ScamWarningsPage

Some burglars try to trick their way in. They may say they are from the water, gas or electric company or the local council. They may ask for a glass of water or to wash their hands or claim to have lost a pet. In fact, they’ll use any story they can to get in! They can be young (even children) or old, male or female and they might work alone or in teams. They often target the elderly. Don’t become a victim! Follow these simple rules:

LOCK
Keep your doors and windows locked, even when you’re at home.

STOP
Are you expecting anyone, do they have an appointment? Make sure the back door is locked - some thieves work in pairs with the other one sneaking in the back while you’re at the front door.

CHAIN
Put the door bar or chain on before you open the door.

CHECK
Check their identity carefully. Ask for an ID card. Close the door and check using a phone number from the phone book or a relevant bill, not the one on the card.

IF IN DOUBT, KEEP THEM OUT!

Ask them to make an appointment or come back later when someone else is around. Genuine callers won’t mind. If you are suspicious, report the incident to the police. You may help prevent them from burgling someone else.

If you would like to report a crime call: In an emergency call 999 - this service is for when an immediate response is required (if crime is happening now or anyone is in immediate danger). If you wish to contact the Metropolitan Police Service and it’s not an emergency call 0300 123 1212. If you have information about any crime you would prefer to offer in confidence and anonymously, call Crimestoppers free on 0800 555 111.

Following on from the above a N/W member on the Croham/Sanderstead borders has reported a white teenage male calling at his door asking for money to catch a bus as his car had broken down, this may have been an attempt to gain entry to the house.

SCAM PHONECALLS

A Croydon resident has recently received a phone call from a Debt Agency claiming that they owed money on an outstanding debt. The call came from abroad and the caller had the subscriber’s name. As the resident did not have any outstanding debts it would appear to be a scam phone call to try and obtain personal banking details and or frighten them into paying the company for a non existing debt, unfortunately many people will send cash even though they do not owe anything as they fear they will be blacklisted for any future credit. You can report these calls to Ofcom on www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/

APEX PROMOTIONS

On the 17th June we put out a warning from Trading Standards regarding the above company which provides a wall coating and their claims to be working for the local authority. This week the company has been knocking on Doors in the Kenley and Coulsdon areas. Apex also trades under the names Andura, Mosaic and Peak R&M and has been featured on Rogue Traders for its sales tactics. It is being investigated by Brent and Harrow trading standards, which is looking at taking legal action against the company.

EMAIL NEWS

A phishing email for customers of Halifax Bank which claims that there is a new security message on your account, the link provided leads to a website in Utah, USA. Customers of Clara Webmail Services again targeted with a message requiring you to click on a link and update your security, this link leads to an exact copy of the login page on a website in Italy.

PURLEY & KENLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP

Croydon Council are pleased to provide details of the next Neighbourhood Partnership meeting.

Please click on the link below to go to our website page where you will find the next meeting’s Agenda and papers (hard copies will be available at the meeting):

http://www.croydononline.org/neighbourhood_partnerships/purley_and_kenley/2010/2010_09_14/default.asp

(if the link does not work, copy and paste the URL into the address bar on an internet page)

The meeting will be held on Tuesday 14 September 2010 at 7.30 p.m at Christ Church, Brighton Road, Purley, CR8 2BN.

Please note that Streetscene officers will be available from 7pm to cover local environmental concerns. A Councillor from each electoral ward in your NP area will be present from 7pm, before the start of the meeting, whenever possible.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 26 AUGUST 2010

CRIME NEWS

As we have warned before if you leave your car/house keys by the front door you are helping a thief to steal your vehicle. There has been an increase in this type of theft this week with suspects hooking keys through the letterbox or breaking into the house and taking the keys and vehicles parked outside. Keys should always be hidden and kept out of sight when left in the house.

SCAM PHONECALLS

A N/W member has reported his neighbour receiving a phone call from a company called Eze Talk at first they mentioned they were with BT and suggesting that by changing to their calling plan you can receive free phone calls. The Asian female then mentioned Eze Talk and started asking other questions about their account with BT. There are many complaints about the sales calls from this company, in many cases they have obtained bank information from elderly and confused subscribers and transferred their telephones away from BT without their consent. The Daily Mirror has published information about this company following complaints from their readers about their sales practices. Please warn any elderly N/W members in your area to immediately say ‘no thank you’ and put the phone down if they receive any calls from this company and they do not wish to change their telephone supplier.

EMAIL NEWS

Another National Lottery scam email this week with a PDF file containing an official looking notification that your email address has won a cash prize of 650 thousand pounds. The email addresses to claim your prize are the giveaway that this is a scam, neither of which belongs to the lottery and there is no UK International online lottery. One N/W member has received an email claiming to be from Littlewoods.com about his shopping basket, again the email address of the sender shows that this is not genuine and the link provided leads to a website in Tokio!

BT Connect customers targeted with another email warning of a new security upgrade which requires you to relog into your emails, the link leads to a website in Oklahoma, USA which attempts to obtain your login details so that the spammer can send messages from your account.

INFORMATION FROM TRADING STANDARDS

Doorstep crime incidents in Mitchley Avenue, Sanderstead

On or around, 11th August an elderly male living alone was approached whilst outside his house and asked if he wanted his paved front garden cleaned. He said no, but would have the decking in his back garden cleaned and took the trader through house to see it.

From the back garden, the cold call trader said roof was in a bad state and needed cleaning. The elderly homeowner was concerned and agreed to this. Whilst cleaning the rear roof with a power hose, the trader then advised the elderly homeowner that his ridge tiles were allegedly loose and that the chimney stack lead needed redressing. Also, they claimed that the concrete underneath the edge tiles along front and side of house was broken away.

