During this time of year, we often see a surge in impersonation scams. Stay safe by learning to identify and avoid them.

In impersonation scams, a scammer reaches out to you pretending to be someone you trust to get sensitive information like national insurance numbers, bank information, or Amazon account details. Scammers change tactics quickly making them hard to detect.

Scam Trend: Email attachment scams
Scammers send emails posing as Amazon and include pdf attachments stating that your account will be suspended or on hold. These attachmentsprompt you to click on a fraudulent link to “update your account.” These links lure you to provide personal information such as payment information or account login credentials.

Please do not click on any links or provide your information without authenticating the email or verifying the link. Visit the Message Centre which displays a log of authentic communications sent from Amazon.

Prime membership scams
These are unexpected calls/texts/emails that refer to a costly membership fee or an issue with your membership and ask you to confirm or cancel the charge. These scammers try to convince you to provide payment or bank account information in order to reinstate a membership.

Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information for products or services over the phone. To verify your Prime Membership status or make payments, log into your Amazon account, and go to Your Account.

Here are some important tips to identify scams and keep your account and information safe:

1. Trust Amazon-owned channels.
Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer service, tech support, or when looking to make changes to your account.

2. Be wary of false urgency.
Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they’re asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now. 

3. Never pay over the phone.
Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards,” as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone. 

4. Verify links first.
Review the link for misspellings or repeated characters. Legitimate Amazon websites contain “amazon.co.uk” or “amazon.co.uk/support.” Go directly to our website when seeking help with Amazon devices/services, orders or to make changes to your account.

5. Verify email senders.
Legitimate Amazon emails contain “@amazon.co.uk”. In your web browser, hover over the display name under “From” to see full sender address. Look for misspellings or added or substituted characters. Visit the Message Centre to view authentic messages from Amazon.

For more information on how to stay safe online, visit Security & Privacy on the Amazon Customer Service page.

If you receive communication — a call, text, or email — that you think may not be from Amazon, please report it to us at, amazon.co.uk/reportfraud.

To review or respond to emails from Amazon, visit the Message Centre on the Amazon website.

Burglary

Please be aware that between Friday 3 November and Sunday 5 November 2023 offenders have smashed the rear patio door window of a property at Clinton Lane, Kenilworth. The offenders have gained entry and once inside carried out an untidy search. A number of items were stolen including items of jewellery.

This is crime reference 23/47202

Theft

Please be aware that between 1630hrs on Saturday 4 November and 0945hrs Sunday 5 November 2023 offenders have removed and stolen the wing mirror from a Mini Cooper Convertible motor vehicle that was parked on a private drive at a property on Waverley Road, Kenilworth.

This is crime reference 23/47268

Burglary

Please be aware that between 0001hrs and 0600hrs on Saturday 4 November 2023 offenders have broken into two properties at Devis Drive (housing building site), Kenilworth.

This is crime reference 23/47091

Attempted Burglary

Please be aware that between 1415hrs and 1740hrs on Tuesday 7 November offenders have tried to force the rear patio off from a property at Hob Lane, Burton Green, Kenilworth. The attempt was unsuccessful.

This is crime reference 23/47803

Theft

Please be aware that between 1700hrs and 1755hrs on Wednesday 8 November offenders have broken into a red Ford Transit van that was parked in a hotel car park nearThe Square, Kenilworth. The offenders broke in through the drivers side door. A quantity of tools were stolen

This is crime reference 23/47633

Attempted Burglary

Please be aware that between 1915hrs and 1930hrs on Saturday 11 November 2023 offenders smashed a rear patio door of a property at Cromwell Lane, Burton Green, Kenilworth and attempted to enter the property. The offenders were disturbed by the property owners and made off.

This is crime reference 23/48071

If you think you may have seen, heard, have any CCTV footage, Dashcam footage or information about any of these crimes please contact Warwickshire Police on 101or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Please be aware that between 1930hrs on Friday 27 October and 0930hrs on Saturday 28 October 2023 offenders have approached a white VW Golf GTD TDI S motor vehicle that was parked at Castle Grove (off Forrest Road), Kenilworth. The offenders have removed the bonnet of the vehicle and other engine parts leaving the vehicle unsafe. They also damaged the nearside wing mirror.

This is crime reference 23/45990

Please be aware that between 2200hrs on Friday 27 October and 0800hrs on Saturday 28 October 2023 offenders have approached a white VW Golf motor vehicle that was parked in the overflow car park of Kenilworth Castle (opposite Castle Green), Kenilworth. The offenders have remove parts from the engine of the vehicle, including the vehicle’s bonnet and the vehicle wing mirrors have been smashed.

This is crime reference 23 45999

 

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious, have any CCTV or Dashcam footage, or any information about either of these crimes then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

 

Please be aware that overnight between Tuesday 24 October and Wednesday 25 October 2023 offenders have tried to force the rear door of a property at Malthouse Lane, Kenilworth. As a BMW motor vehicle was parked at the property this may have been an attempt to break in and locate the vehicle’s keys to steal it.

This is incident 0068 of 25 October 2023

If you think you may have seen, heard, have CCTV, Dashcam footage or any information about this incident please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Please be aware that between Friday 20 October and Saturday 21 October 2023 offenders have prised open kitchen windows on three new build properties at Crewe Lane, Kenilworth. The offenders have entered the properties and removed and stolen three boilers.

This is crime reference 23/45069

If you think you may have seen, heard, have CCTV, dashcam footage or have any information about this crime then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111