A VERY GOOD 48 HOURS
NO BURGLARIES TO REPORT
FIRST: YET ANOTHER COURIER FRAUD TO REPORT:
The victim was called by ‘police officer’, who called himself Peter Miller from the Hammersmith Police Station Fraud squad. He also mentioned a DC Burns, who also works on his team.
Peter Miller made multiple calls on the house phone, or his wife’s mobile and the number was always withheld. He explained that the victim’s wife, has been the victim of a scam and that money had been removed from their bank accounts. Could they please check that they still have their debit cards and they has not been stolen.
The victim checked and said yes, they still had them. Peter Miller, told them to put the receiver down, then pick it up again and call his bank, using the security number on the back of the card. The victim did this and really believed, he was legitimately speaking to the bank. The person they were speaking to, confirmed that £16k had been taken from their current accounts.
‘The Bank’ said that £10k had been sent to Nigeria and the other £6k had been spent on two separate occasions at shopping centres on luxury items.
‘The Bank’ said that they understood that these transactions were fraudulent and will collect the scammed cards and sending him and his wife new bank cards, by courier.
‘Peter Miller’ called that afternoon and said that he needed their help with a ‘police sting’ operation. Would they go to their bank and withdraw £4,650.
They went to their bank in Windsor, which correctly went through the Banking Protocol as this was an unusual withdrawal and refused to let them withdraw the cash, so they left without the money.
When they got home, they received another phone call and told that they were under observation and Peter Miller who to prove it, described their surroundings.
He told them to go to a foreign currency exchange in Windsor and withdraw £7,650 in Euros. They followed the instructions, went and attempted to do this, but again, they were turned away.
They then got a taxi home and have not heard from Peter Miller since. They phoned their bank and were told this was a standard scam and that nothing has been taken from their account.
THE MESSAGE ABOUT THIS SCAM IS OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING SPREAD WIDELY ENOUGH AS THESE ARE STILL TAKING PLACE WEEKLY – THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT !
PLEASE SPREAD THE MESSAGE TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
NEXT I have PC Mike Thomas with me who manages the RBWM Police Cadets would like me to let everyone know that they are now recruiting for new Police Cadets to join the Unit. Their first meeting will take place on the 8th September. If you know of anyone aged between 13 - 16 who might like to join – they do a lot of brilliant work, attending events and carrying out police initiatives, such as the Clear Car Campaign – it is never dull – and looks good on a UCAS form !!!
To make contact – use this group email:
ThamesValleyPoliceCadets@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukTo find out more, you could also watch this recruitment video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGkFcjEWkr4If you are part of a community Group and would like to involve the Police Cadets in your work, email us at the above address. They are doing some retraining after Covid and will be available from October.
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.
Alternatively you can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email -
www.crimestoppers-uk.orgMAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk.
11/8 Wednesday 7 p.m. Furze Platt Road. Font and rear car index plates stolen. Ref. No: 43210359631
12/8 Thursday 11.30 a.m. / 5 p.m. Station Car Park. Locked up bike stolen from a bike rack. A Black & grey, B Twin Rock Rider bike stolen. Ref. No: 43210361211
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:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK
12/8 Thursday 1 a.m. / 2 p.m. Gage Close. Garage break in block door forced and golf clubs stolen. Ref. No; 43210361022
12/8 Thursday 10 a.m. Badger Close. CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS – Passport and Rayban sunglasses stolen. Ref. No: 43210360350
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
FIRST: FROM HELEN
Hi Jeff
I have just had a SMS message, which claims to be from the Royal Berkshire Hospital asking me to update my records, by supplying telephone number and email.
Because I have no dealings with the Royal Berkshire Hospital, I am convinced it is a scam and have therefore deleted it. But what happens if it goes to somebody who is being treated by that hospital they may well think it is genuine.
Helen
Thanks Helen – be on your guard. If you are being treated by a hospital, they will have your and your doctor’s contact details !!!
NEXT: RE GUMTREE
Hi Jeffrey
I wonder if you can help.
I have been advertising a few items on Gumtree and received what I thought was a very suspicious and odd reply from someone:
‘Hi, Sorry I received a message from the courier about the collection fee,
Please I am adding an additional £50 to the payment and this is for the arrangements to get the (furniture) picked up.
You are to just help me to get it sent to the courier agent on Amazon Gift Card once payment is cleared into your account. Sorry for the hassle as I need to inform you about this and I will gladly appreciate your help with this once paypal is made and PayPal will also notify you about this.
I should not have bother you but I work in a remote area which there is no outlet around me to do it that’s why i am letting you know about the collection fee to avoid any setback on collection. I hope you understand’.
I was very suspicious and checked. I have received no money in my PayPal account, so there is no way I was going to purchase Amazon vouchers and send details off to somebody I don't know !!
Martyn
Martyn sent this email to Paypal who responded
Hi Jeffrey
Further to my earlier email I contacted PayPal -
spoof@paypal.com - who confirmed to me it was not authentic, they then requested I forward information to them to investigate further.
Regards
Martyn
Many thanks Martyn. Everyone should keep that Paypal spoof email in their personal address book and do as you did – forward any suspicious email to them for further investigation.
NEXT: A POSSIBLE HMRC SCAM FROM HEATHER:
Hi Jeff,
Is this a new scam?
I file tax returns as self-employed and as such, am registered with the Government Gateway.
I have received an email saying that I was eligible for a refund of £240, if I filled out an online form.
The first give away, was the email address it was sent from. The link for the online form looked dodgy too.
I worry that someone may get caught out if they are unaware of this scam going round.
Heather.
Many thanks heather – please be on your guard.
