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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Fraud, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. We have a delayed but still very relevant update in relation to fraud incidents that occurred on Tuesday the 23rd of September on Longlands Road. On two separate occasions, a male has knocked at two different houses. At one claiming to work for Bexley Council within the Green Energy Department saying they were entitled to a winter fuel allowance and the other saying that they were owed old age pension money, both of these we know to be false claims. He was dressed quite formally and spoke well which gave him a convincing presence.
For the residents to obtain this money, it was required for them to put their debit card into a card reader that the man possessed so that he could obtain any bank details that were needed to grant them their allowance money.
Under the false pretence that the card reader wasn't working as it should be, he got them to repeatedly put the card and pin into the reader multiple times to get the payment to work. In reality, on each reattempt, a further attempt to obtain money from the residents was made. The two different addresses had received contact from their banks that multiple attempts of thousands of pounds transactions had been blocked. Summing up to a total of approximately £35,000 in attempts of stolen money.
Scammers can sometimes be very convincing and catch you off guard, they have lots of different methods and come in very different "disguises". There's a commonality to target our elderly residents and vulnerable people, however this doesn't mean anyone can't be a victim.
I believe there is a link further below this message relating to the ten golden rules to prevent fraud, however I would like to also add a blanket rule, any professional business, cooperation or government body will not attend your house for business, never let anyone into your address, never make payments or entertain business at your door step or over the phone when they've called you.
In the modern times, virtually everything is done through technology. You will be contacted appropriately through email, telephone and through the post if something is relevant to yourself (although these can also come in forms of fraud). If you need business, find it online and check reputation through reviews.
Hopefully you find it useful to have been informed on this local update and find it relevant to yourself. If its relevant to any family members that might not be on met engage, please inform them so that we all as a community can be aware and work together to prevent these fraud attacks from occurring.
Thankyou for reading and being part of the MET engage community.
 Fraud can affect anyone within the community, so we want to make sure you have the tools and knowledge to protect yourself from it. It comes in many different forms and across varying channels, whether that's through emails, phone calls or in person encounters. Some adults may be even more vulnerable to fraud or financial abuse, but it is something that everyone can be at risk of. If you’re concerned about someone you know, please contact your local social services and ask for Adult Social Care. Please see a few resources below to protect you and others from potential fraudsters: For more information and help and to report fraud, go to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. Lastly, if you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, please contact 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at Action Fraud. We are working on our brand-new strategy for how we police London and we want your help. Our New Met for London: Phase 2 strategy will guide how we deliver on behalf of Londoners over the next three years. | 
