Cookham Discussion Board

FIRST: AN IMPORTANT NEW VARIATION ON BANK SCAMS - THIS ONE IS VERY UNPLEASANT:
 
A local resident - neither elderly, nor vulnerable - received a call supposedly, from the Fraud Department at her Bank.
 
They explained that there was fraud going on within her branch of the bank and they would like her help, to find out who the culprit was.
 
They persuaded her, to part with all her banking information and found out how much she had - her life savings - £5,000.  They asked her top transfer that to a safe account and they would monitor the transfer, to see if the person at the bank interfered in any way with it.
 
As that was all she had ……….. They then persuaded her, to apply for a bank loan of £11,000.  They explained over the phone how to do this online and then took her through each part of the online application, telling her what to put in the various boxes, so that the loan would be approved.
 
The online loan, was immediately approved and £11,000 was credited to her account, which at that moment - showed a zero balance !
 
The scammers immediately removed £10,000.  They explained that the £5,000, would cover the staff fees for the bank, investigating Fraud.
 
As the transfers were being completed, the victim’s granddaughter walked in and asked what was going on.  When she heard, she immediately said it was a scam and called the police.  PCSO Tara Harris, went to see the victim and granddaughter and take the police report.  She immediately took them to the bank, to find out exactly what had occurred.
 
The bank were extremely apologetic and immediately cancelled and wrote off the £11,000 loan.  They are hopeful they can trace the £5,000, but won’t know for between 15 / 31 days.
 
THIS IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT AND VARIATION.
 
The victim was persuaded that she was helping the Fraud Department at her bank.  She says they were really convincing.  When they found out how little she had in the bank, they were prepared with the online loan information and must have had a copy of the online form in front of them, as they took her through every part, telling her what to put in the boxes, most of which was completely fraudulent re work and income, in order to have the loan approved.
 
PLEASE BE ON YOUR GUARD - AND - DON’T LET IT BE YOU.
The Met Pol have produced this video:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy-RSQfwLDw
 
It is really good and explains everything.
 
There are still people falling for these scams every day, so we are obviously not spreading the awareness message far and wide enough.  It is up to those of us that know, to help and support our neighbours, work colleagues, friends and relatives !!
 
The Borough’s online newsletter has just come out:
 
Take part in our children's and youth centre consultation
 
We want to hear your views on our plans to transform early help services into integrated, one-stop family hubs.
 
The proposals could see local resources refocussed to support our most vulnerable children, young people and families, helping to reduce the need for statutory intervention.
 
If approved, the plans will see services being run by children's centres, youth centres, parenting service, health visitors, school nurses and the family resilience service bought together into one stop "family hubs" so that residents accessing this support can get all the help they need in one place. The hubs will provide services to children aged between 0-19 and up to 25 years for young people with a learning difficulty or disability.
 
The proposed model focusses on using high footfall centres more intensively and responsive outreach work to replace the reliance on a static and inflexible timetable led programme, allowing our resources to keep pace with the needs of our most vulnerable residents.
 
The consultation is available online or you can attend a variety of consultation sessions in children centres - click here for more information.
 
Free NHS health checks
 
If you are aged between 40 and 74, an NHS Health Check is available free of charge from your local GP.
 
The 20-minute appointment can help lower your risk of developing type-2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Through simple lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity, you can lower your risk of developing serious health problems.
 
Call your GP surgery to book a health check today and enjoy a healthier life for longer.
 
To register to get these online updates:
 
Keeping in touch

Keep up to date with news and information from across the borough by following us on Twitter and Facebook.
 
Our recent press releases are also on the website.
 
Other accounts you may be interested in:
Royal Windsor Information Centre tourism web page. 
Enjoy Maidenhead web page and Facebook.
Libraries on Facebook and Twitter.
Children's centres on Facebook.
Borough Leisure Centre web pages.
 
Communications Team
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Town Hall
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
SL6 1RF
 
T: 01628 683800
E: communications@rbwm.gov.uk

CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
DIPPERS - PICKPOCKETS - IN THE TOWN CENTRE over the weekend.  Purses and wallets stolen.  If you go into maidenhead Police Station, they will give you some purse bells to stop this happening.  The bells are attached to purses etc.  If someone reaches into your bag to remove them - they tinkle !!
16/1 - 17/1  High Street.  A 10 year old, went into a shop and then into a private staff area and took cash and bank cards.  The stolen cards have been used.
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 8 p.m. / Saturday 9.35 a.m.  Hairdressers, window broken and bars damaged to access hair products and straighteners which were stolen.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 3 p.m. / Saturday 10.15 a.m.  Church, St Peter’s Road.  A branch has been broken from a tree which has been pushed over.  Bottles and broken glass have been found in the area.
17/1 - 18/1  Friday 5 p.m. / Saturday 9.30 a.m.  Connaught Close.  Car rear windscreen smashed - criminal damage.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
20/1  Monday 4.15 a.m.  Lambourne Drive.  Shed break.  Offender possibly climbed over a fence to access the garden.  They then opened the unlocked door of the shed, when the Video doorbell alarm sounded, and they made off, jumping the fence into the next door garden.  Described as about 25, 5’6’’, slim build, wearing a dark blue hoody, dark tracksuit bottoms with a backpack.  ANOTHER SUCCESS FOR VIDEO DOORBELLS.  I knew they video continually, not just when the doorbell is pressed or the beam broken and that they record not only video but sound - so that you can tell someone on the doorstep what to do with packages - or visitors to wait - but now we know you can also cause them to emit a siren and alarm - another reason to get one. !  If you don’t have wifi, there are also versions you can buy, but they need hard wiring.
19/1  Sunday 4 a.m. / 6 a.m.  Clare Road.  Car driver’s side window smashed - cash stolen.
 
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
17/1  Friday 0.50 a.m. / 1 a.m.  Bray Lake, Monkey Island lane, Bray.  Business burglary.  Entry via security pad, then climbing over a fence.  Various containers searched.  Honda 15v outboard engine and a Yamaha 9.9v outboard engine stolen.
17/1  Friday 1.30 p.m. / 11.10 p.m.  Monkey Island Lane, Bray.  Burglary.  Entry via forced rear door.  Untidy search of whole house.  An Apple Macbook, Bugaboo Donkey pushchair, jewellery, a black Carrerra Vulcan bike, a Go Pro camera, X Box plus controller, Harley Davidson electric scooters X 3 - one yellow, one light blue and one Navy blue) and a black Ford Fiesta index LL ** VPY stolen.
19/1  Sunday 3.40 a.m.  Aysgarth Park.  Attempted shed break.  CCTV shows a person with a torch jumping over a garden fence and then trying to open the shed which was locked.  They then climbed out of the garden over a wall.  No entry gained and nothing stolen.  Man, mid 20s, under 6’, slim, wearing a hoody and beanie hat, carrying a torch.
17/1  Friday 8 p.m. / 8.45 p.m.  Drift Road.  Burglary.  The key holder reported an alarm activation at the property.  The police attended and found electric gates forced open, and a side window forced.  The alarm box ripped from the wall and an untidy search of the property.  Jewellery and handbags stolen.
16/1 - 17/1  Thursday 5 p.m. / Friday 10 a.m.  Bray Marina, Monkey Island Lane, Bray.  Outboard motor stolen from a boat, while it was moored.