A REALLY GOOD WEEK – ONLY ONE MINOR THEFT FROM A CAR TO REPORT, WHERE AN ARREST WAS MADE WITHIN MINUTES
NO BURGLARIES !
FIRST: YET ANOTHER COURIER FRAUD !
Last Tuesday, the victim was called by a man purporting to be a Metropolitan Police officer. He said they had someone in custody, who had taken nearly £5,000 from her bank account. Would she please assist them with this. She agreed. He then asked her to go to her bank and take out a similar amount. If she could not get to the bank, he would organise a taxi. Once she had the money, he would send a courier to collect it. She was told this was a secret police operation and she was to tell no-one !
She did this and the money was collected.
On Wednesday, the supposed police officer called again and asked her to withdraw the same amount again. Again the man organised a taxi for her. When she arrived at the bank, their computers were playing up and she could only withdraw £2,500. She withdrew this amount and again a courier was sent to collect it.
They have phoned again and she asked them to speak to her husband and explain it all to him, when he got home. They did not call back and when she explained what had happened, he immediately called the police and reported the fraud to Action Fraud.
Once again – we have not circulated this message widely enough, if people are still falling for a serious fraud, we have been reporting time and again, for at least five years. It has also appeared widely on various TV programmes.
PLEASE SPREAD THE MESSAGE. IF ANYONE GETS A CALL FROM THE MET. POL. THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN CUSTODY RE BANK FRAUD – PUT DOWN THE PHONE.
NEXT: YET ANOTHER SEXTORTION !
A young man was online when he was contacted by a woman. They then moved to Instagram to chat further. She asked him to show her his body and he did so – but fully clothed. Shortly after, he received a demand for money, with a threat to send a video to everyone in his address book, together with the video, where his face had been pasted onto a naked body carrying out an intimate act. He sent £150 via PayPal. He then received another demand and sent £125 – but blocked the person – who he believes to be based in the Philippines. He has been advised not to send any more money and to block the person and be more cautious in future.
This shows it can happen to anyone – even if no intimate videos have taken place ! PLEASE BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHO YOU TALK TO ONLINE – PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE FACE TIMING !!!
NEXT: We are being plagued with Nottingham Knockers – yet again. The young lads and girls now - going door to door selling household products.
Thank you, to those that emailed to let me know and those that reported them to the police. I forwarded the emails to the local Neighbourhood Policing teams and the RBWM Community Wardens. We have reports – thank you once again for calling - they were in:
Golden Balls Lane, Berries Road Cookham, Knowl Hill, All Saints Avenue, Lower Cookham Road, Choseley Road, Century Close, St. Margarets Road and Grenfel Avenue
If these people make money here, they will sell that information and addresses, to other cold callers who will want to expand to a lucrative market – the roofers / double glazing people / tarmaccers / ‘tree surgeons’ / moss removers / remnant carpets over from events / paintings after an exhibition / drive way laying etc. etc.. The answer, is for us to let them know – there is no easy cash available here ! Then they will stop coming and go somewhere else to a more lucrative market.
In the past, the young lads and girls now, were used to locate elderly, vulnerable residents, easily parted from their cash. They would be supplied with a bag of poor quality cleaning products - which they have to pay for. Anything they make over that, they get to keep. They also get an additional payment, for each address they locate of someone who is vulnerable and easily persuaded to be parted from their cash. They were also looking for elderly people, who keep large amounts of cash in their homes. They used to do this, by noting how long it took the householder to go and get the money and the condition of the notes. Crisp, flat – musty smelling – notes, meant they had been in the house a long time – and there was probably a lot of it.
Now they have moved on with technology. They ask for an online payment via a debit card using a card reading machine – the same used by shops. We have had cases, where they enter the amount and ask the resident to put in their PIN. They then – apparently – have difficulty getting a signal and move away from the door to find one. While they do that, they alter the amount of the charge. In one case to £500. The resident doesn’t find out for some time, when a bank statement comes in.
It is much easier never to get involved than trying to sort it out later. It would be almost impossible, to have the money refunded by the bank – as the resident entered their own PIN number !
Who can go door to door selling anything – it is strictly controlled to make people safe. Only people selling books and food Can go door to door without some form of authorisation. EVERYONE ELSE – must have a ‘Pedlars Certificate’ – issued by the police. Before issuing one, we carry out a personal history check – as they have to be ‘of good character’. Anyone who has been to prison, will be denied – so – if they start a story about having been to prison and now working on a rehabilitation scheme – you instantly know, they would not be granted one.