They drove the elderly homeowner to his bank for £360 cash. The next day they claimed to have re-cemented the roof tiles and demanded a further £260 cash for this. Whilst there they tried to pressure the elderly homeowner to have what they described as “man-made asbestos” put under the edges of his roof. They also pointed to water ‘leaking’ into his porch from the garage roof, but he declined this further alleged necessary repair work.

No business paperwork was provided as required by law. No cancellation rights were provided and work was carried out immediately, contrary to consumer protection legislation.

After this work was done, the traders then called on an elderly female living alone further down the street and convinced her that whilst working on her neighbours roof that they had noticed a fault with hers. They carried out alleged repairs and charged her £400.

After this work had been carried out, another male cold called the elderly man who was first targeted, and told him that he had been working along the road and seen damage to his roof that was causing a leak. He entered the house and went straight upstairs in front of the elderly resident, who when he arrived in his bedroom was shown water running down the wall. The male suspect told him not to use the light switches as it was dangerous. This was very distressing for the elderly homeowner who was alarmed and worried by the sight of the water running down the walls.

The male suspect demanded £1,800 for immediate repairs. The next day he returned and went straight upstairs to the other bedroom and again showed water running down the wall, demanding a further £2,000 in cash for immediate repairs. The homeowner was told to go straight to his bank whilst the suspect would wait for him. At the bank he was distressed. The bank contacted Trading Standards who attended with Met Police.

As a result of door to door enquiries with Police we identified that the rogue traders who pressure washed the roof also cold called an elderly female living alone in the same street telling them they were working on a neighbouring property and had noticed her roof needed repairs.

Trading Standards advised her to contact her bank and the payment she had made by cheque was stopped. Unfortunately the rogue traders had also demanded a further sum in cash, but her losses have been minimised. Enquiries are on-going.

It is likely that the rogue traders doing the roof repairs are in some way linked to the subsequent conman who tricked the elderly male resident into believing water was leaking into his property.

There have been a number of incidents in Croydon and surrounding areas where residents have been conned by cold callers who distract their attention and throw water onto internal walls, making it appear there is a serious leak that requires immediate repair.

Our advice is to always contact your home buildings insurance company who can quickly send a recognised and approved tradesman to assess any alleged damage.

Never allow anyone who cold calls you to enter your home and persuade you to pay for immediate work. It’s your doorstep – just say no.

Never allow anyone to drive you to your bank to withdraw money. However, if you find yourself pressurised into this position don’t worry, just make sure you alert bank staff who will call Trading Standards/Police.

Croydon Trading Standards can be reached on 020 8407 1311

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 19 AUGUST 2010

CRIME NEWS

Two incidents this week in the Selsdon area where unlocked UPVC front doors were opened by placing a stick or an arm through the letter box and the inside handle was opened. Unless you lock the door with the key this is any easy way to break into your house.

MESSAGE SENT ON BEHALF OF ACTING BOROUGH COMMANDER, SUPERINTENDENT DAVE STRINGER

I know Adrian spoke in his last message about a recent spate of robberies, where people wearing gold jewellery are being targeted by thieves who are snatching the jewellery from them. These snatches are still happening in Croydon - and in other parts of London - so our advice is to either ensure expensive jewellery is concealed where possible, or to leave it at home, particularly over the rest of the summer, when lots of people where open clothing. It also appears that the thieves are targeting people - both men and women - from the Asian community, who wear high-value gold, so please pass our advice on to your friend’s families and colleagues to help prevent this type of crime from happening. Officers from our Robbery Squad are investigating these incidents, and we will certainly let you know if there are any people arrested or charged.

Below are the latest crime figures for the borough:

Crime Type                   Apr     May     Jun     Jul
Residential Burglary    151     173     212     231
Youth Violence                 26      23      24      33
Knife Crime                        34      44      47      31
Robbery                         137     145     116     112
Most Serious Violence      30      27      31      28

Not unusually, we have seen the number of burglaries increase in the summer months, which is fairly typical across London. There has also been a rise in the number of youth violence incidents, which we are looking at. However, there is encouragement from the robbery, knife crime and most serious violence figures from July - all showing a fall compared to June.

Looking at the burglary figures, compared to this time last year, we have had considerably fewer burglaries this year, but we are still asking people to be careful and ensure their homes are secure so as not to give easy opportunities to burglars and to help us make the borough a hostile place for burglars, so please remind your friends and families to keep doors locked and windows shut.

EMAIL NEWS

A scare email circulating this week regarding a Hotel/Motel scam in the USA in which you receive a phone call from the hotel reception asking for details of your credit card, the call is not from the hotel but from a scammer phoning from outside. No reputable hotel would ask for your details by phone but would speak to you at the reception desk; there do not appear to be any reliable reports of this scam happening but it is theoretically possible. As always do not give out your credit card details to anyone who phones you, only use the card when you make the call to a known company.

INFORMATION FROM TRADING STANDARDS

On 17th August 2010 at approximately 16:00 in the Heathfield Road area of Croydon, an elderly victim was walking home. Upon approaching his front door, he heard a car pull up behind him and two males stepped out. They claimed to be from the Council and were both wearing dark green jerseys with the letters ‘ECO’ in the top left hand corner in yellow writing. When the victim asked them to produce some ID, the two suspects were unable to do so.

