A VERY GOOD END TO THE WEEK:
NO BURGLARIES TO REPORT
AND
NO CARS BROKEN INTO !
FIRST: What appears to be a potential attempted Courier Fraud. An elderly resident received a call from a Met Pol officer saying there had been fraud at her bank. The police report says she is deeply distressed, but we have no further details at this time. If you get a call from someone - it is usually a man, but we have had cases of it being a woman - purporting to be a Met Pol officer, saying they have 2 young men in custody for credit card fraud using your card - just put the phone down at that point.
It usually goes on to ask if you still have your credit / debit cards in your possession, in which case can you check. This is important to the scam. You get them and say ‘yes’. The scammer then says put the phone down and immediately phone the security number on the back, to cancel the cards. You do this, believing him to be honest. You dial the number. What you do not know is that he has not discontinued the call, but simply handed it to an accomplice.
As you are supposedly talking to security at your bank, they need to confirm your identity, by asking you for all your security information - which you happily supply. They again say, put the phone down, they will make contact with the police, who will phone back shortly. You do that and the scammer, rings back. This time he says he will send a courier for your card and a replacement will be issued.
As you know the scam then goes on, once they have your trust, to empty all your bank accounts - and - when that has been done, run up huge bills on any credit cards you have.
The minute you hear that intro - this is DC Morris - or whatever name they use - from the Metropolitan Police Fraud squad - PUT THE RECEIVER DOWN.
If you want reassurance, from your own records, get a number for your bank and phone them.
DON’T LET IT BE YOU
NEXT: Hi Jeff
Please could you publish news of National Interfaith Week this Sunday 8th November to Sunday 15th November, in Friday's issue of Thames Valley Alert. I have provided some copy below.
Many thanks!
Paul Samuels
07923 494744
Trustee WAMCF & Men's Matters
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.ukNO CRIME TO REPORT.
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:
5/11 - 6/11 Thursday 8 p.m. / Friday 8 a.m. Waltham Road. Garage break - bike stolen. A black Trek Roscoe7 Bike - WITH FRAME NUMBER. Ref. No: 43200362439
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
4/11 Wednesday 10 p.m. Brunel Road, Car wing mirror damaged and car keyed. Ref. No: 43200360283
5/11 Thursday 12.30 p.m. Brunel Close - 2 cars had tyres slashed. Ref. No: 43200361025
4/11 Wednesday noon / 1 p.m. Westborough Road. Car wing mirror damaged, keyed and graffiti scratched into the boot and rear bumper. Ref. No: 43200362089
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
FIRST THE THREATENING HMRC SCAM IS STILL OUT THERE
HI Jeff,
Yesterday I received a voicemail message on my mobile phone, purportedly from HMRC, - asking that if I didn't immediately get in contact with them, that a warrant for my arrest would be issued in my name with immediate effect.
I tried calling back but fortunately was unable to get through but was very alarmed by the threat.
I just wanted to let you know this is probably doing the rounds.
Thanks
Lesley
Many thanks Lesley. This is a standard threatening scam. The HMRC will never send anything like this to you - you will never be arrested. Anything like this, would have been put in a letter anyway for discussions with HMRC, over a long period.
The phone numbers given are usually bogus as well. Most of these scams come from abroad and you would be suspicious if you saw an international number, so they have software which show a number within the UK.
AND FROM CLIVE:-
Hello everyone
I have just received a pre-recorded message on my phone from HMRC and I did as requested and pressed 1. I spoke to a man with a foreign accent who said, I owe HMRC £1,900 and there was a warrant out for my arrest, because it was clear that I had deliberately, defrauded HMRC.
I told him I was ‘a serving police officer’ but he still would not give up.
I also gave him a false name and address !! Very pressured and intense, his use of language, was mixed American English and UK English, using the words courthouse, federal authorities etc. He even made up a number for the arrest warrant - 248/ 1965. I just dismissed him and put the phone down.
When I get out of prison, perhaps we can go for a drink ?
Thanks Clive - You should have put the phone down the minute he started. You may have given away personal information - the most valuable part is - the phone number is real and active, as someone answered and engaged. You may not have fallen for this scam - but your number, is an active responder, which is very valuable and can be sold !
DON’T LET IT BE YOU - BIN IT
NEXT:-More bank authentication scams:
Hi Jeff
Along with PayPal email scams, I think there are also other bank authentication emails circulating.
On Wednesday both my wife and I got the supposed emails from my bank, which I thought might have been connected to my store card - this is run by my bank and a re-credit my son was getting from a garage deposit, for a new car.
My store card confirmed they do not apply this authentication process, but my bank has just started this arrangement, for larger transactions.
Hope this information is useful.
Regards
Graham
NEXT A LOST DOG:
Hi Jeff
Can you please publicise my lost dog and thank people trying to help find her. Lola is a 7 year old black Labrador, missing around Taplow since the 7th October. For more info contact
www.doglost.co.uk. This site helps to re-unite lost dogs with their owners - Doglost is a free service run by volunteers
Many thanks.
Charmian
Everyone know how devastating to lose a pet. Can people save this website as a favourite.
