Kent Reliance offers customers fraud support with financial crime roadshows

Financial fraud has been hitting the headlines on a regular basis and it’s with good reason. In 2023, 2.97million cases of fraud were confirmed in the UK amounting to £1.17b being stolen from consumers¹ through sophisticated methods to illegally gain access to consumer accounts. Fraud accounts for over 40% of all crime reported in the UK, this includes payment diversion fraud, investment fraud, romance fraud, courier fraud as well as cheque, plastic card and online bank account fraud².

In response to this growing issue, local savings bank Kent Reliance, are organising a series of Financial Crime Roadshows where staff will be sharing their top tips and advice on how people can protect themselves and maintain their financial safety.

The following Kent Reliance branches will be offering drop in sessions between 10:30am-1:30pm and are open to all, including non-Kent Reliance customers:

• 9^th July Hempstead, 76 Hempstead Vally Shopping Centre

• 17^th July Chatham, 250 High Street

• 23^rd July Maidstone, 5-6 High Street

• 7^th August Canterbury, 12-13 High Street

• 13^th August Gravesend, 1-2 Kings Street

• 21^st August Strood, 137 High Street

Leanne O’Malley, Senior Financial Crime Manager, Kent Reliance said “It’s vital that we continue to share the latest information on how people can protect themselves and their finances from criminals. Being at the heart of the local Kent communities, our Kent Reliance branches provide a great opportunity for us to speak directly to members of the public about how to spot scams, question suspicious activity and how to best protect themselves and their accounts.”

For those unable to make it to one of the drop in sessions, Leanne has shared some key points to consider:

• Use strong and different passwords - a mix of letters, numbers and symbols are best

• Use 2 step verification where available; a second layer of protection alongside password

• Use your mobile password storage for safe keeping of passwords

• Don’t use the same passwords across your banking apps

• If you receive an email, text message or phone call out of the blue or if it doesn’t feel quite right, always contact the organisation directly using contact details from their official websites – do not use contact details provided in the communication received

• Never disclose your banking details, PIN or password, banks will never ask you for this

¹ https://www.ukfinance.org.uk/system/files/2024-06/UK%20Finance%20Annual%20Fraud%20report%202024.pdf

² https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/fraud-and-economic-crime#:~:text=It%20accounts%20for%20over%2040,adults%20aged%2016%20and%20over