SAS/Crime Reduction Bureau Scam (posted 14 uly 2010)
A number of older residents in the Eastwood area have been cold called by telephone from SAS Security offering discounted alarm systems, security surveys etc. SAS Security state that they are working with the Crime Reduction Bureau on behalf of Essex Police. This is a blatant lie as Essex Police do NOT endorse private security firms nor do they have them cold calling residents on their behalf.
Trading Standards advise that householders contacted by this company should terminate the call without providing any details (i.e. name, address etc) and to call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 immediately to report the contact. Under no circumstances at all should the company be allowed to make an appointment for a salesman to call.
Southend Borough residents aged 60 and over who are concerned about their home security can avail themselves of the free Age UK HandyVan scheme by calling 01702 464199 or via e-mail on southendnhw@aol.com
Police warning concerning a 'you have won a prize' Scam (posted 14 July 2010)
An elderly couple from Leigh received a series of unsolicited telephone calls during the course of the day from a person advising that they had won a prize of £400,000 on the basis that they had paid their bills on time! The caller added that a film crew would be on hand to record the presentation of the cheque.
A subsequent call is then received by the lucky winners to say that the courier has been stopped by police en route from Preston and advised that he required insurance to transport that sum of money. The target of the scam is then asked to pay £1700 for the insurance in order to get the prize money released.
The caller was described as having an African accent.
He called from number 01876 3633897 which when called back was unobtainable. The company name was not given.
The advice from both police and Trading Standards is to view any such unsolicited call with suspicion, to terminate the call without divulging any personal or bank details and to contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06
Police urge van owners not to leave tools in their vehicles overnight (posted 9 July 2010)
Van owners are being urged to remove tools from their vehicles in a bid to reduce the number of thefts in Southend.
Police officers, working together with Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, will be targeting van owners at industrial and retail sites to offer advice on reducing the opportunities for theft.
Lorna Watson, Essex Police Crime Reduction Officer, said: “Don’t leave tools in your vehicle overnight because in the morning they might be in somebody else’s van.
“If the van has to be left outside, park the rear doors against a wall to make them impossible to fully open.
“Lock your van in a garage and have an alarm fitted if you can, and take out any portable items.”
For more information please contact Lorna Watson on 01702 423187
Air Ambulance Scam (posted 5 July 2010)
Two men claiming to be off duty air ambulance workers called at an address in Benfleet on Monday 28 June. They wore tee shirts with air ambulance logos and had ID badges (although these weren’t examined)
The resident was asked to make a £2 donation and to sign up for a direct debit for £8 per month. The resident declined to part with any money and the men left in a white van parked at the end of the road.
There was no collection licensed to be in the area and we have now heard back from both the Essex Air Ambulance and Children’s Air Ambulance that these persons were not authorised collectors.
Any information as to the identity of the men should be reported to the police. Trading Standards strongly advise that residents should NOT sign up to direct debit agreements to cold callers
Cold callers continue to target residents (posted 2 June 2010)
A Cold Calling company claiming to be working with the police is continuing to target residents across the borough.
The issue was raised by concerned residents at a Leigh Crime Prevention Panel meeting on Monday 17 May.
Inspector Ian Gennery of Essex Police, said: "Residents in the Leigh and Southend have reported cold calling by a company called Crime Research UK Ltd, implying they're working on behalf of Essex Police and conducting home security surveys on behalf of a second company called SAS Fire and Security Systems.
“Those who have allowed the survey to continue find themselves being pressured to purchase a very expensive system that they may not need.
“Although Essex Police do contact members of the public as part of their customer satisfaction survey, we do not endorse private companies. I would urge anyone receiving such a call not to accept any offer unless they are completely satisfied about the legitimacy of the company.”
Residents are urged to report the matter to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or via their local neighbourhood policing team on 0300 3334444.
Cold callers target Leigh residents claiming to be endorsed by the police (posted 6 April 2010)
Southend Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has been made aware of cold callers telephoning residents in the Leigh area and trying to sell them alarm systems by claiming they are working for Essex Police.
Essex Police would like to make it clear that they have not instructed any company to contact home owners in order to sell them home security equipment.
