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

Email : adam.sackett@kent.police.uk

Do you need help?

DO YOU  NEED HELP during the coronavirus epidemic?

Ring the church on
07510 522292 or email sealpandp@gmail.com
 and we will do what we can to respond.
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DO YOU WANT TO OFFER HELP?

The best thing you can do is to make contact (via a card popped through the door) with your immediate neighbours and those in the networks you already have. For safeguarding reasons we can't use volunteers who are unknown to us, because it involves work with with vulnerable adults, but in any case the most effective way to respond to the needs of this crisis are the hyperlocal ones, as we each help those around us, and let them help us!