There is an unauthorised encampment on Holyport Green. The police are working very closely with RBWM Borough Council, to resolve the situation.
SCAMS & FRAUDS FIRST: We have reports of new letters arriving from China - someone with a name similar to yours has died leaving a large amount of money and you may be entitled to a large inheritance. The letter goes on to request the recipient emails the letter sender with their full details including bank details for a transfer of the money - If you get one these - BIN IT !
NEXT: The old - ‘I am crying as I write this message as I have been robbed and have no money to pay for my hotel or to get home’; ………is back as people start to travel. In one case, a friend received a ‘Snapchat’ message from someone they knew well - saying the above, so they sent them £80. They then got another message to say - could they have an additional £200 ! They became suspicious and made some enquiries. Their friend’s computer had been hacked and this message had been sent to everyone, in their personal address book ! If you get one of these - BIN IT
NEXT: Phone calls - the old Windows / Microsoft / BT scam - Your computer is running slowly / been hacked and have malware in the computer. In one case they called twice due to connection problems once a man and on the second occasion a woman. ANYTHING LIKE THIS - JUST PUT THE PHONE DOWN.
NEXT: Several cases of Boiler Room / Investment Frauds reported to us, involving large sums of money !
Share sale, boiler room, hedge fund or bond fraud - involves bogus stockbrokers, usually based overseas, cold calling people to pressure them into buying shares that promise high returns. In reality, the shares are either worthless or non-existent.
You are usually contacted out of the blue by a professional-sounding stockbroker, who offers you investment opportunities that seem too good to be true. You are also promised free research reports, special discounts and ‘secret’ stock tips.
In reality, the fraudsters are cold calling as many people as possible, persuading them to invest in shares that are either non-existent, or so worthless they are impossible to sell.
The fraudsters may provide false share certificates and other documents, to make the investments seem credible.
Once the fraudsters have squeezed whatever money they can from investors, they quickly disappear.
Share sale frauds tend to start with a telephone call out of the blue. Using hard-sell techniques, the fraudsters try to pressure you into making rushed decisions, giving you no time to consider the nature of the investment.
As with many fraudulent schemes, you’re encouraged to keep your investment secret, to ensure you receive maximum returns. This allows the fraudsters to hide, the real nature of their scheme.
Fraudsters aim to make their business seem legitimate, so they will often use technical jargon, impressive job titles and mock websites, to appear credible.
Are you a victim of share sale fraud?
You are usually contacted out of the blue by a professional-sounding stockbroker who offers you investment opportunities that seem too good to be true. You are also promised free research reports, special discounts and ‘secret’ stock tips.
In reality, the fraudsters are cold calling as many people as possible, persuading them to invest in shares that are either non-existent, or so worthless they are impossible to sell.
The fraudsters may provide false share certificates and other documents to make the investments seem credible. Once the fraudsters have squeezed whatever money they can from investors, they quickly disappear.
Share sale frauds tend to start with a telephone call out of the blue. Using hard-sell techniques, the fraudsters try to pressure you into making rushed decisions, giving you no time to consider the nature of the investment
As with many fraudulent schemes, you’re encouraged to keep your investment secret to ensure you receive maximum returns. This allows the fraudsters to hide the real nature of their scheme.
Fraudsters aim to make their business seem legitimate, so they will often use technical jargon, impressive job titles and mock websites to appear credible.
Are you a victim of share sale fraud?
You’ve bought shares from somebody you don’t know over the telephone.
To transact the deal, you’ve given them your bank account details.
What should you do if you’re a victim of share sale fraud?
Report it to Action Fraud.
Break off all contact with the fraudster at once.
Alert your bank immediately, if you’ve given the fraudsters your bank account details.
Keep any written communications you’ve received from the share sale fraudsters. This may help you give evidence to the authorities.
Because many boiler rooms are run from abroad, they’re not covered by UK jurisdiction or compensation schemes. Therefore, you’re unlikely to recover any lost investment.