As they cannot get a Pedlars Certificate – a small white square document, they print out a completely fake document – A ‘Hawkers Identification’. A large almost A4 yellow document. No such form exists. The way to protect yourself is very simple:
NEVER BUY ANYTHING AT THE DOOR ! SIMPLE AS THAT
We have a NHW Motto – everyone across the Thames Valley uses the same words to really send the message home:
‘I AM SORRY, I DO NOT BUY GOODS AND SERVICES AT THE DOOR’
Then – firmly, but politely close and lock the door – as sometimes, they do become abusive.
Elderly residents have been conned out of hundreds of pounds for substandard cheap products, which they don’t want – just to get rid of them.
As you can imagine – that is exactly how you get onto the ‘Suckers’ List, they sell to other fraudsters. Honor Ryan at Trading Standards, has obtained a Suckers List, which is often updated with more names and sold in pubs and prisons. She tries to visit them all and chat to them about why they are on the list and how to deal with all future cold callers. At the moment, I believe there are 300 names on the list in RBWM ! This doesn’t include, but might – our cases of bogus builders – which can cost a resident, their life savings !
PLEASE – PLEASE – DO NOT LET IT BE YOU, NOR ANYONE YOU KNOW. SPREAD THE MESSAGE AS FAR AND WIDE AS YOU CAN TO PROTECT ANYONE, YOU FEEL MAY FALL FOR THIS SCAM
I have attached examples of a Pedlars Certificate and a ‘Hawkers Licence’ – so you know then if you see them
NEXT: One of our members received an scam email, but it did quote his password in the first line to prove the threats in the email were genuine and could be carried out.
I passed this to Paul Hay – our NHW Volunteer IT Guru, who sent me this response.
Hi Jeff,
From time to time there are large data breaches, whereby criminals get hold of personal information from company, or website databases. The data they get can contain the passwords you used.
The slang term used is ‘pwned’ . There is a good website you can go to see if your email has been included in particular data breachers.
The website is
https://haveibeenpwned.com/You enter your email address and it will tell you which websites were compromised. For each one listed, you should change your password.
The problem, however, is we often use the same password for other websites. So even if that other website hasn’t been compromised, the bad guys will now have your email and password for that site.
Therefore the steps you should take is to,
change your password for the site that was ‘pwned’ and
change the password for every other site you have used the same password.
Use a different password for each site, to limit any problems of a data breach in the future.
Make sure the passwords you use are ‘strong’ passwords. The longer the password the better and they should contain a mix of uppercase, lowerer case letters , numbers and special symbols. Also - do not base it on personal information that can be linked to you, such as the name of your pet, or family names. Search on line for strong password ideas and pick a method to suit you.
Even if you haven’t been ‘pwned’ it is still best practice to use different, hard to guess passwords.
Just to let you know that it can happen to the best of us. A couple of years ago, my Spotify account was taken over. I found out that I had used the same password for Spotify, as one of the sites listed as being ‘pwned’. On further investigation, I realised I had used it for other sites as well, so had to spend a bit of time changing all my passwords.
It is a hassle, but think of it in this way. We have different keys for different doors to our house, car, garage, children’s houses etc.
If we just had the same key and it was stolen they would have access everywhere.
Regards,
Paul
Thanks Paul – you provide an invaluable service for our members – and – you make it understandable, for those of us who are not Tecchy minded !!! Our grateful thanks.
NEXT: We publicised a survey back in May – the results are now in:
Hi Jeff – can you circulate the results of the survey for me and thank your members that responded.
We asked Windsor, Ascot, and Maidenhead residents to tell us ‘What Matters Most’ to them when it comes to Health and Social Care Services. The ‘What Matters Most’ survey ran from March to May 2021 and 244 people shared their views and experiences with us. A big thank you to everyone who participated and helped to promote our survey.
We are delighted to now publish our full report which highlights the key issues which Windsor, Ascot, and Maidenhead residents are concerned about when it comes to health and social care.
We asked which services people thought Healthwatch WAM should be focusing on in the coming year and the results were:
32% said GP services
23% said improving overall access to health and social care services
17% said Mental Health services
As a result of what we have heard from this campaign, Healthwatch WAM will now begin work on setting our annual work priorities based on what residents have told us.
Read the full report here:
https://healthwatchwam.co.uk/report/2021-06-10/windsor-ascot-and-maidenhead-residents-tell-us-what-matters-most-when-it-comesWe will be sharing this report widely with all key stakeholders in the local area, to make sure the voices of everyone who took part, are heard.
