We’ve recently had reports from residents about scam calls from people claiming to represent us, or claiming to work for us, asking for personal information or details about their home or themselves. We want to reassure you, genuine calls from us will only come from a valid 0300 number or a 01284 number. We will never phone you out of the blue requesting bank details or asking you to confirm sensitive information.

In addition, our contractors will never contact you without prior notice. If we need to arrange a visit, we will always send a letter first to let you know to expect them, and any contractor you see will have a valid ID badge. There may be some instances where some of our team may show up unannounced to do a tenancy audit. If this is the case, our team members will be in Havebury branded uniform with an ID card.

If you receive a call and you’re unsure, end the call immediately and call us back using a number from our official letter or website to check whether the call was genuine.

If anything feels suspicious, especially if you’re asked for bank details, don’t give them out under any circumstances.

What else should you watch out for?

Recently, there has been a rise in scams pretending to be official government departments. Some of the most common recent scams affecting people in the UK include:

Fake government benefit or payment messages

Criminals have been sending fake texts or emails claiming to be from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Many of the messages relate to supposed “Winter Fuel Payments” or other financial support, often claiming that you need to “apply” or “update your bank details” to receive the benefit.

In fact, for most people, these payments are automatic, and DWP will never ask you to apply or provide bank details via text or email.

Phishing, smishing and vishing attempts

Scammers may contact you by email (‘phishing’), text (‘smishing’) or phone (‘vishing’), trying to trick you into giving out personal information, such as your bank details, credit card information, or other sensitive data.

They often create a sense of urgency (“You must act now or miss the payment/fine/benefit”) to pressure you into acting quickly and without thinking.

Doorstep or in-person scams

Some fraudsters may show up at people’s homes pretending to be from official organisations, for instance offering fake services, claiming to carry out repairs or inspections, or offering “help” around benefits or energy schemes.

These scams can be especially dangerous. Always check for a valid ID badge.

What you should do

• Do not give out any personal or financial information (bank details, National Insurance numbers, passwords, etc.) over the phone, via email, text, or in-person unless you are absolutely sure the contact is genuine. This is particularly true if you were not expecting the conversation.
• If you are unsure, hang up and call us directly using our official number. Don’t call back the number that called you.
• If someone visits your home, ask for ID.
• Be alert for red flags: unexpected contact, urgency (“act now or lose benefits”), threats, pressure, requests for money or details, suspicious email addresses or phone numbers.
• Report scams. If you suspect you’ve been targeted, you can report it to Action Fraud (in the UK, phone 0300 123 2040 or via their website), and warn friends, family or neighbours.

Scams are on the rise across the UK, with fraudsters becoming increasingly sophisticated. They may impersonate trusted organisations, spoof phone numbers, or even create convincing fake websites.

Because of that, staying alert is more important than ever, especially for people who receive benefits, pensioners, or residents who may be less familiar with digital security. By being cautious and verifying every call or visit, we can help protect our community from fraud.

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