Be aware that you are now likely to be a target for other frauds. Fraudsters often share details about people they have successfully targeted or approached, using different identities to commit further frauds.
People who’ve already fallen victim to fraudsters are particularly vulnerable to the ‘fraud recovery’ scam. This is when fraudsters contact people who’ve already lost money through fraud and claim to be law enforcement officers or lawyers. They advise the victim that they can help them recover their lost money – but request a fee. In one case, scammers purporting to be Met Pol police officers, obtained over £50,000 to investigate and try and recover, lost funds.
Protect yourself against share sale fraud
If you’re considering any type of investment, always remember: if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. High returns can only be achieved with high risk.
If you’re suspicious about a scheme’s authenticity, you should investigate the company’s status and contact details.
The Financial Services Authority regulates stockbrokers based in the UK. You can check a stockbroker’s authenticity by visiting the FSA’s:
Register of authorised firms - available on the website via link
List of unauthorised firms and individuals:- available on the website via link
List of unauthorised overseas firms - available on the website via link
Alternatively, call the FSA’s consumer helpline on 0300 500 5000
You’ve bought shares from somebody you don’t know over the telephone.
To transact the deal, you’ve given them your bank account details.
What should you do if you’re a victim of share sale fraud?
Report it to Action Fraud.
More information about the following Scams & Frauds are on the Action Fraud Website:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud-category/financial-investmentBoiler room fraud
Bond fraud
Call centre fraud
Cryptocurrency investment fraud
Goods sold as investment
Hedge fund fraud
Holiday club fraud
Identity fraud and identity theft
Institutional investment fraud
Investment fraud
Market manipulation
Marketing materials
Pension scams
Ponzi schemes (pyramid Selling)
Prime bank guarantee fraud
Property fraud
Pyramid scheme fraud
Share sale and investment fraud
Spam emails
Timeshare fraud
Work from home scams
In one case reported to us, the scammer promised 5.7% interest and over £52,000 was handed over.
Would you hand over very large sums of money, to a complete stranger in a coffee shop, who leans over and asks if you have a money to invest, as he is a broker with a brilliant high interest return, investment scheme - of course not. If not - why would you hand over money, to a complete stranger on the phone !
DON’T DO IT - DON’T LET IT BE YOU
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.
For more really good advice re all sorts of scams and frauds - there is a list you can click on. Go to Action Fraud:
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud-category/financial-investment 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.uk3/8 Monday 4 p.m. Courthouse Road. Two tyres on a car slashed. Ref. No: 43200239230
4/8 Tuesday 8.15 a.m. Swallowfield Court, Kingfisher Drive. Car rear windscreen smashed - nothing stolen. Ref. No: 4300239881
3/8 - 4/8 Monday 10.45 p.m. / Tuesday 6.25 a.m. St. Marks Road. CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS and searched. Nothing stolen. Ref. No: 43200240570
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
4/8 Tuesday 3.40 a.m. Ray Mill Road West. Video footage shows a man and a woman walking down the road, trying car door handles. The man walked onto the driveway and tried the car door handle. When they found it locked they walked away trying more cars as they walked away. They are described as 1. The man, white, 5’11’’, dark short hair, mid 30s, wearing a light coloured hoody and jogging bottoms, covered with a dark body warmer. 2. A woman, white, light coloured long hair, late 20s, wearing a dark coloured baggy jacket. Ref. No: 4300239760
4/8 Tuesday 11 a.m. / 11.30 a.m. Islet Road. Car window smashed and handbag& contents stolen. Ref. No: 43200240178
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM,
COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
1/8 - 3/8 Quarrywood Road. Theft of powerboat engines from an activity centre portacabin. Ref. No: 39340.
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:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
29/7 - 4/8 Farm, The Causeway Bray. Derelict property entered and searched. Not known if anything stolen. Ref. No: 43200241332