The suspects managed to talk their way into the victim’s home and asked for a £500 deposit to carry out some work on the victim’s hallway. Fortunately in this case, no money was passed as the victim had doubts as to whether the two men were legitimate.

We would like to ask all residents in the area to remain vigilant of this type of scam, and to always request to see ID when speaking to someone purporting to be from a certain company. We would also urge residents to phone the organisation and verify the ID if they are still unsure.

For more information please call Croydon Trading Standards on 0208 407 1310

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH OFFICE Telephone: 020 8649 0168

The Office will be manned every Monday. Tuesday and Friday from 8 am to 12 noon. The answer phone will be available for messages outside these times. Please do not report any crimes on this number, as the office is not continuously manned. In an emergency always call 999. For non-urgent crime reports please call 0300 123 1212.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 29 JULY 2010

CRIME NEWS

Message from Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts, Croydon Borough Commander

I'm pleased to say that robbery is down by about 30 offences in June compared to May, which means about 1 fewer to just under 4 per day. Whilst robbery is down, there is an emerging trend of people having jewellery snatched, particularly in the north of the borough where thieves are targeting people with gold jewellery - mostly necklaces. Whilst we're doing all we can to identify and arrest those responsible, we're advising people to either conceal their valuable jewellery, or in the hot weather, to leave it at home.

The most important message over the summer about burglary, for me, is to get people thinking about their home security. My officers can make the borough a hostile place for burglars by arresting and charging them, but if residents are leaving doors and windows open, then it is an easy opportunity for burglars. I'd ask you to spread the message that people need to keep their windows and doors locked and secure, irrespective of whether they're in or out.

As people leave windows open because of the heat, burglars don't think twice about reaching through an open window and stealing valuables within easy reach, so people need to be wise to this. Cat flaps are another opportunity for burglars to reach in and grab keys to open doors or get valuables, so make sure that you keep these locked when you can and keep keys and valuables out of sight to reduce the risk.

I'd also ask that our communities remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us. If you see someone acting suspiciously in your neighbourhood, then call 999 - no call is too small!

EMAIL NEWS

An email is circulating which warns of a BT outstanding bill scam which started in 2009. We have warned about this before and BT has the following advice on their website:

Please be aware of the following:

Fraudsters, pretending to be from various phone companies, have been calling people on the pretence that there is an outstanding bill and threatening to disconnect their line immediately if they do not pay the bill straight away.

The fraudsters have been pretending to "cut off" the customer. Worried about having their line cut off, some people have been persuaded into giving the fraudsters their bank account details.

The police are investigating and BT Security is looking into incidents where the fraudsters have claimed to be from BT.

Whilst BT does have debt handling procedures which may involve calling customers, BT never carries out disconnections during the call by way of proof.

We advise customers never to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with.

If there is any doubt at all, a BT employee will be able to give the customer their employee ID number and an 0800 number to call, where the customer can check that they are who they say they are. The customer can also check their identity by calling 0800 800 150.

Beware of similar phone numbers. Fraudsters may for example offer a number which has an extra zero - 0800 0800 xxx has been used by fraudsters - it is not the same as 0800 800 xxx.

ONE-STOP YOUTH SAFETY SERVICE OFFICE IS 'FIRST OF ITS KIND'

With knife crime and street robberies on the increase in the last year, Croydon Council has gone back to basics in a bid to turn the tide. It claims that its new Turnaround Centre brings together all of its youth safety services under one roof and is the first centre of its kind in the UK.

From 10am in the morning to 6pm at night, young people in Croydon can access support and expert advice on a range of issues, from escaping gangs to advice on housing and sexual health. And, instead of having to travel across town between half a dozen different offices, all the services are available in the same purpose-built facility.

It is a simple idea which Turnaround Centre manager Gary May believes will have a "massive" impact on youth crime in Croydon. "Working under one roof can have all kinds of benefits," he said. "For a start, teenagers have a hard enough time keeping appointments without having to walk from one area of town to the other."

Originally proposed in 2008, the Turnaround Centre houses six main services, including Victim Support, a housing advice project, the Youth Offending Service and a new gang’s advisory project. Before being referred on to one of these agencies, visitors enter the Drop In Zone, the center’s main reception area, to meet with specially trained advisors.

For the address and further information please click this link:

http://www.croydon.gov.uk/community/youthoffending/yoteam

INFORMATION FROM TRADING STANDARDS

On Sat 24th July at around 4pm, an elderly resident returned home on foot from Purley town centre, and as they opened their front door, they were followed in by a male. He claimed to be there to read the meters. As the meters had been read in the last couple of weeks, the resident was aware something did not add up.

Bogus caller described as: White male

Aged approx 40 years, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall

Short brownish hair (full head of hair), No accent

Wearing a lightweight jacket and 'normal clothes', No distinguishing marks noted.

He sat at the table and tried to confuse the victim with information about purchasing gas/electricity from the French, or opting to keep it from Britain.

He was speaking on his mobile phone to his 'boss' and asked them to speak to 'the boss' on the phone. Whilst this was occurring he attempted to record bank details from a cheque book on the table. He was challenged and he promptly left empty handed. The victim has followed this up with the bank and they are going to monitor the account.

Whilst this appears to be an isolated incident, please keep an eye out for your neighbours particularly if they are elderly and live alone. When you are returning home, remember to be aware of your surroundings and of any unfamiliar people around you. If you live alone and have any concerns, call on a neighbour rather than opening your own door. If in doubt, keep them out.

