Tuesday, 25 June 2013

NAT The Crime Prevention Website, Newsletter Number 7

Thursday, 20 June 2013

WAR - Safe in Warwickshire

About Safe In

In this blog Warwickshire County Council’s Community Safety Team will be keeping residents up to date with news about activities and local initiatives designed to help people feel safer.

Members of the team will be regularly blogging about local projects to reduce crime and protect communities, crime stats, work taking place to prevent domestic abuse and reduce the number of people affected by substance misuse, and much much more.

The team are promote the Safe In Warwickshire campaign which shows how different agencies together are protecting Warwickshire people from harm. Organisations do this by listening, responding and working together to address people’s concerns and show the activities they are engaged in to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, and make people feel more secure.

MORE

WAR - Superfast Broadband Update

Topics in this edition:

Copy for your website or newsletter

Events to be held in your area

Extended Questions and Answers

Don’t forget to complete the surveys on our website:

http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/get-involved/tell-us-about-your-broadband-issues/

Monday, 17 June 2013

WAR - See off Sneak-in Burglars

Advice from Warwickshire Police

Saturday, 15 June 2013

NAT - Garden security - Hints and tips

Garden Security – tips and advice

With the weather steadily improving and with the nights getting longer, it is even more important that your garden is secure from would-be criminals.

Making your garden more secure could prevent an intruder from getting into your home, garage or shed.

Find out More

NAT - What's your 'safe' place?

Can you do better than this?

Sock drawer (13%)

Top of the wardrobe (9%)

Under the bed (9%)

Under the sink (6%)

Under the bedside table (no figure supplied)

The better way! LINK

NAT - How secure is your door?

Are you aware of bumping and snapping, do you keep a spare key under a flower-pot? Read about the latest best practice HERE

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

WAR - Trading Standards Update 11th June

11/06/2013 Carbon Off-Set Scam

A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards receiving cold-calls from someone claiming the consumer had previously verbally agreed to buy carbon off-sets and demanding to be paid. The caller threatened to credit ‘black-list’ the consumer! The caller wanted to be paid in Euros but to an American bank. Carbon offset schemes allow individuals and companies to invest in environmental projects around the world in order to balance out their own carbon footprints.

Never provide your personal or financial information to unexpected callers and if you receive threatening phone calls, contact the Police.

11/06/2013 Bulkington and Anstey Loan Scam

A Bulkington resident reported to Trading Standards being offered a loan over the phone. The caller asked the consumer to pay £110 in Ukash vouchers as a first payment which the consumer paid. The caller then asked for a further £250 in Ukash vouchers for ‘security’ reasons’. The consumer paid again. At this stage he had still not received his loan. The caller then phoned back and asked for a further £300 in Ukash vouchers for ‘insurance’. At this point the consumer became suspicious and no further money was paid (the ‘loan’ was never provided).

In a similar case an Anstey resident was also offered a loan and was sent some terms and conditions by email. They were asked for an advanced payment of £195. Again, the caller did not provide the loan!

Fraudsters offer loans to vulnerable people, often approaching them by email or telephone. The fraudsters ask for money in advance of the release of the non-existent loan and will keep asking for more money until the consumer realises they are being scammed.

They often ask for the money to be sent in the form of Ukash vouchers or by Western Union transfer, two ways money can be transferred easily and with little traceability. Ukash and Western Union are both legitimate companies and warn of these sorts of scams themselves.

Never respond to these ‘loan’ offers. If you need help with money issues visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/familyfinancialhelp

11/06/2013 Tarmac Gang Warning Leamington Spa

Leamington Spa residents need to be aware of a tarmac gang operating in the area warn Warwickshire Trading Standards. Two men in a white flatbed open truck are reported to door knocking offering to tarmac driveways.

Never accept offers of services from unexpected callers. For more information on tarmac gangs visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

11/06/2013 ‘Solicitor’ Cold Call

A South Warwickshire resident reported receiving an odd and unexpected phone call from someone with a foreign accent telling them they had been named in a court case and were asked to provide details of their solicitor! Never provide any personal or financial information to unexpected callers.

