Cookham Discussion Board

FIRST:  A SCAM WARNING FROM TRADING STANDARDS SCAMBUSTER GROUP:

We are hearing reports across the Country of people being contacted out of the blue, with offers of a coronavirus vaccination.

The approaches have been made by text and from a recorded voice message on the telephone. In each case, the recipient is required to respond by clicking a link in the text message, or by pressing 1, when receiving the call. They are then asked to give personal information, as well as financial details to book their vaccination.

THESE ARE SCAMS.
Criminals are exploiting the current situation, to attempt to steal personal details - and your money.

The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus. These people will be contacted by the NHS.
There has been a surge worldwide of vaccine related phishing email scams. We expect to see an increase in these in the coming days.

Phishing emails seen have contained malicious files that installed malware, or links to bogus websites to obtain the victim's information.

Protect yourself from vaccine-themed phishing campaigns by checking the email addresses on incoming messages and be alert to hyperlinks that contain misspelled domain names; be aware of highly emotive language designed to manipulate you; do not supply login credentials, or personal information, in response to an email; monitor key financial accounts regularly; and keep software and apps updated.

Report all scams to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

Honor Ryan
Trading Standards Officer
Trading Standards | Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF
* Email: honor.ryan@rbwm.gov.uk

NEXT:- CLEAR CAR CAMPAIGN

I have just received a photo from RBWM Community Warden Tracey Windle of a car with its passenger window left fully open and a Sat Nav attached to the windscreen, within easy reach !  The Community Wardens and Police are carrying out Clear Car Campaign sweeps of those areas targeted for car crime.

Leaving a car with nothing on display includes a pair of sunglasses on the dashboard and loose change visible in the centre console !!!

PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE YOU THIS CHRISTMAS – LOCK YOU CAR AND LEAVE NOTHING ON DISPLAY.

NEXT:- COLD CALLING CHARITY COLLECTORS:

Hi Jeff,

Yesterday our Close was visited twice by a cold caller, asking for monthly donations to Alzheimer’s Research.  One visit was just before 6pm in total darkness. We did not open our door and told him to go away.

I have established that Alzheimer’s Research, NOT the Alzheimer’s Society do have a campaign going on in the Ascot area at present, where they are “raising awareness and asking people to make a monthly donation”.

The canvasser has a laptop, on which he will record bank or card details and set up a direct debit.

I have told Alzheimer’s Research that this presents serious issues:-Inviting people to divulge financial details on their door step and
To be doing this in the current Covid crisis.
Alan

Please be on your guard.  These may be brilliant and worthy charities, but you cannot pass any personal or bank account information to a complete stranger, who happens to ring your doorbell.  They may well have a lanyard with an ID attached, but you do not know what a genuine ID for their particular charity, looks like !!!  Explain that you would be happy to support their charity, but will make your own arrangements.

If you wish to support that particular Charity, you can go online to their website and complete the necessary paperwork online.

NEXT:-A POTENTIAL BT SCAM:

Hi Jeff,

I got a call today from an foreign sounding man, purporting to be from BT and telling me my internet has been set to 'Public Access' rather than Private.

I was immediately suspicious, so I asked what that meant.  He said anyone in the world could access my computer remotely.

I was even more suspicious, when he asked me to log into my computer.  I asked why and he said he could to fix this remotely !

I immediately hung up at this point !

You might want to warn people, in case this is something doing the rounds like the amazon calls !

Regards,

Lesley

Thanks Lesley – BE ON YOUR GUARD !

NEXT:- A WARNING RE THE WANGIRI MOBILE PHONE SCAM

Hi Jeff

I have been inundated in recent days, with these calls.

This scam works by them phoning your mobile number and hanging up straight away.  You pick it up as a missed call and if you call it back.  You are put through, on an international premium rate call.

One of the problems is that it is a 'smart' number and the call goes through, as soon as you touch it.

No matter how quick you are to cancel the call, it still costs.

The only thing to do is to report it then delete the call with minimum contact.

Have a great Christmas and keep up the good work

Regards

Kevin

Thanks Kevin.  What makes sense, is simply to delete any missed calls from unknown numbers !!!  Keep safe.

NEXT:-  HELEN HAS SENT AN INVOICE SHE HAS RECEIVED FROM A COMPANY SHE HAS NEVER DEALT WITH !

It is an invoice for $241 for Natural Health Sherpa.  It asks her to please pay the invoice, or to see more details – Click on the link !!!

We have these scams all the time.  Often in small companies, community groups, churches, the accounts team receives the invoice and simply pays it !  The dollars also gave it away !

ALWAYS CHECK !!!  DON’T LET IT BE YOU.

LAST – JACQUELINE HAS RECEIVED A HONG KONG LETTER FROM THE MANAGER OF A HONG KONG BANK – Someone there has died with a similar name to hers, leaving millions, if she lets them have all her personal and bank details they will share it with her 50 / 50 !

WE ALL KNOW TO JUST BIN THESE LETTERS !

CRIME

I have attached reference numbers to each crime report. If you live in the vicinity of any of the crimes mentioned and have CCTV or a video doorbell, can you please check the footage. If you have any that might be of interest to the police, can you please make contact with us, quoting reference number given.

I have added a new email address below.  The first email address is directly to your local Neighbourhood Team.  The second is to our investigation team.  Please use it to send any intelligence / video doorbell / CCTV footage you may have, which is relevant to any of the crimes lists below - quoting the reference number.

Alternatively you can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email - www.crimestoppers-uk.org


MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
16/12  Wednesday 9 p.m. / Friday 10 p.m.  Cookham Road.  The owner lost their car keys and probably dropped them outside their home.  When they came down in the morning, their car had been searched.  8 Dior Aftershave sets and 2 Hugo Boss Aftershave sets, sunglasses and paperwork stolen.  Ref. No:  43200430262

RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
19/11  Saturday 1.40 a.m.  The Street, Waltham St. Lawrence.  Black Range Rover Sport HSE index LR ** TZZ stolen from a driveway.  Ref. No:  43200431641

PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
21/12  Monday 1 p.m.  Homeside Close.  Car index plates stolen.  Ref. No:  43200434135

MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.

OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
18/12  Friday 8 p.m.  Stewart Close., Fifield.  The owner saw 2 men searching his car on the drive and phoned the police.  They made off and got into a small white Peugeot parked nearby and drove off.  The police attended immediately, but got a puncture and started to walk along the road as the police arrived !  As the 2 men matched the descriptions given, they were arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle.  Ref. No:  43200431011.  If you live in the area and have CCTV / video doorbell, please check the footage.  If you have anything which might assist the police, forward it to the SR email above, quoting the Ref. No.