Don’t hesitate to report suspicious activity in your area.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 22 JULY 2010

CRIME NEWS

A carefully planned distraction burglary in Thornton Heath area this week with an elderly female targeted with several phone calls claiming to be from the Met Police Fraud Squad and the Natwest Bank saying that her bankcard had been used fraudently. The bogus police squad arranged for a plain-clothes sergeant to call and collect her bankcard as evidence and a black male approx 25/30 years old wearing a blue suit called as arranged and collected the card. The card was then used to withdraw cash from the victim’s bank account.

If you receive any similar calls please contact your bank using a number printed on their letters or call at your local branch and ask for advice, do not release any information such as pin numbers or hand over your card. In the event of a genuine problem the bank will cancel the card and ask you to destroy it, they do not need it to be returned to them.

A N/W co-ordinator in Norbury Sector has reported two attempts at break-ins in his road, both of which occurred in the early hours where the suspect’s used garden tools to attempt to break into properties. Please be aware and keep tools, ladders etc locked up and not easily accessible.

EMAIL NEWS

Subscribers to Claranet broadband are being targeted again with a message claiming that you need to register with their new security system. The link provided leads to a Website in Australia, which asks for your login details so that they can use your account to send spam.

There is also a very cleverly worded email from ‘Online Webmail administrator’, which does not mention any Webmail provider by name so could apply to anyone with a Webmail account. The message asks you to click on a link and validate your email and increase your email quota. This link leads to a log in page, which again does not display any ISP name and asks for your login details, the site is in Holland.

Several supposed emails from BT Business, which ask you to update your profile or the new security server. Some messages come from a Website in Iran and other from Shanghai in China. Both lead to an exact copy page of the real BT login site, which includes a warning in red about bogus emails!

SCAMS: INFORMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING

Scams are schemes to con you out of your money. They usually come by post, phone or email.

There are hundreds of scams – fake lotteries and prize draws, get-rich-quick schemes, bogus health cures, investment scams, pyramid selling. The list goes on.

Every year, three million people fall victim in the UK, often losing hundreds or even thousands of pounds. The scammers are clever, and all kinds of people from all walks of life get duped. There’s a scam for everyone – no matter how alert or clued up you think you are.

Spotted a scam?

If in doubt, don’t reply. Instead, bin it, delete it or hang up.

You can also report the scam to Consumer Direct at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scams

If you think you’ve been caught by a scam, call Consumer Direct for advice on 08454 04 05 06.

Don’t let the scammers con you. Follow these tips to avoid getting tricked out of your money:

Be sceptical

Beware of extravagant promises. Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to bin it, delete it or hang up.

Take your time

Scammers don’t like to give you time to think. They will try to pressure you into making a decision by telling you that if you don’t act now, you’ll miss out. Resist any pressure to make a decision right away. Consider asking a friend or family member for advice, or even an accountant or solicitor if big sums of money are involved.

Know who you’re dealing with

Be suspicious if you’re contacted out of the blue by someone you’ve never heard of. This is often a clear warning sign that it’s a scam. And don’t be fooled by official looking websites and marketing materials. Scammers are very good at making their scams look authentic.

Protect your financial information

Never give your bank account details and passwords to someone you don’t know. Trustworthy firms will never contact you to ask for this information.

Report suspected scams

If you suspect a scam, report it online at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scams it’ll provide vital information to the Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services so they can take action to stop scams that are causing widespread harm.

Ask for help

If you think you’ve been caught by a scam, don’t let embarrassment or fear stop you asking for help. Millions of

people are taken in every year. Call Consumer Direct for advice on 08454 04 05 06.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 15 JULY 2010

CRIME NEWS

Police are releasing to the press an e-fit of a man they want to identify in connection with an attempted abduction reported in Kenley on 10 May 2010. The alleged attempted abduction occurred at approximately 08:15hrs on Monday 10 May when an 11 year-old girl was walking to school along Firs Road into Hayes Lane, Kenley. The man is described as an Asian man with light skin colour, in his early thirties, medium build and approximately 5ft 8ins tall. He also has a large distinctive red and yellow swirl tattoo on his lower back.

DCI Pete Thomas, from Croydon CID said:

"There have been no witnesses that have come forward, despite various appeals locally and in the media. We're issuing this e-fit in an attempt to jog someone's memory who may have seen this person in and around the area or who might recognise the person."

Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Adrian Roberts added:

"I'd like to reassure parents that we have had no further reports of incidents like this over the past few weeks now. We continue to work with local schools and partners to make students and pupils more aware about personal safety. As I have said before, I would just ask that parents remain calm and continue to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to police."

BOGUS BANK CALLS

A N/W member reports receiving a phone call from foreign sounding female that knew her name, the caller said she was phoning from First Direct who provided her current account. The caller asked to confirm the member’s date of birth and said that there had been some overcharging on the account, which would now be recovered. When the member asked for the callers name and phone number the caller refused, as this was restricted information. The N/W member then hung up and called the bank direct and they confirmed that there had been other similar phone calls from abroad and no information should be given out. This is obviously someone who has obtained banking information, probably from a corrupt merchant who is selling the information. As always never give out any information over the phone unless you have called one of the banks published phone numbers yourself.

EMAIL NEWS

Bank phishing emails sent to customers of Halifax this week claiming that there is a secure message waiting for you on the Halifax Website. There is the usual link to read the message; this leads to a Website in Brazil. Another Halifax email warns that your access to your online banking has been limited due to an error in your information so you should click on a link, which leads to a Website in Australia. Both sites are attempting to obtain your login details so that they can use your account.

