Scam Awareness: Protecting Yourself in East Herts & Uttlesford

Common Types of Scams

Phone Scams
- “Bank fraud” calls: Fraudsters impersonate your bank, claim suspicious activity, and ask you to “verify” account details.
- Technical support: Callers pretend to be from Microsoft or “cyber security” teams, urging you to install software that gives them remote access.
Text & SMS Scams (“Smishing”)
- Urgent parcels or lottery wins prompting links to fake sites.
- “Bank alert” codes: they ask you to forward an authorization code they’ve just sent you.
Email Phishing
- Emails mimicking your bank, HMRC, or well-known services, asking you to click a link and “sign in.”
- Attachments purporting to be invoices or “important documents” that install malware.
Doorstep & Postal Scams
- Rogue traders offering home repairs “at today’s clearance price.”
- Charity collectors without ID badges.
Online & Investment Scams
- “Crypto investment” platforms promising high returns.
- Fake shopping sites offering branded goods at too-good-to-be-true prices.

Unsolicited contact: Genuine organisations rarely call or email out of the blue to ask for sensitive details.
Pressure & urgency: “Act now or your account will be closed!” is a classic tactic to rush you into mistakes.
Requests for personal or financial info: Never give your PIN, full password, or one-time codes to anyone.
Too good to be true: If it sounds like free money or a guaranteed profit, it almost certainly is a scam.
Poor spelling or strange URLs: Phishing emails often contain typos or domain names like example-secure-login.com instead of the real one.

Verify independently: Hang up and call the organisation back on a known, official number (e.g., the number on your bank statement).
Use official websites: Always type web addresses yourself (e.g., actionfraud.police.uk), rather than clicking email links.
Enable security features: Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) on email, banking, and social media accounts.
Keep software updated: Install updates for your operating system, browser, and antivirus to patch vulnerabilities.
Educate family & friends: Share scam alerts and discuss examples—especially with older or less tech-savvy relatives.
Check before you install: Don’t run software from unknown sources or grant remote-access tools unless you initiated the contact.

Action Fraud (England & Wales)
- Phone: 0300 123 2040 (Mon–Fri, 8 am–8 pm) Action Fraud
- Website: https://actionfraud.police.uk
Police Scotland (Scotland)
- Phone: 101 (non-emergency fraud)
Emergency Services
- Phone: 999 (crime in progress)
Report Scam Texts
- Forward to 7726 (it’s free and helps your provider block the number) Action Fraud
Report Phishing Emails
- Email: [email protected]
Citizens Advice Consumer Service
- Phone: 0808 223 1133 (Mon–Fri, 9 am–5 pm) Citizens Advice
- Website: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/

All of the services below cover Hertford, Ware, Hoddesdon, Sawbridgeworth & Bishop’s Stortford:

East Herts District Council (Community Safety & Scams)
- Phone: 01279 655 261 East Herts District Council
- Website: https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/community-and-health/community-safety-partnership-and-contacts
Hertfordshire Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS)
- Hotline: 0300 123 4033
- Email: [email protected]
Hertfordshire Constabulary (Non-Emergency Police)
- Phone: 101
Friends Against Scams – SCAM Champions
- Free training for local volunteers through Hertfordshire County Council: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk
Citizens Advice East Herts
- Consumer helpline: 0808 223 1133

Contact your bank immediately to block cards and transactions.
Report to Action Fraud (or Police Scotland if in Scotland).
Seek support from Citizens Advice or a neighbourly group like Neighbourhood Watch.
Preserve evidence: Keep emails, texts, and transaction records.
Consider credit monitoring: Look into protective registration with credit reference agencies.