Doorstep criminals in Kent.
Dear Kent Residents
Doorstep criminals have been active this week in Ramsgate, Tunbridge Wells, Dover and Capel-le-Ferne targeting residents with roofing and jetwashing scams.
Please be alert and warn your vulnerable friends and family to never respond to cold callers as you will pay a high cost for unnecessary and poor-quality work.
If you need work done on your home or garden use a safe, local trader from Trading Standards Checked.
Report cold callers anonymously to the charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online here.
For further advice call Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
⚠️ Criminals have been calling residents in Canterbury, Sevenoaks, Chatham and Maidstone impersonating police officers.
📞 Residents are being called and told:
– Their bank account has been compromised
– Their card needs replacing
– A family member has been arrested
– They must buy gold
– A courier will collect their card, cash, or gold.
🚨 These are scams. The police will never ask for your financial details over the phone or send someone to collect your card, cash, or valuables.
📽️ Watch how this scam works
If this happens to you:
☎️ Call your bank immediately using 159
➡️ Report it to Kent Police
⚠️ Kent residents are being targeted by scam calls claiming to be Citizens Advice.
The calls are coming from withheld numbers and the scammers on the line are claiming that the recipients have outstanding debts that must be dealt with urgently.
How to protect yourself:
❌Do not share personal or financial information
✅Hang up and don’t engage with the caller
⚠️Remember that Citizens Advice will never call people out of the blue about debts
➡️ Report: Report Fraud UK
➡️ Advice: Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 0808 223 1133
⚠️ Scammers have been calling residents and claiming they’ve won free entries to a lottery.
One resident received a call offering free lotto entries. A quick online search showed others had reported the same number as a scam.
How to protect yourself:
✅Hang up if something doesn’t feel right
❌Never share personal or financial details with unexpected callers
⚠️Check suspicious numbers online to see if others have reported them
➡️ Report: Report Fraud UK
➡️ Advice: Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 0808 223 1133
⚠️ Residents have been receiving calls from scammers impersonating family members.
The scammer claimed they urgently needed money, attempting to cause panic and urge the resident to act quickly.
How to protect yourself:
⚠️Stop and take a moment before responding
✅Contact the family member directly using a number you know is theirs
❌Never send money or share personal details if you are unsure
If a message feels rushed or out of character, it could be a scam.
➡️Report to National Cyber Security Centre.