Subscribers to Claranet broadband are being targeted again with a message claiming that your account has been restricted. The link provided leads to a Website in Italy, which asks for your login details so that they can use your account to send spam.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 8 JULY 2010

CRIME NEWS

There have been a number of snatches of gold/silver neck chains/crucifixes from victims walking along the streets throughout the borough. Please be aware and where possible keep these chains out of sight so as not to attract attention. There have also been various thefts of plants/flowers from gardens in the Shirley area.

BAIT BIKES' TO BE DEPLOYED AFTER SUCCESSFUL TRIALS

Police forces around the country are to deploy bait bikes after a series of successful pilot schemes throughout 2008 and 2009, with London's mayor, Boris Johnson, also approving the tactic for the capital earlier this month.

'Bait bikes' or decoy or tracker bikes, are positioned by police in theft hotspots. They are intentionally badly locked, or even unlocked, and are fitted with hidden GPS devices, letting officers trace them to the thieves, or better still to a lock-up or warehouse used by gangs to store lots of stolen bikes.

The pilot schemes seemed to show bait bikes are a significant deterrent. Bikes thefts dropped by 45% at Cambridge rail station when British Transport Police tested the method. Even in the UK's bike theft capital, London, rates dropped by around a third in one local trial.

EMAIL NEWS

Bank phishing emails sent to customers of Halifax this week claiming that there is a secure message waiting for you on the Halifax website. There is the usual link to read the message, this leads to a website in Brazil. Another Halifax email warns that your access to your online banking has been limited due to an error in your information so you should click on a link which leads to a website in Australia. Both sites are attempting to obtain your login details so that they can use your account.

Subscribers to Claranet broadband are being targeted again with a message claiming that your account has been restricted. The link provided leads to a website in Italy which asks for your login details so that they can use your account to send spam.

GARDEN SECURITY: WHAT YOU CAN DO: POLICE ADVICE

Put away all tools and equipment and ensure that all outside sheds and store cupboards are securely locked when not in use.

Bring the tools inside if you do not have a garden shed or outbuilding.

Use plant protection - such as thorny shrubs.

Install outside security lighting which comes on automatically.

If you have a burglar alarm, why not extend it to cover outbuildings and sheds?

Photograph valuable garden plants or ornaments.

Mark your property with your postcode. This makes stolen property easier to trace and it can be positively identified as yours.

Check that your household insurance policy covers theft from your garden and outbuildings.

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BOGUS CALLER AROUND RIDDLESDOWN - 1.7.10
Local resident Nick Tennant writes to make people aware of a bogus caller in the Riddlesdown area. He's called twice now at an elderly neighbour of his in Ingleboro Drive, the latest being on the morning of July 1 2010, when he was seeking to obtain jewellery. Thankfully, the neighbour contacted Nick, which seemed to scare the man away, and Nick reported the incident to the police.

In terms of a description, the man is approximately 5' 8", white, brown hair, stocky build, and wears casual clothes.

The police didn't know if there had been any other incidences reported in the area. The only other thing to add is that he might be targeting widowers, as he had tried to gain access by claiming to know the neighbour’s recently deceased wife, which was clearly not true.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 1 JULY 2010

CRIME NEWS

HOLIDAY CRIME PREVENTION POLICE ADVICE

DO -

Cancel milk and newspapers
Tell a neighbour you are going away
Give neighbour key to your home/burglar alarm (if you have one)
If possible, ask neighbour/relative to draw/un draw curtains/take bins in etc after collection
Invite neighbour/neighbour’s siblings to park on your driveway
Use timer switches on some of your lights

DO NOT -

Close outside gates if this is not your normal practice
Advertise you are going away to people in the pub/shops

The Safer Neighbourhood Policing Teams would like to offer a few basic tips that will help to reduce burglaries.

· Making sure all doors and windows are locked when leaving the house.

· Leave a light on.

· Reviewing household security – ensure security lights and a burglar alarm are fitted and make sure they are used.

· Don’t leave keys in the door – keep them and especially car keys out of sight and in a safe place.

NEW ONLINE REPORTING FOR ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Croydon Council has developed a reporting form on its Website for residents plagued with yobs, fly tipping, nuisance neighbours or any other kind of antisocial behaviour. Go to www.croydon.gov.uk/reportasb and give details of the problem. You can remain anonymous if you wish or leave contact details so that the Council can update you with the actions being taken. If there is a serious incident you should phone the police before making any report. Dial 999 if the incident is still happening and you require an emergency response. Alternatively contact your Safer Neighbourhood Team when an immediate response is not necessary.

EMAIL NEWS

An email targeted at Clara Net account holders this week. The message claims that due to change of terms and conditions you need to re-activate your account using the link provided, this leads to an exact copy of the genuine logon page but it is on a server in Pomezia Italy. The bogus BT messages continue with one stating that BT are upgrading their database and you must update your profile, the link leads to a website in South East London which tries to obtain your login details so that the spammer can use your account. There is another BT email, which asks you to validate your account following problems in their old web mail system; this again leads to a bogus site.

Another bogus lottery win from ‘Dr Liu Chan’ who works for Global fleet Holdings if you send him your personal details he will send you a Toyota car! He will no doubt use your personal details for ID theft and fraud.

CROYDON POLICE ADVICE: IMMOBILISE YOUR MOBILE PHONE

Croydon Council and Croydon Police, working as the Safer Croydon Partnership, have launched a campaign to combat mobile phone robbery among young people. Those aged 13-17 are more likely to be victims of robbery than any other age group, and the item most likely to be stolen is their mobile phone.

The campaign aims to raise awareness among young people about protecting themselves and their property and prevent them from becoming victims of theft. The message is – don’t make your phone a moving target – stay aware when using it in public places.

