COMMON SCAMMING TOOLS

Good Evening Residents,  

Criminals are increasingly using portable technology to target residents in busy Cities and Town Centres.

High-Tech & Physical Scamming Tools

Handheld Card Readers: Used for "digital pickpocketing" in crowded areas. Scammers use mobile apps or card readers to trigger unauthorized contactless payments from cards still in your pocket.

Signal Jammers & Relays: Used in car-key burglaries to bypass keyless entry systems. 

Caller ID Spoofing: Software that makes a scammer's call appear to be from a trusted source, like a local police station or a bank.

Remote Access Software: Scammers often try to trick victims into installing apps that give them full control over a computer or smartphone.

How to Protect Yourself

RFID-Blocking Sleeves: Use wallets or sleeves lined with metal to block the radio frequency signals used by digital pickpockets.

Mobile Wallets: Switch to Apple Pay or Google Pay; these are more secure than physical cards because they require biometric authentication (Face ID or fingerprint) for every transaction.

The "101 Rule": If someone calls claiming to be from the police or a bank, hang up. Wait 5 minutes to ensure the line is clear, then call 101 or the number on the back of your card to verify their identity.

Card Protection: Carry your contactless cards in the middle of your wallet, "sandwiched" between non-contactless cards (like loyalty or ID cards), which can help scramble a scammer's reader. 

To report a scam, contact Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or use the Action Fraud online portal.

Stay Safe.

Regards.

LPA - Dudley Central Team 2

‘Working in partnership, making communities safer’