Bolton Neighbourhood Watch News - June 2025

A new alert has been issued by Action Fraud, warning about quishing, a form of phishing where a fraudulent QR code is scanned, designed to steal personal and financial information. The warning encourages people to stay vigilant and double check QR codes to see if they are malicious, or have been tampered with, before scanning them online or in public spaces.

Claire Webb, Acting Director of Action Fraud, said:

“QR codes are becoming increasingly common in everyday life, whether it’s scanning one to pay for parking, or receiving an email asking to verify an online account. However, reporting shows cyber criminals are increasingly using quishing as a way to trick the public out of their personal and financial information. 

“We’re urging people to stop and check before scanning QR codes, to avoid becoming a victim of quishing. Look out for QR codes that may have been tampered with in open spaces, or emails and texts that might include rogue codes. If you’re in doubt, contact the organisation directly. You can follow our advice on quishing, on our website at www.actionfraud.police.uk to help protect yourself.”

Action Fraud can reveal that quishing happens most frequently in car parks, with criminals using stickers to tamper with QR codes on parking machines. Quishing also occurred on online shopping platforms, where sellers received a QR code via email to either verify accounts or to receive payment for sold items.

Reports also showed phishing attacks were taking place impersonating HMRC, or other UK government schemes, targeting people with QR codes designed to steal personal and financial details.

What can you do avoid being a victim of quishing?

If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to phishing@report.gov.uk

If you receive a suspicious call or SMS message, report it by forwarding it to 7726

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

If you’ve been a victim of fraud, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

It's important to stay mindful of the dangers of swimming or cooling off in open water, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and canals.     Here are some key risks to consider:   💧 Cold water shock – Even in warm weather, water temperatures can be dangerously low, making swimming difficult and increasing the risk of getting trapped.   💧 Lack of safety equipment – Unlike supervised swimming areas, open water often lacks essential rescue equipment, making it harder to get help.   💧 Jumping hazards – Tombstoning from height can be extremely risky due to unpredictable depths and hidden dangers beneath the surface.   💧 Unpredictable water depth – Levels can vary greatly, making it difficult to judge safe swimming spots.   💧 Underwater hazards – Sharp objects, debris, or unseen obstacles can pose serious risks.   💧 Strong currents – Powerful water movement can quickly sweep swimmers away, even when the surface looks calm.   💧 Uneven terrain – Banks and riverbeds can be unstable, making it harder to get out safely.   💧 Water quality concerns – Toxic algae blooms and pollution from industrial or agricultural sources can pose health risks.     Safety advice If you see another person or a pet in trouble in the water: Do not enter the water yourself. Raise the alarm or if you have a mobile phone call 999 and ask for all emergency services. Try and give an exact location of where you are and look for signs or landmarks or use the What 3 Words app. If there is a lifebuoy or throwline nearby throw it to them. If not throw anything to them that will float. Enjoy the warm weather responsibly and always prioritize safety

Burglaries often increase during the Spring and Summer months, when burglars take advantage of people leaving doors and windows open during the warmer weather.

However, crime prevention doesn’t have to cost a lot of money – taking simple measures such as locking your doors and windows, putting valuables out of view and using a burglar alarm, can significantly reduce your chances of being a victim.

Here are some simple steps everyone can take to improve their home security:

Use timer switches so that your lights come on if you’re not at home.

If you are already registered on Neighbourhood Alert (Neighbourhood Watch/Bee In The Loop messaging service) just select The Police and Neighbourhood Watch as INFORMATION PROVIDERS from your account screen https://members.ourwatchmember.org.uk. When Neighbourhood Watch is selected, you should be able to see your local scheme or create a scheme (subject to NWN approval) in your community by clicking the NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH TOOLS menu.

At Neighbourhood Watch our mission is to enable individuals and communities to be connected, active and safe. We want to increase wellbeing and reduce crime. Our last strategy laid out three key aims, to be: The authoritative voice on community-based crime prevention. Helping people to access the advice and support they need, either directly or via other organisations. The most popular gateway for citizens to engage in their locality. Providing the first step for connecting with neighbours for mutual support, and offering simple ways to build on that with voluntary and community sector partners. A recognised contributor to community health and wellbeing. Increasing community cohesion and reducing loneliness and isolation.  We want to know how we are doing in delivering these, we also want to know what you think about us as an organisation.  Please take our short survey, it only takes five minutes and your insights are really valuable.