Posters will go up in secondary schools, youth clubs and at transport hubs across the borough. Police and council officers will be handing out leaflets to young people at bus and train stations and other busy areas. A key element of the campaign is to get people to register their phone at www.immobilise.com . Doing this can help the police to recover property if is it is stolen and to catch the thieves.

We would advise anyone who has a mobile phone, whatever his or her age, to register it on www.immobilise.com as soon as possible. If it is stolen, it increases your chances of getting it back. It also helps the police to catch those responsible and bring them to justice – taking robbers off the streets. When you register your phone on the Website, please tell them you heard about www.immobilise.com from the Safer Croydon Partnership.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 24 JUNE 2010

CRIME NEWS

A N/W member has reported a scam where he received a letter that a new T Mobile account had been set up in his name. He rang the new mobile number given as he had not asked for any account, the person who answered hung up on him when they realized he was the person whose name had been used. When he spoke to the genuine T Mobile they believed that the account was fraudulent. He also discovered that one of his credit cards had been used to set up the account and cancelled the card. He then found that a neighbour had a T Mobile phone delivered to him, which had not been ordered.

This appears similar to a scam, which operated in Croydon some time ago where phones were ordered using stolen cards and delivered to an address where the recipient then had a note put through the door saying that a courier would call and collect the phone. The scammers then sold the phone for profit and left the unsuspecting recipient being pursued by the phone company for the cost of the mobile.

EMAIL NEWS

The UPS parcel scam emails continue with a message about a parcel which could not be delivered and you should print out the attached copy invoice. This will contain a Trojan to infect your computer.

GET SAFE ON LINE: Shop online safely

How to pick trustworthy online retailers and avoid scams

Millions of people buy online every day without any problems. With a bit of commonsense and knowledge, you can avoid problems with ecommerce.

Risks

· Buying goods that aren’t delivered.

· Goods, which don’t match the description.

· Delays and hassles with online purchases.

· Poor after-sales service.

· Misuse of your credit or debit card details.

Deal with reputable sellers

· Pick good sellers, especially when buying from private individuals.

· Look for evidence of a physical address and telephone contact details.

· Don’t judge a person or company solely by their web site.

· Be especially cautious when buying from overseas companies.

· Check sellers’ privacy policy and returns policy.

· Use an appropriate, safe means of online payment to get some protection against non-delivery e.g. credit card for items over £100.

· Make sure you use a secure web site to enter credit card information. Look for a padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window and for the Website address to begin with ‘https://’

· If you are using the latest browser technology and the shop has the latest Website security, known as an Extended Validation SSL Certificate, your address bar may turn green when you are on a secure site.

· If you get a warning about a certificate be very cautious indeed. However, the padlock is not an absolute guarantee of safety and it says nothing about the business’s ethics.

· Click on the padlock to check that the seller is who they say they are and that their certificate is current and registered to the right address.

· Don’t be fooled by a padlock that appears on the web page itself. It’s easy for conmen to copy the image of a padlock. You need to look for one that is in the window frame of the browser itself.

Beware scams

· If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Crosscheck information on the Internet and see if anyone else has had problems.

· Beware of work from home scams, which promise easy profits but never pay.

· Buy from reputable companies.

· Be extremely wary of anything that is offered in an unsolicited or spam email.

More information

· If you have been a victim of fraud when buying online, go to www.Getsafeonline.org and see the article ‘deal with ecommerce fraud’ for advice.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 17 JUNE 2010

CHARITY COMMISSION WARNS OF BOGUS TELEPHONE CALLS

The Charity Commission has been made aware of a scam involving people being telephoned by individuals claiming to represent the Charity Commission. In the phone calls these individuals claim to be from the "debt collection department" of the Commission and they demand payments for various services and advertisements.

Some of the bogus calls have demanded payments of thousands of pounds for various services and advertisements. The Commission has been contacted by a number of people who have received calls of this nature and has already reported this matter to the police.

It is important to be clear that:

· Any call from someone claiming to work with or on behalf of the Charity Commission, and claiming any payment in a threatening way, is clearly bogus;

· The Charity Commission does not charge for any of its services to charities; it does not get involved in debt collection either directly or through contracting third parties to do so, and nor does it collect debt on behalf of charities;

· You should immediately report these sorts of incidents to the police, and the Charity Commission would also like to be informed where its name is being used for suspected fraudulent purposes.

Andrew Hind, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission said;
“I am outraged that individuals are misusing the good name of the Charity Commission in this way. I would strongly urge anyone to contact the police if they receive one of these calls and to please notify us as well.”

Our advice to charities is:

· When you speak to any member of staff from the Commission they will always be prepared to give their name, telephone number and email address;

· Commission email addresses always end with the domain name @charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk;

· Check the number of any suspect caller against the direct dial telephone codes for our offices; these are London 0207 674…, Liverpool 0151 703…, Taunton 01823 345… , Newport 01633 2255…

The best way to contact us is by email or if you need to speak to someone urgently you can call our contact centre on 0845 300 0218. Lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, except national holidays.

The Charity Commission, 1st Floor 30 Millbank London SW1P 4DU United Kingdom

PROLIFIC BURGLAR BEHIND BARS

A man has been sentenced to two years in prison, after admitting a string of burglaries that occurred in Croydon and the London area over an 18-month period.

Anil Mawkin, 52 years old, from Epsom, was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court to 2 years imprisonment following his arrest in April this year for a series of residential burglaries. Mawkin’s arrest was a result of a pro-active operation run by officers from Croydon’s Crime Squad.

