Royal mail Scam Protection Advice

Scams are on the rise.

The Royal Mail are working with cyber security experts to reduce the risk to you. It is important you stay safe online to avoid being scammed, we’ve pulled together some helpful tips on how to determine if an email, text message or phone call is from Royal Mail, and how to report it if not.

Please follow the link find out more about the Royal Mail Scam

Phishing Emails

The reported phishing emails received by the National Cyber Security Centre’s SERS relate to a type of extortion referred to as ‘Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion’ (FMSE).

Reports suggests the phrasing of the email and subject lines can vary, but the theme remains consistent: the phishing email claims to have installed malware on the recipient’s computer and recorded them visiting adult websites. The sender will then coerce the email recipient to pay a ransom demand by threatening to release the videos. The ransom is usually demanded in a form of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin.

In order to make these phishing attacks convincing, emails will often include genuine pieces of personal information relating to the victim, such as a password or home address. It is likely these would have been obtained from historic breaches of personal data.

Analysis shows that many people who received these emails also later reported becoming victims of online account hacking.

In 2024, a male victim in his thirties received numerous extortion emails that contained a password he used for one of his online accounts. The emails demanded a ransom of $500. Having correctly identified the emails as a scam, he deleted them. However, shortly afterwards he noticed that he was unable to login to one of his social media accounts. After some checking, he realised that one of his bank accounts and multiple social media accounts had been hacked and he was locked out of them.

What to do if you receive an email like this:

As with other phishing emails, do not to engage with the phisher, forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk, which is the NCSC’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), and then delete it.
If you are considering paying the Bitcoin ransom, you should be aware that doing so, you will likely become the target of more scams, as the phisher will know they have a ‘willing’ customer.

The inclusion of genuine passwords or other personal information in phishing emails is a strong indication that you may have been affected by a historic data breach. You can use this service to check which of your online accounts were affected: https://haveibeenpwned.com

If the phishing email includes a password you still use, then change it immediately. Advice on how to create suitable passwords and enable other factors of authentication is available here: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/protect-yourself-from-fraud/protecting-against-online-fraud/improve-your-password-security/

If you have been a victim of extortion, or concerned that someone may be in possession of intimate images of you, you should report it to your local police force by calling 101.

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040.

In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Careless Driver - Request for Support

Police are investigating an incident of careless driving, a red Suzuki swift license plate unknown has on the 3rd MAY 2025 whilst travelling on the A6108 Leyburn road ,Masham overtaken multiple cars nearly forcing one of the road due to an oncoming vehicle on the opposing carriageway the incident occurred between 1040hours and 1055hours

Do you have any information which would assist North Yorkshire Police in finding those responsible and help keep your community safe?

Did you or anyone who you live with, hear or see anything around the above time and date?

Do you have any CCTV/Mobile phone footage capturing the offence, or anything happening on the street before or after?

If you can assist, please contact PC1604 at Stephen.mangham@northyorkshire.police.uk Log 12250079463

Theft by deception

Please be aware that there is currently a scam being used by a criminal gang who are targeting potential victims by phoning UK phone numbers and telling them that they are a Sergeant in the Police.

They go on to say that there is an investigation being carried out into the victim and will then instruct them to withdraw large amounts of money from their account, attend jewellery shops to make high value purchases, buy large value currency from bureau-de-changes and hand it to a person who will attend their address known as a Courier or to leave it under a doormat to be collected.

This has been happening throughout the country, however North Yorkshire Police have been made aware of multiple victims within our county.

Please know that Police Officers will NEVER call you and make any of the above requests.

If you, a family member or friend receive a call like this, please do not give out any personal details including banking details. Do not engage with the caller and terminate the call. If possible record the number the call came from and report to the Police.

If you have any concerns or are unsure whether or not a call is legitimate, there is plenty of advice and information available on the Action Fraud website – www.actionfraud.police.uk

You can obtain advice here and also report incidents of Fraud directly via the website.

 

Increased Theft from Homes in Hot Weather

Spring has most definitely arrived. We hope everyone is making the most of the hot weather.

Unfortunately, criminals like to make the most of it too. During the days keep doors locked even when you are only popping into the garden.

If you have windows open consider putting them on vent rather than fully open; lock windows if you go out and about. Make sure windows and doors are locked on a night.

If you see anything suspicious please call us on 101.

Courier Fraud Increase

We’ve seen an increase in reports of courier fraud in Harrogate and York in the last week.

There are many variations of this fraud. The scammer will phone the victim claiming to be someone official like a bank manager, police officer or law enforcement agent.

The fraudsters aim to panic the victim by saying that something serious has happened e.g. fraudulent payment has been spotted on their card, or someone has stolen their identity.

The victim is instructed to ring the number on the back of their bank card, or to phone the police to confirm that the call is genuine.

However, when the victim hangs up, the scammer stays on the line, keeping the connection open. If the victim immediately does as instructed and makes the call, it is the scammer who replies then pretending to be the bank or police. He/she then elaborates on the alleged genuine issue.

The victim may be asked to disclose their PIN number and told that a courier will be sent to collect their card. Or they could be told there is a corrupt member of staff at their bank, Post office or bureau de change, and they needed help with an undercover investigation to identify that person.

They might be asked to withdraw large sums of money and hand it over to the courier. Some victims have purchased high value items and handed them over after being duped into believing that they are helping the police track down counterfeit goods.

Please remember

The bank & police will NEVER ask for pin numbers; send couriers to collect bank cards; ask people to move money to another account; ask for help with investigations; or ask for cash or goods to be handed over.

These scams can be intimidating, so do not engage and just hang up.

To confirm the call is genuine, never ring back using a number given to you by the caller.

Make the call from another phone or wait at least five minutes before making another call. This ensures the line is clear and cut off, so you will no longer be speaking to the scammer or an accomplice.

Please remember that the only person that should have your card and pin-is YOU.

There is further information available on the Action Fraud website. Remember, if a crime is in progress, please report it on 999.