If you would like to pass this report on to others, please could you direct them to the above link where possible. This will allow us to analyse our website traffic.
We will be posting about our results on social media, and in our newsletter, from Wednesday 16th June. Please feel free to share any of these posts with your followers. Our social media accounts are:
Facebook - @HealthwatchWAM
Twitter - @HealthwatchWAM
Instagram - @HealthwatchWAM
If you have any questions about the report, please do not hesitate to respond to this email.
Kind regards,
Ceri Evans
Healthwatch Officer – Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead
19 Southbourne Grove,
Bournemouth
BH6 3QS
Tel: 0300 0120184
Mobile: 07971 951445
Sign up to the HealthwatchWAM newsletter at
https://healthwatchwam.co.uk/sign-our-newsletterAND: COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH IS UP AND RUNNING
At the moment, due to the Covid restrictions, we are not asking members of the community to attend with us.
If you feel your road is a rat run and needs a Community SpeedWatch please email us at the dedicated inbox:
RBWMCommunitySpeedwa@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukThe appropriate person from the local Neighbourhood Team will pick it up – or you can email me and I will let them know. We will need the name of the road, the time of day and day of the week, when the problem is at its worst.
I will publish the results to let you know how we get on.
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.uk.
17/6 Thursday 1.30 .a.m. Car Park, St. Cloud Way. Caller ported that as he got into ahis car a man came up and tapped on the window and kept repeating – I am bleeding. The driver could not see any blood or injuries. The man then opened the door to his car, reached in and stole a bottle of Coca Cola and handed over some paperwork, which looked like it was written in Cyrillic. The paper which was all wet. He than handed over another piece in English regarding mental health, but again as the paper was so wet he couldn’t read it. The man then made off. The police were called and attended immediately carrying out an area search. The man was quickly located and arrested for theft from motor vehicle. He is suffering from a severe mental episode.
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:
ANOTHER SCAM CALL RECEIVED BY SALVATORE:
Hi Jeff,
My wife received a phone call earlier today from an foreign sounding man, pretending to be our internet provider – he didn’t confirm the company name and didn’t know my wife’s first name or her last name. He had a very strong accent and it was a really bad line. He was talking really fast, so she couldn’t understand most of what he was saying. Is it is a Tactic to confuse you ?
He wanted to know what electronic devices we had (specifically apple or Samsung). My wife refused to answer the question and he then stated that our internet security, had been compromised.
Needless to say, my wife, asked for proof of what company he was calling from, he didn’t answer the question and then he offered to give her his badge number – whatever use that would be. Our provider is Virgin media, and they do not have badge numbers !
My wife immediately put the phone down and they haven’t tried calling back.
Please share this to the group, I believe older people could be fooled by this type of a scam call.
Thanks,
Salvatore
Thanks Salvatore – done.
NEXT: Something from Richard
Hello Jeff,
I always read your crime summary emails, always very good, thank you.
Might I most humbly suggest something regarding bike crime reporting ?
When you give the details re theft of a locked bike, could you give details of the lock ?
Saying “locked bike” is only half the story.
I now have a D lock, after my very solid looking cable lock was cut through with bolt croppers.
I would be v interested to know if all the thefts were of cable locks ? Or does it make little or no difference ?
The extra info, might persuade others to invest in the more expensive D lock.
Or might make me realise I'm still not totally safe!
Just a thought.
Regards,
Richard
Thanks Richard, Unfortunately – as you can see from the messages, many people don’t know the make and model of their bike – and are often vague about the colour. If they have the frame number, which is rare – I always add that. Asking about their lock, would be just as vague. Most people who pay under £500 are unlikely to buy two expensive D locks – over £70 each.
Let’s explain how the theft works – to show how difficult to protect a bike. The thief arrives and places their back pack on the bike frame – as if they are searching inside for keys. What they are in fact doing, is using very large bolt croppers inside the back pack though a hole in the bottom, to cut the chain / D lock. Passers by will see nothing. They then, put their back pack back on , remove the bike and ride away.
To be clear – PCSO Lizzie Davidson out Bike Crime SPOC recommends at least 2 locks on a bike.
Because they keep the bolt croppers out of sight in a back pack, they can use large very large strong ones, which will cut through virtually any lock. That is why Lizzie suggests more than one lock – that might look more suspicious.
What would help, is if people took a photo of their bikes, so that we know model, make and colour, as well as a photo of the frame number from between and beneath the pedals. We do recover dozens of bike and are never able to trace owners to return them !
NEXT: A FRIDGE INSURANCE SCAM FROM BRIAN:
Hi Jeff.
