • The criminal knocks on your door.
  • They claim to be from the Health Authority.
  • They offer to do COVID-19 testing on residents.
  • There are also reports of the criminal offering to take the residents temperature.
THIS IS A SCAM!

What to do: 
  • Do not let them in.
  • Do not allow them to take any money or details from you.
  • Report to Kent Police on 101.
  • If you ask them to leave and they don't, contact the police on 999.
Please warn vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.

Report
There has been a report of an elderly Kent resident who lost money when they gave their bank card to someone who offered to do some shopping for them. They received one of these cards through their door and an individual offered to help, however, they actually stole money from the resident and were not seen again.

Payment
Don’t ever give your bank or card details to anyone, even if you think you know them very well.  You could either agree to pay in cash after they have delivered the shopping or pay them online if you have the facility to do so. Or maybe you could agree another method of payment - 
but never give your bank or card details. 

Contacts
If you are self-isolating, you could contact one of these organisations for help and support:

Age UK  0800 678 1602
Asthma UK  0300 222 5800
BHF 0300 330 3311
Diabetes UK  0345 123 2399
Mind  0300 123 3393
Scope  0808 800 3333
The Silver Line 0800 470 8090
For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact
Citizens Advice consumer helpline
 on0808 223 1133
Consumer Advice scams action line  on 0808 250 5050
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Please remember you can also contact me should you need any further advice or help,
Kind regards,

PSE 59753 Adam Sackett
Volunteer & Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer
East Kent Police
Police Station, Fort Hill, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HL
Telephone: 07980683802

No comments:

Post a Comment