This message is dated Friday 9th October 2020 - Windsor
Alert message sent 09/10/2020 13:24:00
Information sent on behalf of Thames Valley Police
I have just written this Fraud / Scams article for a Parish Magazine and thought it should be shared:
FRAUDS AND SCAMS COME IN FOUR FORMATS:
At the door
Letter
Telephone
Email
At the Door:
Remember our NHW motto: I do not buy goods and services at the door. Most common will be bogus builders
Letter:
Usually the scam – someone has died with a similar name to you leaving millions – Bin them
Telephone:
When answering the phone – you only say ‘Hello’. Scammers use computers to generate the calls – 10 at a time. The first one answered cancels the other nine for a later call – hence silent calls. You are never personally targeted. JUST PUT DOWN THE RECEIVER.
EMAIL:
There are hundreds of these scam emails, which hit our in-boxes every day. All scams have certain things in common.
They do not address you personally by name, but are addressed ‘dear resident’ / ‘customer’ or whatever.
They contain an ‘Inducement’ – Someone with a name similar to you has died, leaving millions….., You are due a refund…...
They contain a ‘Threat’ – if you don’t do this by a certain date, usually within 24 hours, something terrible will happen.
There will be a ‘LINK’, you need to click on, to do whatever.
The current most common scams are:
HMRC – they have a warrant for your arrest, if you don’t immediately pay outstanding taxes !
You have driven through a charging area without making the payment of £25 !
TV Licensing / Paypal – Your Direct Debit has failed – click on the link to re-enter your bank and card details !
THE RULE IS: YOU MUST NEVER CLICK ON A LINK – EVER - IN EMAILS YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING.
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.org
ETON & ETON WICK:
6/10 - 7/10 Tuesday 11.30 a.m. / Wednesday 5.30 a.m. Bunces Close, Eton Wick. Van break, £3,500 worth of tools stolen. Ref. No: 43200316145 Does anyone have video doorbell / CCTV footage of anything suspicious in that area around that time ? If so, please send it to the SR email above quoting this Ref. No.
WINDSOR WEST
windsorwestgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk CLEWER, DEDWORTH & OAKLEY GREEN:
8/10 Thursday 12.30 p.m. / 3.30 p.m. Hermitage Lane. Burglary. Entry through ground floor side window left open. Keys stolen. All the locks have now been changed. Ref. No: 43200317088
CLEWER EAST & PARK:
7/10 Wednesday Old Club Court, St. Leonard’s Road. Boke stolen from locked communal bike store. A Whyte Malvern bike. Ref. No: 43200317641
WINDSOR EAST
windsoreastgeographical@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
SR.windsor&maidenhead@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk DATCHET, HORTON & WRAYSBURY:
NO CRIME TO REPORT
OLD WINDSOR:
NO CRIME TO REPORT
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/TVPWindsorandMaidenhead
Eyes, ears.....and Brain
Jeff
Jeffrey.pick@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
NEWS UPDATE FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The lockdown has resulted in many neighbourhoods drawing closer together in supporting local residents with needs, and in neighbours spending a lot more time talking to each other over fences or across the road. This has improved community spirit to no end, and a great way to keep this spirit alive is for residents to join their local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, or start up a new scheme if there is not already one covering their respective street.
Neighbourhood Watch is not just about looking out the window and being alert for any crime in the neighbourhood, it is much more than that. It serves as a valuable resource for crime prevention, in supporting the Police with things such as local home security surveys, installing crime prevention aids in homes for the vulnerable and elderly especially, helping those vulnerable and elderly residents with any other needs, and in drawing residents together in supporting one another.
The Windsor & Ascot NHW Association is making great strides in reactivating and expanding Neighbourhood Watch within the various parishes of Windsor & Ascot. Its Facebook page (@WindsorAscotNHW) is receiving multiple enquiries from interested residents and serves as a means to highlight local issues relating to crime and residents in need. New NHW schemes are continuously being set up with active Coordinators, and residents within those scheme areas can now benefit from the new initiatives being introduced by Neighbourhood Watch and Thames Valley Police.
To search for your nearest NHW scheme, or to set up a new scheme, visit www.ourwatch.org.uk and enter your postcode.
For any questions relating to Neighbourhood Watch please contact the Windsor & Ascot NHW Association at contact@windsorascotnhwa.org.uk
Please be aware that the facility above is a Facebook service, posting your views will make some of your Facebook information visible to everyone (as with any Facebook activity).
The system administrators (VISAV Limited) monitor the content added. Any misuse or objectionable material should be reported to support@neighbourhoodalert.co.uk.
The views expressed do not represent the views of the system administrators who are VISAV Limited, the Police, Neighbourhood Watch and other Information Provider using this service.