In the deep midwinter…here comes the sun…    #FraudFree2026

Good afternoon,

Happy New Year!

Traditionally, January is a time of resolutions and future plans, when thoughts turn to booking a well-earned holiday boosted by adverts showing spectacular locations and beautiful sunshine. However, holidays and travel are rife with fraud in many forms – ticketing, visa, rental, impersonation etc. 

Please research any offers carefully and always pay on a credit card particularly when booking online.  Colleagues in Kent Police have kindly partnered with the ABTA and Trading Standards to provide lots of advice to avoid various travel and holiday related fraud/scams, and travel issues, including some case studies: https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud 

Please note - In the video it mentions Action Fraud, as regular readers will know, the name has changed to Report Fraud and the links have been updated to reflect that change on the link above.

Kind regards - Fraud Safeguarding Team

Please do share this important warning with friends and family and encourage them to sign up for their own Hampshire Alert: https://www.hampshirealert.co.uk/ 

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Report Fraud either by phone 0300 123 2040 or online at:  https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

However, if a fraud or other crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report non-fraud crime online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or phone 0800 555 111

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential, support:  https://www.hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk/  or phone 0808 178 1641

If you’ve received a phishing email please report it to your email provider and/or forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk 

If you’ve received unwanted phone calls or texts from people you think are trying to scam you, but you haven’t engaged with them, please forward the text/phone number to 7726 or your phone provider.

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team