11/06/2013 Phone Bill Scam

A Nuneaton resident reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed that the consumer’s phone bill had not been taken and requested their sort code and bank account number. The caller said the consumer would be ‘cut-off’ if the consumer did not provide their details!

The consumer then received another unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be calling from the consumer’s bank requesting his phone banking PIN number.

The consumer did not provide any information on either case. If you receive a phone call from an organisation you think is genuine, phone them back on a publically listed telephone number.

11/06/2013 Model Agency Concern

A Nuneaton resident reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards that she was approached on Facebook by a ‘modelling agency’ who asked her to send semi-naked and then naked photos in return for paid work. The consumer sent a number of photos and was then asked for more. The trader would not provide their address to the consumer and then stopped answering her emails. No money was paid or work agreed. More information on model agency frauds: www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraudsters-using-social-media-to-pose-as-model-agents-mar13

11/06/2013 HMRC Scam

Do not respond to emails that purport to come from HMRC. These are scams! HMRC will not contact you unexpectedly in this way warn Warwickshire Trading Standards. Any unexpected emails that you receive to tell you that you have been awarded a rebate will have been sent by fraudsters.

Never click on any link in unexpected emails. The fraudulent email will take you to a copy of the genuine HMRC web page where your personal or financial information will be stolen. The emails use a number of email addresses that resemble the genuine HMRC email address including hmrc@gov.uk (this is a bogus email). Other bogus emails: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/security/examples.htm

Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).

If you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
For more information on scams, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss

Simon Cripwell

Trading Standards Officer

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP

Tel: 01926 414039

Mob: 07771 975570

Email: simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Web: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

My normal working days are Monday to Thursday

SD - Facing the Challenge - Mobile Library Review

Please find attached information on the MOBILE LIBRARY REVIEW.

Kind regards

Amanda Wilson-Patterson

Localities & Communities Officer

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Telephone: 01926 413642 (internal 3642)

Mobile: 07780 995817

Email: amandawilsonpatterson@warwickshire.gov.uk

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

For further information on the Stratford-on-Avon Area Office visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordarea

SOU - Southam/Feldon Community Forum 12th June

Please find attached the final RUNNING ORDER for the next meeting of the above which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 12th June at Harbury Rugby Football Club, Harbury from 6.30 pm.

There is still time to take part in the on line voting too, so if you are not able to attend the meeting but would like to help influence the priorities on the night, then please click on the link below and cast your vote.

www.warwickshire.police.uk/Southam_BigVote

Kind regards

Amanda Wilson-Patterson

Localities & Communities Officer

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Telephone: 01926 413642 (internal 3642)

Mobile: 07780 995817

Email: amandawilsonpatterson@warwickshire.gov.uk

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

For further information on the Stratford-on-Avon Area Office visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordarea

SOU - Toll Gate Road, Southam - Use of Playing Field Land

A public meeting is proposed at St James C E Primary School, Toll Gate Road, Southam on Tuesday 25th June at 6 pm to discuss the future use of the playing field land at Toll Gate Road.

The meeting will allow interested parties to have their say about the possible options for the future use of the land.

Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who may wish to attend.

Kind regards

Amanda Wilson-Patterson

Localities & Communities Officer

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Telephone: 01926 413642 (internal 3642)

Mobile: 07780 995817

Email: amandawilsonpatterson@warwickshire.gov.uk

Website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

For further information on the Stratford-on-Avon Area Office visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/stratfordarea

Friday, 7 June 2013

WEL Scrap Dealers

A local resident placed a broken down tumble dryer outside his front door 9.30pm the 2nd June for collection by the scrap metal merchants; by 6.30am the next morning, it had gone.
This suggests that someone is moving around our village well outside the normal hours.

Kineton Neighbourhood Watch

Please report all scrap vehicles to your SNT

NAT National Neighbourhood & Home Watch Week (15th-23rd June)

Not long now until National Neighbourhood & Home Watch Week (15th-23rd June)!

