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CURRENT SCAMS AND OTHER INFORMATION – JANUARY 2026 |
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Consumer scam alerts - Norfolk County Council This website gives information on numerous scams that are currently circulating and on rogue traders.
John Ellul of RBFRS has asked me to publicise the following: As a valued stakeholder to Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, we would like to invite you to take part in Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s Budget Consultation. We would also be grateful if you could publicise this via any internal newsletter or similar channels to help us to get responses from as many people as possible. Similarly, please share the consultation with any contacts within your network who live or work in Berkshire. Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) is consulting Royal Berkshire residents and staff on Council Tax funding for the next financial year until 9am on Monday, 2 February. RBFA is committed to delivering value for money across the services provided to local residents. However, due to significant budgetary pressure as outlined in this letter, to maintain the current level of service RBFA is proposing a £5 increase for 2026/27, based on a Band D precept, to £91.31. Take part in the consultation by completing this online survey.
Amazon QR code scams Scammers are sending cards through the post which claim to be from Amazon and include dodgy QR codes. When scanned with your phone or tablet, these QR codes (the 2D barcode images made up of black and white squares) lead to dodgy websites that aim to steal your personal information.
Have I Been Pwned: Check if your email has been compromised in a data breach Good website to check that your email addresses have not been compromised. Pawned is spelt correctly in the above link.
Scam alert: watch out for fake iCloud storage emails - Which?
How to keep your money and personal information safe: insider tips from a hacker | lovemoney.com
Criminals are now targeting gift cards before they are even sold. By tampering with cards on display in shops, scammers download the barcode and wait for someone to buy and activate it. Once activated, the money is swiftly drained by the scammer, leaving the recipient with a worthless card. The latest available data shows 6,229 reports of this scam in the UK and victims have lost almost £13.5m.
This method is particularly sneaky because victims often don’t realise they’ve been scammed until they try to use the card. Retailers may be unaware of the tampering, and refunds can be difficult to obtain.
How to protect yourself:
If you suspect fraud, report it to the retailer that you purchased the gift card from and to report via Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Millions of Self Assessment customers are being urged by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to remain vigilant to scams that claim to be from the department.
Scammers often impersonate HMRC, offering fake refunds or demanding urgent payments to steal personal and banking information. They may say it is safe to share personal details. It’s not. Passwords, usernames, and access codes are private and customers should never share them, even with someone they trust or who helps them with their tax.
Filing early can also help customers spot scams more easily as those who have already submitted their tax return are less likely to be caught off guard by scam attempts closer to the Self Assessment 31 January 2026 deadline.
If someone receives a communication claiming to be from HMRC that asks for personal details or offers a tax rebate, they should check the official HMRC scams guidance to verify its authenticity.
Customers can report phishing attempts to HMRC by:
If you do not have a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in your road and can set one up for me please, I can forward you more details. A scheme can be anything from 5 properties upwards and the main role of a Coordinator is to circulate the Alerts on crimes and scams to your neighbours either via email or posting on a WhatsApp or Facebook Group for your area. You will receive free signs, stickers, leaflets and discounts for your neighbours.
Angela Money BEM Area Representative - West Berkshire Neighbourhood Watch | ||
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