Dear Kent Residents
Residents have been targeted by bank and police impersonation scam calls in Folkestone, Dover, Herne Bay and Gillingham.
Scammers are calling residents pretending to be from a bank, fraud department, or the police, claiming their bank account has been compromised, their card needs replacing, or even that a family member has been arrested. Victims may be told to transfer money, buy gold, hand over their bank card, cash or valuables to a courier, or withdraw funds for “safekeeping”.
These are scams. Your bank or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account, buy gold, hand over your card, cash or valuables, or send someone to collect them.
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately and ensure the line is disconnected before contacting your bank directly using 159. Never use phone numbers provided by the caller.
Report to Kent Police and receive advice from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
⚠️ We’ve received reports of a Kent resident being pressured by a trader they found online
The trader gave a quote, but then repeatedly asked for more money without completing the work as expected.
Before you agree to any home improvement work:
✅ check independent reviews from more than one source
✅ get a written quote before work starts
✅ be cautious if costs increase unexpectedly
✅ never feel pressured to pay more than originally agreed
If a trader keeps asking for extra money or you are worried about their behaviour, stop and get advice before making any further payments.
➡️ To find a safe, local trader in Kent visit Trading Standards Checked.
📣 Please share this post to help protect friends, neighbours and family.
⚠️ A trader contacted a local resident claiming they needed to visit their property to issue new certificates for work that had been carried out around 10 years ago.
The caller was not the original installer, but claimed to know when the work had been completed and said an assessment was needed before new certificates could be issued.
🚨 Be cautious of unsolicited calls about previous home improvements, installations or certification work.
✅ To protect yourself:
• Don’t agree to appointments during an unexpected call
• Verify any claims by contacting the original installer directly using a trusted phone number
• Be wary of traders who only provide a mobile number or are difficult to contact
• Never feel pressured into allowing someone into your home
➡️ Report to:
Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: online or on 0808 223 1133
Kent Police