FIRST: ANOTHER REFERRAL FROM ACTION FRAUD:
Caller is reporting that her mother has been a victim of fraud. As a result, a huge amount of money has been removed from her bank account.
It started with a text on 01/08/20 from a number claiming to be PayPal. It stated that her 'PayPal account had been suspended, due to irregular activity.
The victim clicked on the link. It looked like a genuine PayPal website, so she proceeded to enter all her account and security details.
On 06/08/20 - she received a text, claiming to be from her bank, which said that her debit card had been used illegally on 05/08/20. ‘If this was her, please reply yes, otherwise, please reply no’. ‘There is no need to call us, responding to this text, is the quickest way to update your account'.
The victim replied 'No' and received an immediate confirmation from the ‘bank’, which stated that they would call her back or she could call them on a number they gave her. She received a call from the 'Bank', stating that the card would be blocked.
She received another phone call on Friday, stating that they needed to create three new accounts and to transfer all her funds to those accounts, to protect her money.
All her savings were transferred to those accounts between 8th Aug and 9th August.
The bank has been spoken to and they have raised their own independent fraud investigation.
As we have seen from previous investigations, the bank suspends the account for 150 days, while they try and track the money - but - there is no guarantee, they will recover it. Fraudsters usually transfer the money into other accounts and then immediately transfer it again through dozens of accounts world wide.
These frauds and scams are happening every day and fraudsters are getting away with millions, just with a couple of phone calls. Please speak to everyone you know and ask them to pause and think, before doing anything, someone on the phone asks them to. You have no idea who they are - and - you never phone a number they give you.
STOP, THINK AND PAUSE BEFORE RESPONDING. In this case - go online into your PayPal account and make sure what you are being told is true. If the call supposedly comes from your bank, ring them from your account statements, or better still, go in and talk to someone.
NEVER GIVE SOMEONE ON THE PHONE YOUR BANK DETAILS, OR CLICK ON A LINK IN A TEXT AND DO THAT.
NEVER AGREE TO TRANSFER YOUR SAVINGS TO A SECURE / SAFE ACCOUNT - WHOEVER ASKS YOU TO, UNLESS YOU ARE IN YOUR BANK AND THEY SUGGEST IT - BUT THEY WON’T - THEY WILL PROTECT YOUR EXISTING ACCOUNT.
A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED - DON’T LET IT BE YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW.
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.uk8/8 - 9/8 Saturday 7 p.m. / Sunday 1 p.m. Car Park, St. Cloud Way. Moped stolen. A white Piaggo Fly 50 index RX ** ESG. Ref. No: 43200246631
7/8 Friday 1 p.m. / 2 p.m. St Cloud Way. Locked up bike stolen from a bike rack. A dark metallic grey, Falcon Electrica, electric bike. Ref. No: 43200244658
9/8 Sunday 7.10 p.m. Belmont Road. 2 bikes chained together, stolen from the rear of a property. 1. A silver Marin Nail Trail, mountain bike. 2. A grey Scotts Boulder, mountain bike. Ref. No: 43200246731
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:
8/8 Saturday 2 p.m. / 3 p.m. Terry’s Lane Car Park, Cookham. Car rear windscreen smashed. Suitcase, Laptop and sports bag stolen. Ref. No: 43200256666
7/8 - 9/8 Saturday 6 a.m. / Sunday 8 a.m. Temple Lane, Bisham. Locked up bike outside a shop stolen. Ref. No: 43200246832
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
7/8 Friday 3.15 p.m. Cherry garden Lane. Attempted burglary. Rear patio door smashed, but no entry gained. Ref. No: 43200245044
8/8 - 10/8 Saturday 1 p.m. / Monday 8 a.m. Courthouse Road. 2 car tyres let down and valves damaged. Repeat victim. Ref. No: 43200247453
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
6/8 - 7/8 Thursday 10.30 a.m. / Friday 4.45 p.m. Talbots Drive. Catalytic converter stolen from under a Toyota Prius. Ref. No: 43200245597
8/8 Saturday 4.10 a.m. Welbeck Road. Driving instructors rack stolen from on top of the car. This was caught on video. Ref. No: 43200245667
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
7/8 Friday 8 a.m. Aysgarth Park. White van driving around the area removing items from front gardens. Ref. No: 43200245382
