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WEEKLY FRAUD UPDATE FROM WEST MERCIA POLICE - ECONOMIC CRIME UNIT - 29/07/2025"


PHISHING - DON’T TAKE THE BAIT

As of April 2025, the total number of phishing scams reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) reached over 41 million since its launch in April 2020. This has resulted in 217,000 scams being removed from across 393,395 websites pages by the National Cyber Security Centre. The public are being urged to keep on reporting suspicious emails and texts

 

What is Phishing?

This is when criminals use scam emails, texts, QR codes or even phone calls to trick victims into revealing personal and financial details.

How can you protect yourself?

  • If in doubt about any message you have received, contact the genuine organisation via the details on their website or relevant paperwork, but avoid clicking on links, or using the contact details in the message
  • If an email does not feel right, then forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk even if you are not all that certain if it is a scam 
  • Always report suspicious text messages free of charge to 7726 then the provider can find out where it came from and block the sender
  • You can also report scam phone calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the Scammer’s phone number
  • If you have lost money, or given away financial information after a scam, tell your bank straightaway and report it to Action Fraud

    • What action should you take if you have clicked on a link?

  • If you have shared any banking details, contact you bank by calling 159 to contact the Fraud department of the major banks and let them know
  • If you think your laptop, tablet or phone has been hacked, open your Anti-Virus software and run a full scan
  • If you have given out any passwords them change them immediately especially if you use the same password for other accounts, it is advisable to use different passwords for each online account
  • If you have lost money, then again inform your bank and also report it to Action Fraud as soon as possible 

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    Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives, or neighbours.

     

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    If you’ve fallen for fraud

     

    Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk

    Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take prompt action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

    You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.

    Forward Fake Emails received to report@phishing.gov.uk

    If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.

     

     

     

     

     

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    Message Sent By
    Michael Barbour
    (Police, PSV, Economic Crime Unit – Fraud Protect’)
    Neighbourhood Alert