SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT POTENTIALLY FRAUDULENT BANK TRANSFERS - THE BANKS ARE ON THEIR TOES.
We had an Action Fraud call this morning from one of our local banks. One of their customers, had made an online transfer of a large amount of money, which was considered ‘unusual expenditure’ for that customer. In those circumstances, the bank delayed the transfer, until they had had an opportunity to talk to the customer under the ‘Banking Protocol’, to make sure the transfer was genuine.
They contacted the customer this morning, who refused to answer any questions under the protocol - which is there to protect them from frauds and scams, or even engage with the bank.
Today, a police officer will be sent to the customer, just to make sure everything is in order. If they are happy with any explanation, they will contact the bank and the transfer will go through.
Often with scams and frauds, vulnerable victims are told about the protocol and how to answer the various questions, to ensure the transfer goes through. They are also persuaded not to talk to the police, nor anyone from the bank.
The Banking Protocol was brought in as a protective measure. The banks monitor all accounts for unusual expenditure - you pay a bill at a supermarket this morning, as you usually do and suddenly ‘apparently’, you have bought something in another country, or part of this country. Obviously you cannot be in two places at once ! The same applies for unusual withdrawals. If you take out say £50 every week to cover expenses and then suddenly make a transfer abroad of several thousands, it will be questioned, but - if you answer the simple Protocol questions, all is well and the transfer will go through.
Please co-operate with your bank in these circumstances. The Protocol is there to protect you from Fraud and Scams !
YET MORE SCAMS & FRAUDS:
Three different victims have submitted reports to the police, saying that they have been contacted on Facebook, by someone saying they are a friend who is known to them, asking for their assistance.
The supposed friend, was able to convince them, to provide access to their computers.
They then asked them to sign into their online banking services.
When they did that, the ‘friend’, made unauthorised transactions from the victim’s accounts.
The ‘friend’, after making initial contact via FaceBook, contacted all the victims using the same mobile telephone number.
PLEASE, BE CAUTIOUS IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES - DON’T LET IT BE YOU
THE SCAMMERS ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO - AND - ARE VERY CONVINCING.
I GET A LOT OF EMAILS RE MOTORISED SCOOTERS.
HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THEM AND THEIR USE ON THE HIGHWAY:
It’s important to remember that privately owned e-scooters are still subject to all current legal requirements for motor vehicles, (Including: motor vehicle insurance, vehicle licensing and registration and display of plates, wearing of a motor-bicycle helmet, and stricter driving licence requirements) - so it’s unlikely that the owner of a privately owned e-scooter, will be able to meet the legal requirements, for motor vehicles on public roads.
Riding unlicensed powered vehicles
It’s against the law in the UK to ride hoverboards, minibikes (or ‘mini motos’), motorised scooters such as GoPeds, on both public roads and pavements. The same applies to ‘trail’ bikes, three-wheeled bikes and quads unless they are displaying valid number plates.
These kind of vehicles may only be used on private roads or land with the road or land-owner’s permission.
For more information about this issue - as well as Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use - and what you can do about it can be found on the Thames valley police website - follow this link:
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/vehicle-nuisance-involving-cars-bikes-and-mopeds/ 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.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk17/7 - 20/7 Powney Road. Laptop stolen from a car. Ref. No: 43200222317
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
21/7 Tuesday 2.30 a.m. Farm Road.. White BMW 530D Sport, index YB ** LYJ stolen from outside a house. Ref. No: 43200222898
21/7 Tuesday 10.45 p.m. Bath Road. Bike stolen from a wrack on the back of a car. A black ladies, Specialized Vita Hybrid bike. Ref, No: 43200223215
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
21/7 Tuesday midnight / 8 a.m. Woodlands Rise. Burglary. Entry vis kitchen window left open. Cash removed and stolen from a wallet, which was then discarded. Ref No: 43200223602
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
20/7 Monday 9.30 p.m. / 11 p.m. Moneyrow Green. Van break - rear doors left unlocked - tools stolen. Ref. No: 43200222728