Lorna Watson, Crime Reduction Officer, said: “Residents should not provide any personal details or information if contacted and should terminate the call immediately. These companies often target the elderly and vulnerable so please pass our message on to family or friends who fall into that category.”
Police warn Xbox gamers of online scam (posted 26 March)
Police are warning owners of Xbox gaming consoles to be wary of a new scam whereby owners are being asked to hand over passwords in return for gaming ‘rewards’.
Gamers have been approached and asked to hand over their ‘Xbox Live account’ passwords in return for ‘Microsoft Points’ (the virtual online currency) or for other benefits.
Once the scammer has the password they have control of the account, allowing them to purchase games and other add-ons using credit card details logged to the account.
The original owner will then find themselves locked out of their account and unable to play.
Lorna Watson, Essex Police Crime Reduction Officer, said: “Please keep your Xbox safe by never revealing your password to other gamers, no matter how attractive the incentive seems. You won’t go to the next level but may find yourself locked out the next time you try to play.
“This is an international scam so please pass the warning to all your online friends.”
For more information on how to stay stafe when using an Xbox console, visit Microsoft’s ‘Account Security’ website at - Xbox.com | Account Security for Xbox LIVE
Phishing Update (posted 27 February 2010)
Further to the information posted below, HM Revenue and Customs ask that anyone receiving the following e-mail (or similar)
should forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
Tax Refund Notification
After the last annual calculations of your fiscal activity, we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of 2944.18 GBP. Please submit the tax refund request and allow 6-9 days in order to process it. Click Here to submit you tax refund request Note : A refund can be delayed a variety of reasons, for example submitting invalid records or applying after deadline. Yours Sincerely HM Revenue & Customs
Phishing (posted 8 February 2010)
There has been an upsurge in phishing e-mails of late - these are where an unsolicited e-mail arrives in the inbox advising that the recipient has won a lottery that they did not enter; can help recover millions of pounds tied up in a foreign bank account; or is eligible for a tax rebate. The latest concerns the
BRITISH GOVERNMENT POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM. Recipients of this e-mail are advised that they are benificiaries of £2 million.
As with all of these cons, the originator merely requires you bank card details plus security code and everything necessary to steal the recipient's identity. Be warned. There are people out there bent on stealing your money and identity. Such e-mails should be deleted
Cold Calling Security Companies (posted 26 January 2010)
Householders in Southend Borough are still being targeted by a number of security companies claiming to be carrying out surveys on behalf of the police or Essex Police with the intention of selling high priced alarm and CCTV systems. Essex Police do not employ outside companies to carry out surveys nor do they endorse such companies.
Anyone being cold called by security companies are strongly advised to say NO to terminate the call, and report the caller to Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06. Under no circumstances at all should an appointment be made for a security survey to be carried out - those who disregard this advice stand a very good chance of being ripped off.
Motorists – Lock it or lose it (posted 20 January 2010)
Motorists in Leigh are being reminded to ‘lock it or lose it’ following a spate of thefts of unlocked vehicles.
The issue was raised at local Neighbourhood Action Panel (NAP) meetings in the Leigh and West Leigh area where four out of five vehicle thefts were a result of owners leaving their vehicles unlocked.
Lorna Watson, Crime Reduction Officer for Southend, said: “It only takes a moment for a thief to steal your car or possessions if the car is unlocked. Please take a moment to securely lock your car and remove all valuables from sight”
Simon Ford, Partnership Manager, Community Safety, said: “Southend Police and its partners work closely together to combat crime and disorder in the Borough. We are asking residents and people visiting Southend to lessen the opportunities thieves often take, particularly when items are left on show in parked vehicles. By reducing the opportunity, the risk is lessened.”
A Credit Card Scam (posted 4 January 2010)
We have been advised of a cold calling credit card scam where credit card holders are telephoned by a person purporting to be from a credit card company. The caller advises that there are indications that the recipient's credit card has been compromised, provides details from the front of the card (i.e.. account number, expiry date etc) and requests the 3 digit security code from the reverse of the card. If provided, this provides the caller with all of the information necessary to make purchases at the recipient's expense.
So, unless you want to fund someone else's lifestyle, anyone receiving such a call is advised to say nothing, terminate the call and advise your credit card security department of the attempt immediately
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