Here’s a quick round up of recent messages from the council and the MET, to help protect yourself and your loved ones from text, email and phone call scams.
Fake calls from the police or the bank
In support of Operation Callback – the Metropolitan Police’s campaign, residents are being warned about unexpected phone calls from criminals claiming to be from the police or the bank.
This warning follows a recent report where a resident received a call from someone pretending to be their bank. The caller offered a replacement bank card and persuaded the resident to have an ‘insurance valuation’ on their jewellery. Shortly after, a courier arrived at the resident’s home, and exchanged a fake card for the real one (and used it to steal £1000), and took the jewellery for ‘a valuation’.
If you receive an unexpected phone call from the police or your bank, the Trading Standards’ advice is:
- hang up immediately – even if they have certain information, be careful not to assume this is genuine.
- Call your bank on 159 to check your account is secure – leave it a good while before you make the call or use a different phone.
- Remember that your bank or the police will never ask you to verify your personal details or ask you to withdraw money or make purchases.
Find out more about what the 159 number is, and how it can help stop scams, or read more about this type of fraud.
Beware of winter fuel payment scams
Between April and September 2025, Action Fraud has received 2,790 crime reports relating to Winter Fuel Payment scams, with victims reporting losses totalling over £27,000.
Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, you do not need to do anything. If you receive any text messages about Winter Fuel Payments, it’s a scam.
Find out more about protecting yourself from scams on the Action Fraud website.
Useful things to remember
Not sure if a message is real? Contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website, not the number or web address in the message. Your bank (or any other official source) won’t ask you to supply personal information by email or text message.
If you have spotted a suspicious SMS or RCS message, you can report it for FREE by forwarding it to 7726.
If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Coney Hall Village Residents' Association (CHVRA) 