FIRST:- A CALL FROM ACTION FRAUD:
At the moment, the victim is very confused and a lot of the detail is not available. It appears – the victim received a call from a ‘Sergeant Blake’ at Scotland Yard. He was the investigating officer, in a possible fraud at their bank. They were not to make any contact with the bank, or the local police, as he was in charge of the investigation and any local involvement, would compromise the investigation. It was secret and they must tell no-one, but must trust him. He went on to say that bank cards had been cloned and he needed to protect their accounts. He would transfer a large amount of cash into another account to protect it and then into a Bitcoin account.
The victim says they were very intimidated by this man, who was very forceful. There were a number of calls and it is not yet known, what information was supplied by the victim, but £3,000 may have been removed from their account.
Very sketchy details at the moment as the victim is confused and worried. If you get a call like this – PLEASE – do not engage. Simply put down the receiver. The police will never contact you in this manner !
As the calls have been continuing, the victim has been advised to block the number if it comes up again – or better still – purchase a call blocker phone. From discussions with people who have purchased call blocker phones, which are now readily and cheaply available from most phone shop outlets – they have stopped all scam calls and they think they are brilliant !
NEXT: There is another Action Fraud case in the Police computer – the only detail we have at the moment, is that they have been contacted by someone purporting to be a local police officer – but they are so confused, there are no further details at this time. I will produce an update, as soon as the victim has been visited.
NEXT: A very bad case of a potential bogus builder:
Elderly residents in Maidenhead, agreed have had their extension roof repaired by a builder who cold called, saying their roof needed some work. No pre-contract information and cancellation rights, were given.
The builders started work next day and pressured the residents into having the work done. They said there was a leak on extension roof and quoted £2-300. The builder then went up onto the roof to inspect it and lifted roof tiles. He said lining was perished and needed replacing.
The builder showed the aggrieved a wet piece of timber and broken lining. He then said the whole roof would collapse, unless that section was replaced and quoted £4,500.
He then went to the side of the extension and said there was also ‘give’ on the garage roof and as a result, he couldn’t join the extension roof to it. The estimate was then increased. He said it would cost £4,500 to repair the garage roof and another £4,000, for the roof over porch.
The aggrieved couple agreed.
The builder asked for a payment up front of £5,000 for supplies.
The victims are confused as the quote increased to £13,0000.
Later while the work was being done, the builder found more problems on main roof and increased the price.
The victims do not have any quotes or estimates, for the extra work.
The work has now been completed and reported to us. The builder, is not due to return.
It is believed this was a bogus builder and the couple have been scammed out of the total amount paid : £15,000 !
PLEASE DON’T LET THIS BE YOU ! Please remember our NHW motto
I AM SORRY, I DO NOT BUY GOODS AND SERVICES AT THE DOOR.
We can all help our neighbours – particularly if they are elderly or vulnerable. If you see a builders van / skip outside their home and work being carried out, let us know. We will not reveal your identity, or that fact that you have let us know.
We will, arrange for a PCSO or RBWM Community Warden to happen to walk past on patrol and knock on their door, to show an interest in the work they are having done and make sure they have – what would seem obvious – the name, address and details of the builders, as well proper estimates, stage payments and their contract and cancellation rights.
Generally when we do this – the victims always support the builder and are perfectly happy with them – they had no idea their roof was going to collapse and they are really grateful, it is being repaired !!!
HELP US TO PROTECT YOUR ELDERLY AND VULNERABLE NEIGHBOURS.
NEXT: A DELIVERY & COURIER SCAM
This a standard scam. The victim receives a call from a delivery / courier company, to say that a parcel has been loaded onto a van which has now left the depot and cannot be stopped. It is wrongly, addressed to them. When it arrives the next day, can they please sign for it and accept delivery. A courier will then be sent to collect it and deliver it to the correct person.
The package arrived – it contained a brand new iPhone and Sky SIM card - correctly addressed to the victim. Shortly afterwards, a courier arrived and asked for it. The victim refused to hand it over and said he would return it to Sky, as he had not purchased it. The courier said he would have to make some calls and came back a few minutes later, saying he had been instructed to collect it. The victim again said no – he would deal with it as he had not ordered the phone. The man then left.
The victim called the police and their bank. No money had been taken from their account. Apparently, they had been used as a ‘drop point’ for a fraudulent online purchase.
SO – if you get one of these calls – refuse to accept the package when it is delivered, if you did not order it – or at least, refuse to sign for it. If you sign for it – you pay for it !!!
Unfortunately, this means we can no longer accept delivery of parcels on behalf of our neighbours, who are not at home.
NEXT A SEXTORTION CASE !
A young local man was contacted by a woman on Facebook, who suggested they meet and video chat in another App. This he did and they chatted twice. During the first chat, she suggested he show her his body – which he did, but no intimate acts took place. In a second video chat, intimate acts did take place. As soon as that happened, the woman confirmed that she had videoed what he did and would send it to all his family and friends in his Facebook contacts, unless he paid her £200.
He refused and in the following 2 hours, received over 100 demands, for the money. Eventually he agreed, but immediately deactivated all his accounts online and blocked any contact with the woman, so that she could not contact him or his contacts. He then phoned the police.
We gave him the same IT advice, but our priority is the victim’s welfare that they feel safe and ensure, they do not do anything silly !!
PLEASE – PLEASE – ONCE AGAIN – DO NOT DO, WRITE, OR SAY, ANYTHING ON LINE OR TEXT THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE HAPPY FOR YOUR FRIENDS FAMILY – AND EMPLOYERS – TO SEE !!!
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.orgMAIDENHEAD 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:
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:
14/1 Thursday 5.05 a.m. Cox Green Lane X 2. Two people reported that they have video doorbell footage of a man walking along and onto driveways, trying can and car door handles. Ref Nos: 43210017060 & 43210017554. Brilliant. Neither were actually victims of a car crime, as their cars were locked – BUT – they checked their video doorbells and reported the incidents. This exactly what we need. This intelligence pinpoints the actual time the offender was out there. As you see, usually the only time frame is say 11 p.m., when the owners go to bed, to 7 a.m., when they go outside and find the car. This detailed time frame and road targeted by an offender is vital for us to put the correct and most effective and targeted patrolling in place.
SENDING US THIS FOOTAGE – REALLY HELPS US TO HELP YOU AND MOST IMPORTANTLY – REDUCES THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF CRIME.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
FIRST: An update and useful reminder:
Hi Jeff
Just a comment on a couple of scams in today’s alert email mentioning DHSS. That government agency ceased to exist in 1988, and is currently called the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP.
So if a caller mentions DHSS it is obviously a scam.
Stuart
Thanks Stuart – something to remember.