Mawkin would pose as potential purchaser of high value residential properties and request viewings through estate agents telling them he was a wealthy surgeon or doctor.

While viewing the properties Mawkin targeted jewellery and cash, stealing in excess of £300,000 worth of goods. On 21st April this year a warrant was executed at his home address resulting in his arrest. A large amount of jewellery was recovered as well as other documentation showing the extent of the thefts.

During interview Mawkin admitted to all the allegations put to him and a further 40 offences were taken into consideration by the judge when passing sentence.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Champion said:

"The research, hard work and pro-active approach of the Crime Squad officers under DS Bob Dolce and DS John Brunton involved in this investigation has brought Anil Mawkin to justice. He stole a large amount of property from trusting victims during house viewings and it is believed these offences go back many years."

EMAIL NEWS

Bank phishing emails this week for HSBC, which warns that your online statement is now available and asks you to log on using the link provided, this leads to a Website in New Guinea. Egg Banking is targeted with a message warning that your account has been blocked and you need to re-set your security by clicking on the link. This leads to a university site in India. There is also an out of date email claiming to be from Abbey National, which also claims that to reduce fraud you must download a file to avoid future problems. This again leads to a bogus site and may well contain a virus.

Another Nigerian Penal Code 419 scam message from a @Mrs Shirah Van Vuuren’ who was married to her late husband but he suddenly died in 2003. Before he died he worked for the Nigerian President and put the sum of 12.5 million in a bank (message does not state whether dollars of GB pounds) and as she has now been diagnosed with cancer she wishes to give the money to you to assist the less privileged and you should contact her personal lawyer. He no doubt will require a cash advance from you to release the cash unfortunately you will never see any money!

TRADING STANDARDS WARNING

Trading Standards warn all residents to beware of callers from Apex Direct Promotions, promoting a product called Andura Guard, a kind of wall coating for the outside of your house.

The latest incident took place in South Croydon where two female representatives of the company claimed to be authorised to carry out an inspection on the resident’s home by Trading Standards.

On this occasion the resident told them to go away and immediately reported the matter to Consumer Direct the Trading Standards reporting line.

Residents are asked to be on their guard for this. Trading Standards NEVER authorise companies to carry out such inspections.

To report a similar experience contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 10 JUNE 2010

CRIME NEWS

The main burglary hotspot remains in the WEST THORNTON area with mainly doors being forced open. There have been more break-ins in communal properties and three burglaries where the suspect has climbed up to first or second floor windows. Small items such as laptops, jewellery and cash are being taken. Burglaries in the South of the Borough have greatly reduced.

INFORMATION FROM TRADING STANDARDS

On 2 June 2010 at approx 13:00 two males approached a victim on Sussex Road, South Croydon. They stated they have already carried out some work on the victim’s property and would now like payment – even though the victim did not agree for the work to be done, or saw any signs of work having been carried out.

At first, the suspects asked for £20, this quickly escalated to £550, and the victim was followed to the bank in order to withdraw the money.

Luckily in this instance, the victim was suspicious and asked the suspects for a receipt of the work carried out. The suspects, believed to be rogue traders could not provide the victim with a receipt, and through the quick thinking of the victim, no money was passed and the victim notified Consumer Direct.

On the same day, Croydon Trading Standards responded to another incident in the same area, in response to rogue traders fitting the same description.

Croydon Trading Standards would ask all residents in the area to be aware of rogue traders who may be cold calling in the area. If you see or hear anything suspicious, call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

SCAM MAIL

A N/W member has reported receiving a mailing from ‘Commissioners of Registration’ personally addressed to him. The letter claims that he is the recipient of 1.5 million pounds and he should send the sum of £20 to the Publishers Information Bureau to secure his win. The whole mailing looks very official with lots of seals and stamps on the letter to make it appear genuine. As usual this is a scam to obtain cash from people hoping to obtain a large cash sum.

EMAIL NEWS

The UK National Online Email Lottery has returned this week with a message to confirm that you have won eight hundred and fifty thousand in the online lottery. The reply address is a webhost in China and will no doubt require you to send a processing fee to them. The fact that the UK National Lottery is writing to you from China should immediately be suspicious.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 3 JUNE 2010

CRIME NEWS

Information from a N/W member that hanging baskets are being stolen from gardens in the SANDERSTEAD area. If possible please mark the containers with your postcode and chain them to the bracket to make the theft of these items harder.

INFORMATION FROM TRADING STANDARDS

Rogue traders have been operating in the OLD COULSDON area where a resident was approached by 3 males who said that there was a problem with the chimney. This not true and residents are warned not to deal with such people. Whenever possible use a trader who has been recommended by a neighbour of friend, there are also websites such as Checkatrade etc which can be searched for on Google.

INFORMATION REGARDING DOG ATTACKS IN THE BOROUGH

Borough Action for Responsible K9s (BARK) consists of the police, the RSPCA, and Croydon Council. It is a forum to tackle the issues surrounding the irresponsible ownership and mistreatment of dogs.

Aims

• to educate the community on dog welfare and the implications of irresponsible ownership.

• to prevent antisocial behaviour linked to the misuse of dogs.

• to prevent dogs being mistreated.

• to protect the community from criminal and antisocial activities linked to irresponsible dog ownership, using legislation where necessary.

• to provide advice, assistance and information.

What we do: Reassure

BARK will be holding events to promote awareness of legislation, and to provide advice and assistance on dog ownership. We want to reassure residents that we are addressing the issues relating to dangerous dogs, and other dog-related nuisances.

