More fraud

Thames Valley Police are reissuing their warning to residents of the Thames Valley to be on their guard for fraudulent phone calls purporting to be from banks/police officers and requesting bank and card details.

On Tuesday 21 January, an elderly lady from Ermin Street, Shefford Woodlands, and an elderly lady from Lancaster Close, Hungerford, both received calls. Fortunately they realised that it was a scam before any money could be taken from their accounts.

Police are reiterating their advice about this type of fraud and asking everyone who has elderly or vulnerable family members, friends, or neighbours, to let them know about the scam.

The most important three things to remember are:

- Your bank and/or the police will never ask for your PIN
- Your bank will never attend your home to deliver a replacement card or to collect cash
- Your bank and/or the police will never collect your bank card

This type of fraud is known as courier fraud or vishing and often targets the elderly and vulnerable. The victim receives a phone call from fraudsters who say they are from their bank or the police. They tell the victim that they are calling because there has been suspicious activity on their account and advise them to call the bank from the number on the back of their card, which helps the victim believe the call is genuine.

The victim disconnects the phone and dials their bank or police, however the fraudster has kept the telephone line open so even though a number is dialed, it is not connected and the victim is still on the phone to the fraudster, who then gains their trust and asks them to either say or key in their pin, before telling them their card will be collected and a replacement delivered.

Once the fraudster has all the information they need, a courier is sent to collect the card from the victim, and a replacement is delivered at the same time, which is not a genuine bank card.

The offender has obtained the person’s name, address, full bank details, the card itself and the PIN. The bank cards are then used fraudulently without the victim’s knowledge.

Police advice is that if you receive such a call, end it immediately. Then use another phone-line, neighbours phone or mobile phone to make a report. If this is not possible please wait a period of time before you use your phone (10 minutes should be sufficient).

If you receive this type of call, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or via their website. In an emergency, dial 999.

Bank - credit card scams

Elderly people are being targeted with a new telephone scam that involves con men posing as bank staff or police, a fraud watchdog has warned.

The fraud, which has cost victims £7m in a year, is difficult to detect when well-executed, Financial Fraud Action UK said.
 

The criminals instruct the victim to disclose credit and debit card information before emptying the person’s bank accounts.
 

Those who have fallen into the trap have had their life savings wiped out within 24-hours. Around one in four adults in the UK has received a cold call like this. Financial Fraud Action said 43pc of victims have been aged over 50.
 

The new con is dubbed ‘vishing’. It involves a fraudster posing on the phone as someone from a bank or building society fraud investigation team, the police or another legitimate organisation such as a telephone or internet provider.

Remember this advice

Your bank or the police will never ring you and tell you that they are coming to your home to pick up your card or cash. Never hand it over to anyone who comes to collect it.

Your bank will never ask you to authorise anything by entering your PIN over the phone.

Never tell anyone your PIN. The only time you should need to use it is at a cash machine at a shop's chip & pin machine.

If you think that you have been the victim of a scam or fraud of this nature you should inform the police or you bank/card companies A.S.A.P

You can download a Free No Cold Callers message here

 

Illegal pesticides

Thames Valley Police is currently investigating the distribution and use of illegal pesticides, including counterfeits, across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Illegal pesticides have been found in increasing amounts across the UK and Europe and Thames Valley Police has a particular interest in illegal pesticides not just because of the risks they pose to the rural communities but the links to organised crime gangs. There is growing evidence that the illicit activities of such gangs finance other serious crimes such as human trafficking and international terrorism.

It is not yet known to what extent, if any, illegal pesticides are being sold within our rural communities. Gathering intelligence and information is a vital part of the investigation, which is where you come in.

If you notice anything suspicious about pesticides you have either been offered or purchased, please call the 24 hour non-emergency number 101 and mention ‘Operation Silo’.

Things to look out for:

• Does the product look or smell unusual?
• Have you been offered a product which has been described as the same as another but at a discounted rate?
• Have you been sold a product because your first choice was ‘out of stock’?
• Do you have any feelings that a product you have bought isn’t quite right? Are there any unusual symptoms or irregularities?(clog spray jets / nozzles) etc
• Is the packaging unusual or not what you would expect?

Computer virus

Should any of you receive an e-mail similar to the picture of one below delete it immediately, it is fake !

Do not under any circumstances click on the link as it will install dangerous malware.

 

 

 

>>