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Has the pandemic changed your attitude to cyber security?

Along with our Cyberhood Watch partner, Avast, we have launched a new survey to understand whether the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our attitudes towards certain aspects of cybersecurity and privacy since the first lockdown in March 2020.


The findings from the survey will be used to inform ongoing Cyberhood Watch awareness initiatives for the Neighbourhood Watch community and draw attention to important cybersecurity and privacy topics though the media to help UK citizens improve their knowledge of, and protection from, cyberthreats.


The survey of 16 questions will take you less than 5 minutes to complete and all answers are anonymous. It is open from today and will close on Sunday 27th June 2021. If you’d like to take part, please follow the link below:



Thank you very much in advance for your support in the fight against cybercrime in the UK.


NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team


Neighbourhoood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349

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WhatsApp scam alert

Hackers are trying to get access to WhatsApp accounts after stealing the identities of their victims’ contacts. Here’s how it works and what to watch out for.


First, you’ll receive an unexpected but genuine text message from WhatsApp containing a verification code. This is usually triggered when logging into the app for the first time, when you’ve been logged out, or you’re trying to log into WhatsApp from a new device.


But in the case of this scam, fraudsters have entered your number into WhatsApp themselves to try to get access to your account, triggering the verification code text.


Next, one of your WhatsApp contacts will message you via the app, usually with a story to try to persuade you to give them the verification code you’ve just received. They might say they’ve accidentally entered your number by mistake, for example.


Because the message seems to be from a relative or friend, a lot of people have been tricked into passing on the verification code, which then allows fraudsters to take over their accounts.


Once they’ve taken over, scammers might use your account in a few different ways.


What happens next?

We’ve heard that scammers have identified their victims’ closest contacts from their message history and have asked them for money or sensitive information.


They could also find out personal details about you and your contacts from your messages. This information could be used to access other important accounts, target you with more scams, or even blackmail you.


Scammers are likely to carry out the same trick with verification codes with the new set of contacts they’ve unlocked, gaining access to more and more accounts. A WhatsApp spokesperson told us:


“The safety and security of our users and their messages are really important to us. However, just like regular SMS or phone calls, it’s possible for other WhatsApp users who have your phone number to contact you.


We advise all users never to share their WhatsApp SMS verification code with others, not even friends or family. We also recommend that all users set up two-step verification for added security. For more information and resources on how to stay safe online visit our website”


How to keep your WhatsApp account safe

⚠ Don’t share your login details or verification code with anybody. Not your closest family or trusted friends.


⚠ Set up two-step verification to secure your account.


⚠ Be wary of WhatsApp messages requesting money, even if they come from your contacts. If you’re not sure, give the friend a quick call to check.


As always, if you think you may have given sensitive details, such as payment information, to fraudsters, let your bank know what’s happened immediately."


WhatsApp users who have lost access to their accounts can contact support@whatsapp.com.


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Croods 2 - Win a Holiday!!


WIN A FUN-FILLED TREEHOUSE ADVENTURE STAYCATION

To mark the end of a very successful Neighbourhood Watch Week, and to celebrate the release of The Croods 2: A New Age, we are delighted to launch a prize draw on our Facebook page to give you the opportunity to win a fun-filled treehouse adventure.


The Croods 2: A New Age, which is in cinemas on 16th July 2021, celebrates community, neighbourliness, inclusivity, and working together - values that are close to the heart of all Neighbourhood Watch supporters. The opportunity presented by this partnership enables us to reach more young families and to build on the awareness of Neighbourhood Watch as positive and approachable. The Croods and the Bettermans are two very different families who are thrown together and have to learn to live with one another when an evil tribe of monkeys threaten their homes. The Croods and the Bettermans realise that home is not a place, its people, and together they create history’s first neighbourhood!


Neighbourhood Watch’s partnership with this film provides the opportunity to promote the importance of neighbourliness and community spirit to new audiences and across diverse communities. We know many young people and their families share the values that we stand for and this partnership gives them an introduction to Neighbourhood Watch and hopefully they will become supporters for life.


The Croods faced their biggest threat when they left their cave - another family – while we are offering an opportunity to leave your cave behind and experience a very different treehouse adventure with your family! To be in with a chance to win this amazing prize, be sure to visit our Facebook pageand enter the prize draw. Terms and conditions can be found here.


HOW TO SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN

We rely on the wonderful Neighbourhood Watch volunteers to promote Neighbourhood Watch as the first step for all people to connect with their neighbours for mutual support. We hope that you will share this campaign within your community and use it to reach more young families across your area. We have amazing prizes to be won over the course of the partnership.


To support this campaign, you can:

  • ENTER:Visit facebook.com/ourwatch to enter the prize draw

  • SHARE: Follow us on social media and share our posts on the prize draw

    • Facebook: facebook.com/ourwatch

    • Twitter: twitter.cm/N_watch

    • Instagram: neighburhood.watch.insta


  • INFORM: Share this activity pack with your community. This could be via email, WhatsApp or in your local newsletter

  • WATCH: Go and see the film when it comes out on 16th July. See the trailer here


NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH AND THE CROODS 2: A NEW AGE SPECIAL EDITION LOGO

The Neighbourhood Watch brand and iconic yellow roundel is undeniably widely recognised across the UK. To celebrate the film’s release, we have created a unique and playful adaptation of our logo to be used on all supporting material. We will be using the fresh and fun logo on all our social media channels, on relevant pages on our website and materials created for this partnership. Feel free to use the logo on your materials up until the end of the partnership.


Want to be part of Universal Pictures’ universe? To hear more The Croods 2: A New Age news and find out about other upcoming film releases, exclusive competitions and giveaways, click here.


NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH WEEK 2021: LISTEN. TALK. DO!

Thank you to all those that supported Neighbourhood Watch Week. Please find links to resources and activities below which you may find useful:


New Neighbourhood Watch resources

  • Every Mind Matters neighbourly postcard

  • ‘How to run a listening campaign’ guide

  • ‘How to organise a litter pick’guide

  • ‘How to organise a street party’guide

  • ‘How to conduct an Environmental Visual Audit’guide


Podcast

  • Listen to John Hayward-Cripps talk about community safety in the 21st Century



Webinar (click to book onto an upcoming scam webinar)

  • 6th July, 5pm: Exploring the psychology behind scams and how scammers are so effective at their crimes

  • 14th July, 5pm: Insights into how a fraud case is investigated and how not to be the next victim

  • 23rd July, 5pm: Scams awareness training from the Friends Against Scams initiative

  • 30th July, 5pm: Don't get hooked by

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