There are a number of events going on, which you can read about on our website here: www.ourwatch.org.uk/news_and_events/events and I am sure there are many more being held up and down the country. If you let us know what you are planning for the Week, we can put your event on the website too. We are also happy to help promote your event via our Twitter and Facebook accounts if you wish - just send us the details to enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk

After the Week, we would also really like to hear some stories about what you / your scheme did and how it went. We can put these on the website and whoever sends the best news story will receive a signed first edition hardback of Dead Man's Time - the very latest crime novel by NHWN's new Patron, Peter James! (You can read more about our Patrons here: www.ourwatch.org.uk/about_us/our_patrons )

The Week will also mark the first ever national Neighbourhood and Home Watch Awards ceremony. Thank you to everyone who nominated a scheme or individual for an award. Our Trustees have chosen 20 finalists to attend the Awards Ceremony on June 18th and we can't wait to announce the 10 winners. More details here: www.ourwatch.org.uk/news_and_events/news/crime_fighters_battle_for_prestigious_awards_during_neighbourhood_and_home

Best wishes,

Catherine Dunn, NHWN

Find us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/N_Watch
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ourwatch

NAT ACPO Citizens in Policing

ACPO’s Lee Kerslake gives an overview of the recent road shows that have been taking place around the country based on ‘Citizens in Policing’.

The aim of these have been to encourage the use of enthusiastic and skilled citizens in Volunteer roles that add value to policing, as well as developing links with groups in the voluntary sector who can contribute towards policing objectives. For the full article, please click here.

NAT ‘Support a Watch’

Can we help your scheme?

A new initiative, ‘Support a Watch’, has just been launched to promote Neighbourhood Watch and Home Watch projects and help them find the resources they need.

‘Support a Watch’ enables money and in-kind support to go straight to the schemes and projects that need it. It is an arrangement between a business or individual who wants to put something into their local community and a project that needs a boost. For more information, including full Briefing and Application guidelines, please click here.

NAT Keep burglars at bay

Home security is high on most people’s agendas, but the rise in the use of uPVC and other double glazed doors has introduced a security weakness that is being exploited by burglars.

The problem is the lock. Euro cylinder locks are fitted as standard on all these types of doors and worryingly they can be snapped, using nothing more than simple DIY tools, in a matter of seconds. For the full article, including details of how you can combat this, please click here.

WAR Trading Standards Update

29/05/2013 Utility Doorstep ‘Brokers’

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service is warning residents to beware of doorstep approaches from unscrupulous utility ‘brokers’. There has been a significant decrease in the number of utility companies selling door to door, but consumers should beware of dodgy ‘utility’ brokers who go door to door claiming that they can get the best deals for residents.

One Warwickshire resident was approached on the doorstep and was told that he could benefit from the best energy rates if he made a payment of £325 up front. The resident paid with a debit card but has heard nothing from the caller since!

For impartial advice visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ and use Internet comparison websites to get the best deals.

29/05/2013 ‘Electricity Board’ Scam
An elderly Warwickshire resident reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed to be calling from the ‘electricity board’. She was told that as an older person she was eligible for a 40% reduction on her electricity bill and would be sent a ‘power saving’ device that she could plug in!

The caller then asked for a credit card number, which the resident did not provide.

This is a scam where by unscrupulous traders are cold calling consumers and offering to sell them worthless and potentially dangerous plug in devices. These devices do nothing and certainly would not save you 40% on your electricity bill! Further, some are retailed at close to £100 each!

Never provide your credit or debit card details over the phone to unexpected callers and remember, like the ‘water board’, the ‘electricity board’ does not exist!

See a picture of the device here: http://news.warwickshire.gov.uk/blog/2012/10/22/the-electricity-saving-box-that-costs-you-money/

29/05/3013 Accident Cold Callers
A Warwickshire resident contacted Trading Standards after receiving an unexpected phone call relating to a car accident that they had had some time ago and which had now been dealt with. The caller attempted to try and get the resident to falsely claim that they had further injuries so that the case could be ‘resurrected’ for further compensation claims and profit for the unscrupulous claims management business. The resident refused and put the phone down.

To report a Claims Management Company: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/cmr

To complain about the misuse of personal information: http://ico.org.uk/complaints

29/05/2013 Be Careful Who You Give Your Credit Card Number Too!
A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards having payments taken from his account by an American ‘teeth whitening’ business ranging from £6 to £60 after he visited their website. Another paid a different website £4.99 with her card to receive a ‘free’ beauty product and was then charged £97.00!

