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You might be able to stop others from being scammed if you report a scam.

You should report the scam to more than one organisation – report it to:

1. the Citizens Advice Consumer Service first
2. Action Fraud – or Royal Mail if you’ve been scammed by post

Give as much information as you can – for example, dates, names and email addresses.

Get help if you’ve shared your bank details. Your bank might be able to refund some of the money or block your cards.

If you’ve been threatened with violence, report it to the police on 101.

Report a scam to Consumer Service

Report the scammer to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service online or by phone.

They will:

• give you advice on what to do next
• report the scam to Trading Standards – they might investigate to see if the business has acted illegally or unfairly

Report a scam to Action Fraud

You should report the scam to Action Fraud – the national fraud reporting centre.

They might get the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to investigate the scam further. You’ll usually get a police crime reference number. 

It’s easiest to report scams online – either:

• report it as a crime on Action Fraud’s website if you’ve lost money
• report it as a phishing attempt on Action Fraud’s website if someone tried to scam you

It’s best to fill in the form on a computer, not a mobile or tablet. It takes about 20 minutes to fill in.

You can also report the scam by phone.

Action Fraud
Telephone: 0300 123 2040
Textphone: 0300 123 2050
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm

Website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Calls usually cost up to 40p a minute from mobiles and up to 10p a minute from landlines. It should be free if you have a contract that includes calls to landlines – check with your supplier if you’re not sure.

Reporting a postal scam

You can report postal scams to Royal Mail – they investigate scams and work to stop them.

Post the scam mail to FREEPOST SCAM MAIL – include the envelope it came in and a completed ‘scam mail report’. You can download the scam mail report from Royal Mail’s website – or you can ask Royal Mail to send you a scam mail report and a pre-paid envelope to send it in.

Royal Mail

Telephone: 0800 011 3466 – leave a message with your name, address and phone number.

Email: scam.mail@royalmail.com

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

#scamaware

Check if something might be a scam

A scam is a type of fraud in which someone steals your money or information. 
You can be scammed online, in person, over the phone, or through the post. 
Scams can be difficult to recognise, but there are things you can look out for.

Recognising a scam

It might be a scam if:

• it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s significantly cheaper than you’d expect it to be
• someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
• you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
• you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly
• you’ve been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by vouchers or wire transfer
• you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs

If you think you’ve paid too much for something

Paying more for something than you think it’s worth isn’t the same as being scammed. Usually, a scam will involve theft or fraud.

You have other rights if you think you’ve overpaid.

If you think you’ve spotted a scam

If you’ve given away money or information because of a scam, there are things you should do. Check what to do if you’ve been scammed.

If you haven’t been scammed but you’ve seen something you think is a scam, you should report it. Find out how to report a scam.

If you’re not sure if something is a scam, contact Citizens Advice consumer service. They’ll give you advice about what might be a scam and the steps you should take if you’ve been scammed.

#scamaware

A Kent resident was recently scammed by a criminal selling mattresses from a van in Edenbridge (South Ashford has seen reports of mattresses being sold from a van in Ashford)

At best these mattresses will contain a very basic spring unit with a polyester fibre pad or a layer of cheap foam over it, all covered in a cheap outer covering material. They almost certainly haven’t undergone testing though they may display the small blue, white and black label with an image of a cigarette and match flame.

At worst, the mattress may contain an old, used spring unit along with dirty fillings. Some of the worst cases are where the rogue trader has simply placed an old mattress inside a brand-new cover! 

Kent County Council Public Protection