Neighbourhood Watch and Neighbourhood Link

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Action Fraud is urging people to look out for rogue QR codes, after 784 reports of ‘quishing’ were made to Action Fraud between April 2024 and April 2025, with almost £3.5 million lost.

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. 

 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?

QR codes used in pubs or restaurants are usually safe to scan.
Scanning QR codes in open spaces (like stations and car parks) might pose a greater risk. Check for signs that codes may have been tampered with (usually by a sticker placed over the legitimate QR code). If in doubt, do not scan them: use a search engine to find the official website or app for the organisation you need to make a payment to.
If you receive an email with a QR code in it, and you're asked to scan it, you should be cautious due to an increase in these types of 'quishing' attacks.
Finally, we recommend that you use the QR-scanner that comes with your phone, rather than using an app downloaded from an app store.
If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to phishing@report.gov.uk 

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. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.

The UK government’s new Emergency Alerts is now live.

The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger. It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe flooding.

Emergency Alerts are sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk. They don’t track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them.

If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.

Should you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you will hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond.

You will be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts. If you receive an alert, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions.

For emergencies please dial 999

For something non-urgent but you feel the police should know about please call 101.   

If you suspect criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous  your can or go online to Crimestoppers and also to report non urgent crimes. Or submit online at www.leics.police.uk

 The main advice is, do not click on links until you are absolutely sure it is from the company it says. 

Check the email details and this will tell you immediately if it is a scam. 

NEVER give you bank details to anyone who sends a text or email as no banks or legitimate companies will never request this information by text or email.

Call Action Fraud for help 

Neighbourhood Link is an easy, free email messaging service from Leicestershire Police, Neighbourhood Watch and other local partner organisations, providing news and updates on policing matters that are relevant to you.

Sign up to receive email alerts about police activity and initiatives in your local area, crime prevention advice and information and warnings about current scams and fraud. You will have the opportunity to reply directly to your neighbourhood team and have your say on your local policing priorities. 

Neighbourhood watch is the largest volunteer-led crime prevention charity in the country, working in communities to support them in being safer, more resilient places to live. We provide resources, projects and networks that support volunteers and communities to work together to prevent crime, raise awareness around safety initiatives and community resilience, and connect neighbourhoods. 

https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/