Trading Standards advise consumers to be extremely careful before divulging their card details. Check the company behind the website and read the small print. Be particularly careful if you are signing up for ‘free’ offers, you may inadvertently have agreed to pay a hefty subscription for goods or services you did not want!

21/05/2013 Genuine PPI claim? Advanced Fee Ukash Warning

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service are reminding consumers using legitimate PPI claims companies that they should not have to pay money up front and in advance to receive their pay-out. If you are asked to send money in advance, for example using Ukash vouchers or Western Union transfer, then it is highly likely you are being scammed.

One Warwickshire consumer reported that she was contacted by a fraudster who pretend to be the genuine PPI claim back company she was using. The fraudster told her that she was in line to receive a higher pay-out than she had been led to expect. Her cheque would be brought to her home, but only after she paid a fee in advance via Ukash vouchers!

Never pay up front to receive a refund, compensation or prize money. Be extremely wary if you are asked to send money using Ukash vouchers or by Western Union transfer. Fraudsters use these legitimate businesses because it makes them difficult to trace. For more information on advanced fee fraud visit: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-az-advance-fee-fraud

21/05/2013 Businesses Warned of Google Advertising Con!

A Warwickshire business reported to Trading Standards receive an unexpected call from a trader claiming to sell advertising on Google web pages. Eventually the business agreed to pay over £100 for set up charges and over £50 per month for the advertising. However, when the business looked to see if they could find their advertisement on-line, they could not. They then tried to cancel the agreement and found that the phone line of the trader was dead.

Businesses should ensure they always research carefully any trader offering advertising. Ensure that the trader is legitimate, has a verifiable address and can show evidence that they can deliver what they promise. Never simply buy goods or services from unexpected callers.

More on publication scams: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/wccweb.nsf/Links/5D0649278E3ED2CB80257886003647F7/$file/20120111_Business_scams.pdf

21/05/2013 Computer ‘Slowdown’ Con

A Warwickshire consumer reported to Trading Standards receiving an unexpected phone call from someone who claimed to be calling from ‘technical support’ to deal with a ‘problem’ with the consumer’s computer. The bogus ‘problem’ was described as a slow internet connection which the caller said may be due to a virus.

Had the consumer agreed to allow the caller access to his computer, the caller would probably have either stolen information or charged for adding unnecessary programs to the consumer’s PC.

21/05/2013 HMRC Warning

HMRC is aware of a letter which is being issued to companies and sole-traders by post requesting their VAT registration details to update a website portal.

Although this is not believed to be a phishing scam, there is an ‘offer’ from the company sending the letter to ‘advertise’ customer details on a German website for £797 per year. The cost of doing this is not clear until the small print is read.

This is nothing to do with HMRC and there is no legal obligation to reply to the letter or provide the sender with any details about your business.

Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).

If you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.

For more information on scams, visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Follow us on twitter: www.twitter.com/warkstss

Simon Cripwell

Trading Standards Officer

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service

Communities

Warwickshire County Council

Old Budbrooke Road Warwick CV35 7DP

Tel: 01926 414039

Mob: 07771 975570

Email: simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk

Web: www.warwickshire.gov.uk

My normal working days are Monday to Thursday

SOU - Community Forum Priorities - Southam/Feldon

The following options have been identified by the Southam Safer Neighbourhood Team from their liaison with the public during their surgeries. Please vote for the option YOU consider most important to YOU

Attendees at Harbury Rugby Football Club on Wednesday 12th June from 6.30 pm will have opportunity to cast their votes by a show of hands. The results of the on-line vote will be added to those taken at the forum and the 3 options with the most votes will be agreed as the priorities for the next 3 months.

The closing date for Southam is Tuesday 11th June.

Help set the Police Priorities for the next 3 months

Priority 1: Speeding

Priority 2: Drug supply and use

Priority 3: Parking issues - Parking at schools during pick-up and drop-off periods.

Priority 4: Drink Drive.

Priority 5: Burglary / Theft Patrols.

Follow this LINK to take part in THE BIG VOTE

Thursday, 6 June 2013

Previous SDNW Posts

Previous related posts can be read HERE and HERE