I had a call from an ‘ insurance company’, saying they could insure my washing machine - which had expired 4 years ago for £110.
That’s a new one on me, I did tell him where they could go.
Brian
Thanks Brian
NEXT: From Michael – what appears to be a scam email
It simply appears to be a response to a request for information. It is not personally addressed and simply contains a link !
Hi,
Please click on the link below, to see the proposal from for your review.
Then there is a link.
These are never sent to just one person, but to thousands. They hope to hit a business, where someone in a department, just thinks someone has made contact, so they just open it !
Anything like this – that you have not requested - STOP – BREATHE – THINK – BIN IT
NEXT: A Chinese scam letter from Linda:
Hi Jeff,
This morning I received a letter in the post. It is written in an oriental language, it looks like Chinese ?
The envelope was written in English and addressed to me, using my initial and last name.
It is obviously a scam of some kind, but as I cannot read Chinese – it won’t work !
There is an email address and a telephone number – it may be they expect people to email to ask what it is about
I just want to make people aware of this.
Thanks.
Linda
It really is strange – unless you can read Chinese – it is meaningless !
NEXT: A BT SCAM FROM STEPHEN
Hi Jeff
I’ve received a very convincing email purportedly from BT headed
Please check your billing details
Any similar email from BT will show your account number at top right, above your BT email address.
Instead, this email has the words Billing Department above the BT email address. All previous BT emails always include words at very top right “View in browser”. This one does not.
It goes on to say - Our payment processor has detected incorrect, or out of date billing information, which needs updating immediately, by clicking on the link below. If I don’t do this, my account will be suspended in 2 days.
But (even) BT wouldn’t make an offer, combined with a threat. However, so easy to fall for it. Scary? The rest is promotional offers that’s look real enough.
I’ve forwarded it to
report@phishing.gov.uk and to
phishing@bt.comI’m assuming it is a fraud. Hovering over the links doesn’t really give clue because even BT’s real links are so obtuse you really wouldn’t recognise if genuine. As so were these.
Regards
Stephen
Many thanks Stephen – STOP – BREATHE – THINK – BIN IT !
NEXT: POSSIBLE GAS SERVICE SCAM FROM LORRAINE:
Hi Jeff
Not sure if other people have had this happen, I received a reminder text message about a gas service that wasn’t booked in. The number is +44 7954 419201 and was sent to me on Sunday.
It reads: “Hi, Reminder – gas service booked for tomorrow. Please let me know if you won’t be at the property. Thanks Adam”
I thought it strange, so didn’t reply or delete and I waited around all day, to see if anyone turned up, they didn’t.
I do have a gas contract, but as I’ve already had my boiler serviced this year, I found the message odd but It could be a genuine mistake.
Kind Regards
Lorraine
Definitely dodgy ! They don’t even name the gas supplier and there are dozens of those now that we all use websites to chop and change suppliers. One to delete. If it is genuine – the gas provider will write to you
FINALLY: SOME GOOD ADVICE FROM RAY:
Hi Jeff,
In response to the recent neighbourhood watch regarding phishing, can I suggest that people add to their contact list the name - “Phishing” - with email
report@phishing.gov.uk and the phone number 7726.
Whenever a suspect email or text arrives, it can then easily be forwarded to the authorities.
Regards
Ray
Excellent advice Ray – Many thanks.
Please consider using our online reporting system but please note this reporting tool is not for use where a crime happening right now, the suspect is still at the scene, or anyone seriously injured or in immediate danger.
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/follow us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TVPWindsorandMaidenheadEyes, ears.....and Brain
Jeff
Jeffrey.pick@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukFROM THE MAIDENHEAD NHW ASSOCIATION:
Maidenhead Neighbourhood Watch Association is growing fast, and with more members joining every day, we need to ask for volunteers to join us on the association to help keep the association going and keep Maidenhead safe!
Here is a shortlist of the positions we have available:
Multi-Scheme Administrator (MSA)
Secretary of the Association
Board members of the Association
Vice-Chairman of the Association
Please visit our website: MaidenheadNHWA.org.uk and from there you will be able to see all the different ways you can get involved to help support your local community. There is no time commitment or dedicated hours, but we do ask if you can attend the association meetings (One 60 Minute meeting every 2 months)
If you have any question about any of the positions available, please feel free to contact us at
contact@MaidenheadNHWA.org.uk I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Kind regards,
James Cooper HNDip, MBCS
Chairman – Maidenhead Neighbourhood Watch Association & Vice-Chair for Thames Valley Neighbourhood Watch Association
