Cookham Discussion Board

FIRST: I have had several responses to my question re the Shares Scam telephone calls:
 
I am responding about the shares phone call. On more than one occasion I have received a call asking to buy my husband's Sainsbury's shares, usually just before something is due to happen that affects the share price. I tell them if they are legitimate then they should contact him by his official route and they have never got back to him.
 
Not sure if it's a scam or just a dodgy share dealer.
 
All the best
 
Chris
 
AND:
 
Hi
With regard to Malcom's message, on Monday re shares, I received a call from a man with a northern accent, purporting to be from HSBC, wanting to talk to my husband about his HSBC shares.
 
When I asked why, he said that in light of all the press coverage of job losses, the share price had dropped and he wanted to talk about selling the shares (we don't have any !).
I pointed out that my husband had worked for HSBC for 20 years and that I knew for a fact that they did not get lads in a Northern Call Centres, to call their clients.
He got very shirty and we had a heated discussion, when I told him that I knew this was a scam -  he then put the phone down.
Although I frequently get calls from 'BT, Ámazon', ÉBay' etc.,  this is the first time, I have received one like this.
 
Kind regards, Lynne
 
A new type of scam call then.  At first we thought they may have access to company shareholding lists, but Lynne’s email shows it is just an opportunist scam !!
 
BE ON YOUR GUARD !  JUST PUT THE PHONE DOWN !  DON’T BE A RESPONDER !!
 
NEXT: To explain this scam from Martin:
 
Hi
 
Just picking up on Malcolm’s point from yesterday’s e-mail.
 
This used to be a regular scam some years ago and is now starting again. I have been contacted twice in the last two weeks. The original description was a ‘boiler house’ scam.
 
The calls used to originate from New York (hence the UK timing), where the scammers contact bone fide company shareholders offering to buy their shares. Once they are in conversation they then try and sell ‘fantastic’ investment opportunities with great returns. These of course do not exist.
 
If people receive such calls just put the phone down.
 
(Keep up the excellent work)
 
Martin
 
Thanks Martin, my advice exactly !
 
NEXT: Chris has sent me a positive experience - always good to publicise !
 
Hi
 
Thought you might like to know a positive experience.
 
I had occasion to contact BT regarding my email addresses and they told me that they would have to refer it to their back office, as she didn’t have the right level of authority to do what was required.  They would phone me.
 
I asked her if they would be calling from India, as if they were there was a danger I might shout at them because of the large number of calls I have had claiming to be from BT and were obviously scammers.
 
We ended up with a tactic that when I got the call from BT, I would ask them for the name of the last BT advisor I spoke to and if the name matched, then I would proceed. If they were genuine, then they would know it.
 
As it happened I had two calls from “BT” - who didn’t pass the test - until I got the genuine one !
 
Sounds like a good procedure to follow - it makes life much easier !
 
Chris
 
SPRING GARDEN CRIME
 
It may not feel like it at the moment, but Spring is only around the corner and you may be starting to tidy your garden, in preparation for the warmer months.  Unfortunately, statistics show that there is often a spike in shed burglaries in the spring, as many people dust off their mowers.
 
As the weather heats up, opportunist thieves will start to look out for open windows, insecure sheds, gardening tools and new bikes, purchased at Christmas
 
Here are a few simple tips to keep your shed and tools safe:
 
Visibly postcode all tools with your postcode and house number / first three letters of you house name - not ‘The’ !
When you are finished with your tools, lock them away in your shed.  Ladder left out have recently been used to break into houses
Garden spades taken from sheds have recently been used to lever out patio doors, or smash the glass.  Secure all tools.
Remove hinge screws on the outside, which can easily be removed, with round headed coach bolts, with the nuts inside.  Often, thieves remove the screws from the hinges and open the doors from the door that way.
Use a good quality padlock or mortice lock on the door of your shed
Make sure your windows, hinges and hasp fittings are strong, as this can often be an entry point
Purchase a shed alarm.  These need no fixing and can be placed on a shelf.  They fob on and off really easily and are activated by a heat and movement sensor.  They sound at 110 dbls - which in the early hours is deafening.  Go to the large online sales sites and search for shed alarm - often they are on special offer at this time of year and cost under £10.  BUY 2 AND PUT ONE IN YOUR GARAGE.  If you don’t have a burglar alarm - you can also use them inside your home !
Fit external motion activated security lighting
Lock bicycles to a fixed structure - you can purchase padlock alarms, with large rings for bikes / ladders and tools.
If your shed has a window - cover it up/obscure the view
Do not leave house doors and windows open whilst in the garden as an opportunist thief might take advantage, while you are busy in the garden
 
You could consider defensive planting to prevent anyone coming into your garden - nature’s own way to reduce crime.  Criminals do not like climbing through prickly plants and hedges ! They know that a small item of ripped clothing or blood, can help the police identify them.
 
DON’T LET IT BE YOU
 
CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
25/12 / 13/2  Grebe Way, Underground War Park.  Motorbike index plates stolen
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
21/2  Friday 9.30 p.m. Pub Car Park, Littlefield Green, White Waltham.  The owner of a car was inside having a meal.  When they returned to their car, they found the rear windscreen smashed and a rucksack & contents stolen.
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
21/2  Friday 9.15 p.m.  Alwyn Road.  The owners were sitting at home when they heard a loud crash.  They went to investigate and found a ground floor window had been smashed, possibly with a stolen.
22/2  Saturday 12.30 p.m. / 1.30 p.m.  Napier Road.  The owner was at home working when a van pulled up.  2 men got out and unscrewed a temporary wall to gain entry.  They pretended to be delivering a washing machine.  A neighbour saw them and intervened as they knew the builders who should be on site.  The two men then made off.  A cement mixer in the corner of the garden had been moved the neighbour believes, it was al an elaborate ruse to steal it.
23/2 - 24/2  Sunday 11.30 p.m. / Monday 8.30 a.m.  Wavell Road.  Car rear driver’s side window smashed - rock found inside - Pink rucksack containing university text books stolen.  These have been recovered abandoned near a bin on the corner of Punt Hill Alleyway.  The rest of the contents of the rucksack, were emptied into the bin.  A bottle of perfume had been kept.
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
21/2  Friday 9.35 a.m.  Pub, High Street, Bray.  Used cooking oil stolen from storage shed in their car park.