ONLY ONE CRIME TO REPORT IN THE LAST 24 HOURS !
NO BURGLARIES
ONE CAR ENTREED AND SEARCHED – IT HAD BEEN LEFT UNLOCKED !!!
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.orgMAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukSR.windsor&
maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk28/12 – 29/12 Monday 4 p.m. / Tuesday 10 a.m. High Street. Car left unlocked. Sports bag and contents stolen. Ref. No:- 43200443259
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:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
FIRST:- From Tim – An Amazon scam:
Dear Jeff
I thought I’d let you know about a phone call I received this morning, as I think it was a scam, which I hadn’t heard before.
It was apparently from a local Maidenhead number with an 01628 prefix, so I picked it up. A recorded voice, said something along the lines of “thank you for your order of an Apple iPad from Amazon. To speak to the billing department, press 1”.
I put the phone down straight away. Needless to say, I hadn’t ordered any such thing.
It was the use of an apparent local number, which was new to me and put me off my guard. so I thought you should know about it.
Regards
Tim
AND:- from Tony
Hi Jeff
Apologies if you have already reported this one...
A recorded voice says "This is Amazon we want to confirm you have ordered an Apple laptop. If you did not place this order please press 1 to take action"
Someone will fall for it...
Thanks for the great work you and your colleagues are doing. Have a Happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
Cheers
Tony
Many thanks Tim and Tony – these calls are obviously widespread. If you have a phone which displays the number calling, the scammers have software that can display any number they like. They know victims are unlikely to pick up international calls, so they have developed this technique. If you do pick up on one of these calls – just replace the receiver, when you hear what it really is !
NEXT:- Video doorbells
Hi Jeff
It's heartening to see Jon's article about video doorbells and TVP's response and prosecution. Unlike my daughter's incident a couple of weeks ago in Surrey, where 3 days after installing a video doorbell, a delivery was made and left on the doorstep.
A short time later, a car drew into her cul-de-sac straight onto her drive, a passenger got out and stole the parcels !
The idiot who was driving, then turned around on her drive, with a clear view of the number plate ! This video was passed onto the relevant police department, where the response was negative, almost to the point of couldn't be bothered to follow it up !!
So thank you for a positive article about how video doorbells can help reduce crime incidents in our area.
Incidentally, Amazon replaced all the parcels without question, so another good bit of news.
Brian
Many thanks for this Brian – that would not happen here ! Perfect evidence identifying a thief is rare and a simple win win– we would take swift advantage of that !!
NEXT: An extended warranty scam:
Dear Jeff
This call was really scary and I nearly fell for it.
I received a phone call from a very nicely spoken young English man, saying I could extend the warranty on my washing machine, if I gave him my bank details.
I replied that my husband takes care of that sort of thing and I would have to ask him. He then got aggressive and asked me why I had to ask my husband and rang off !
I have had my washing machine for over 8 years, so was not entitled to any extended warranty.
I guess he got my name, address and phone number from BT phone book.
I sent an email to the company from which I had bought it, to ask if anyone else had been contacted. Unsurprisingly - I haven't received a reply! They must think I am mad!
Georgina
Thanks Georgina. This is quite an effective scam. Everyone has an appliance such as a fridge, microwave, dishwasher or washing machine and we change these quite frequently rather than having them repaired now – so their chances of catching someone are quite high ! Always think and breathe before responding – is this someone call cold calling ? If so – put the receiver down !
NEXT: A scam from ‘Companies House’ !!
HI Jeff,
I received an email from Companies House, informing me that they had uploaded an obligatory document for my company !! Then the usual Click here to download the company complaint.
It looked very real, but since I don’t have a company, nor have I ever had one, it was easy to just bin it.
However, I wondered whether those who do have a company might be tempted?
Thanks as always for all your great advice and to all the people who keep us informed about the latest scams. It’s so helpful.
Happy Christmas to everyone and all the best for 2021,
Sara
Thanks Sara. These go out by the million and there will be hundreds of thousands like you, who have never had a company – but – they may get a 1% hit rate, which for them is a brilliant return on their investment – which is nothing as emails are free !!!!
NEXT:- An update re the scam Government scheme re home insulation.
Hi Jeff,
Re the message from John re the telephone scammer discussing his house and a government scheme for home insulation.
I have had three calls from a very well-spoken man. I am sure he has used the same name - Alexander - each time. Obviously, this is not his real name but it might be useful for you to circulate
Mo
Thanks Mo – these scams are continuing every day !
NEXT: A delivery scam:
Hi Jeff
In the middle of trying to sort out a problem with a failed delivery, by pure coincidence, I received a very feasible email, which contained a web link supposedly from that company, to arrange ‘redelivery’.
I called the company, but had been hanging on the call for so long, while waiting in the phone queue, I decided to use the weblink in the email, to arrange redelivery.
The link responded immediately and requested a payment of £1.00 for redelivery.
I completed my Credit card details as requested, but it then asked for additional security - an account number and sort code, which put me off going any further.
The company then answered the phone call and when I explained what I had done, while waiting, they said they would NEVER ask for a payment for ANY redelivery and that this was a known scam.
I quickly had my credit card blocked. No undesired transactions had taken place on my card. Hopefully no harm done.
Regards
David
Hopefully not David – that is how it happens – even if you are aware !
NEXT: A computer software virus protection scam
Hi Jeff,
I have what I believe to be another scam email this time supposedly from ‘McAfee’, telling me my internet virus protection has expired and to click on the link to renew.
I do not have a McAfee subscription.
Needless to say I have binned it, despite the email looking very genuine.
Best wishes
Joanna
Thanks Joanna.
NEXT: A strange one
Hi Jeff
Not sure who to report this to.
I just received the following text message
GOVUK: Records show you are eligible for a COVID-19 Grant. To proceed complete the form by clicking here:
I am assuming its a scam
Regards
Rachel
Thanks Rachel. If you run your cursor over the link, it is going to the government department, which has the ‘https’ prefix, showing it is an encrypted site so it may be genuine.
If you don’t have a business bin it. If you do – it is probably genuine. I know other people with businesses, have been receiving similar messages, after receiving their first grant earlier this year.
NEXT: A scam Text from HSBC
Hi Jeff
Just received a text message claiming to be from HSBC saying that there has been a request for payment from an unknown source Can I click on the link to check it.
Obviously I didn't click on the link, but rang the bank myself, who told me it was bogus & definitely, not to click on it.
Pat
That’s how to do it Pat !
