Security focus
In this edition of Connections, we're focusing on ways of keeping you, your home and your belongings safe.
Here are some tips from our Tenancy Management Officers:
- Remember to ensure that doors are completely locked and closed behind you to limit unwarranted access to your building.
- Report and be vigilant of people manipulating communal door locks.
- Report broken or faulty front door locks.
- Please do not give building access to people you do not know. If the person at the property they are visiting isn't home, they will have to return when they are.
- For those living in our Older-Persons properties, if you are locked out of your property, pull the communal cord to contact Sentra and an on-call staff member will be contacted to provide access. Please do not contact Axis to change your door lock.
- Report communal light outages immediately.
- Ensure delivery packages are handed to you directly to avoid packages being stolen from outside of your home.
Virtual scams
Fake Cost of Living payments and energy rebates
Be mindful of texts, emails or calls asking you to claim or apply for rebates. They may often include or ask you to call a number and make a claim for the payment. Find out if you are eligible for a Cost of Living payment here.
Food giveaway scams
Scammers are impersonating popular supermarkets and food brands with tempting giveaways. The scam often sends you to a website to share your personal or financial details to redeem the offer. If you come across any food giveaways from popular brands, check the brand’s social media page or website to ensure that the post is authentic.
Tax rebate scam
Scammers will often ask you to provide your bank details to process your £150 tax rebate. The Local Government Association has said that councils will not call you asking for your bank details. The energy rebate will be processed automatically for those who pay their council tax via direct debit. Anyone who doesn't pay via direct debit will receive a letter from their local council with instructions on how to claim the energy rebate.
How to report scams and useful links
- Check out our Cost of Living section to see which resources you can access this winter.
- Facebook: Report ads or posts as ‘Misleading or scam’.
- Websites: Report a suspicious website to the NCSC.
- Emails: Forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. You can also select the ‘Report spam’ on Gmail, the ‘Report phishing’ button on Hotmail and send scam emails to abuse@yahoo.com on a Yahoo account.
- Text messages: Forward scam texts to 7726, a free reporting service provided by telecoms companies.
- Check out the met police's tips for protecting your home from crime.