Dear Residents and BusinessesNew figures from Action Fraud show that the 12 types of fraud featured in this year’s Christmas campaign resulted in victims losing a combined total of £224 million during the 2023 festive period. Data also shows that nearly three million phishing emails were reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) from November 2023 to January 2024. ✅ 12 Frauds of ChristmasPhishing – Fake emails or texts tricking you into giving personal info.Pet Fraud – Scammers selling non-existent pets online.Online Shopping Fraud – Fake websites or sellers taking your money.Social Media & Email Account Hacking – Accounts compromised to scam contacts.Courier Fraud – Criminals posing as couriers to steal money or goods.Romance Fraud – Scammers exploiting emotions for financial gain.Gift Card Fraud – Fake gift card offers or requests for payment via gift cards.Charity Fraud – Fake charities asking for donations.Investment Fraud – Promises of high returns on bogus investments.QR Code Fraud – Malicious QR codes leading to phishing sites.Holiday Fraud – Fake travel deals or accommodation listings.Ticket Fraud – Counterfeit or non-existent event tickets.
🛡 How to Protect YourselfSecure Your Accounts- Use strong, unique passwords (e.g., three random words).
- Enable 2-Step Verification (2SV) for extra security.
Do Your Research- Verify companies, charities, and ticket sellers before paying.
- Search online reviews and official sites.
Be Careful Sending Money- Avoid bank transfers unless you trust the recipient.
- Use credit cards for online purchases for added protection.
Stay Alert for Suspicious Contact- Don’t click on unknown links, QR codes, or respond to unsolicited messages.
- Double-check deals that seem “too good to be true.”
Report Fraud - Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- Report scam texts/calls to 7726 (free).
- If you’ve lost money, contact your bank immediately and report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
- Call Police on 101
Kind Regards Officer 72143 Zaib Amirat | 