Share intelligence

We share of relevant information amongst BARK members to tackle dog related issues.

Prevent

We carry out school and group visits to educate young people in responsible pet ownership, and

the laws affecting dog owners and potential dog owners. We put up new signs and carry out regular

patrols in areas where persistent dog nuisance has been reported.

Enforce

We carry out our patrols to enforce the Control of Dogs Act, and issue fines to repeat offenders. We may seize prohibited breeds and dangerous dogs, make home visits and issue warning letters.

How you can help

If you have a complaint about a noisy dog, dog fouling, dangerous dog, or a stray, please contact

the Dog Warden Service:

020 8657 5410 or email doginfo@croydon.gov.uk

For concerns about the health or welfare of an animal, please call the RSPCA cruelty line:

0300 1234999

If you have information about an organised dog fight, please call the Metropolitan police:

020 8649 1212

For more information and fact sheets about all aspects of responsible dog ownership, including neutering, and micro chipping, please call Dogs Trust on 020 7837 0006 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk All contacts will be treated as confidential

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 27 MAY 2010

CRIME NEWS

WARNING TO PARENTS AFTER CHILDREN TARGETTED ON WAY TO SCHOOL

Two children have been targeted in what parents fear are bungled kidnap attempts and police are warning families to be extra vigilant.

A child was targeted yesterday (Thursday) by a man who is said to have gone onto school premisies. Also an 11-year-old was targeted on Firs Road as she walked to Hayes Primary School on Monday morning at 8.30am. Parents have been told a an Asian man grabbed the girl on Monday but after her screams he sped off in a waiting white car.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Caroline Byers, of nearby Roke Primary School, urged parents them to be vigilant with their children walking to and from school. She wrote: "A Year Six child at The Hayes was approached and grabbed by an Asian man. He was aged about 30 years and wearing a black track suit. Fortunately The girl had the presence of mind to kick the man, scream and run away”. "The man was then picked up by a driver in a dirty white car”.

Chief Inspector DCI Pete Thomas, of Croydon CID, said: "My officers are still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Rest assured that we take this type of allegation very seriously. "We would ask parents and carers to continue to be vigilant."

Hayes head teacher David Wilcox said the school was working with police and pupil safety was of the utmost importance to staff.

There has also been an incident involving a school girl on her way home from Warlingham School.

METAL THEFTS

A N/W member reports that in the Norbury area there has been an incident where at approx 7 am a white van, registration umber Y819 BJJ (which is false), was seen driving down the street stopping to remove metal gates from the front of the houses, in many cases the gates just lift off the hinges, please be aware and if possible use bolts to secure the gates to the hinges.

CRIMESTOPPERS AND THE POLICE LAUNCH NEW LONDON'S MOST WANTED WEBSITE

A new website has been launched by the Metropolitan Police and crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers to help trace wanted offenders in London.

London’s Most Wanted seeks the public’s help in the capital, the UK and around the world, to locate people who have committed, or are suspected of committing serious crimes, but who have so far evaded capture. The site is hosted by Crimestoppers and anybody who has information about any suspect featured on London’s Most Wanted can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or provide information via the online form at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

EMAIL NEWS

A new email this week headed ‘Thank you for buying iTunes Gift Certificate’ this has an attachment called ‘Gift_Certificate_241.zip. Beware this contains malware Koobface-D and should not be opened. The flood of BT.Com emails claiming that your account has a problem or that your billing information is out of date continues with bogus links leading to websites in the USA and France which attempt to obtain your login information so that the spammers can use your account to send their messages.

COLD CALLERS REGARDING MARKET SURVEY

A N/W member has reported receiving a cold call from an Asian sounding male calling from the Association of British Bankers who was conducting a market survey on customer satisfaction with their accounts. The caller wanted to know who you banked with and was very persistent. When the information was refused he hung up. This could be a scam where the caller then has your name, email address and the name of your bank so that you can be sent personally addressed emails claiming to be from your bank asking you to log onto your account using a link provided in the message. This would then give the scammer everything they need to raid your bank account.

While there is a genuine British Bankers Association there does not appear to be an organization called ‘Association of British Bankers’.

WARNING ISSUED BY THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

Dear Sir/Madam, This is a warning – you may be targeted by fraudsters

I’m writing to you from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to warn you that your name has been identified on a list currently being used by share fraudsters. These fraudsters, commonly known as ‘boiler rooms’, may contact you by telephone with offers to buy worthless shares.

Companies should never call you out of the blue offering to buy or sell shares. Please do not take up these ‘once in a lifetime chances’ or ‘investment opportunities’ as you could lose a lot of money. If you deal with boiler rooms, you will not be able to use the financial complaints and compensation schemes set up to protect you if something goes wrong.

The list contains names, addresses and telephone numbers and was recently discovered as part of a current FSA investigation. We are concerned that because your name is on the list, you are more likely to be contacted by ‘boiler room’ fraudsters.

What should you do now?

If you think you have been contacted by a boiler room, call the dedicated, secure customer helpline 0845 606 1234 set up by the FSA and the Police and quote “Operation Domingo”. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Please select Option 2 for the investment team.

For more information on protecting yourself from fraud, please visit the consumer pages of the FSA website and The City of London Police Operation Archway website.

Yours faithfully,

Jonathan Phelan (Head of Unauthorised Business, FSA)

Further information about ‘boiler room’ fraud: What is a ‘boiler room’?

Any company offering to sell you shares or buy your shares without authorisation from the FSA may be committing a criminal offence. These companies are commonly known as boiler rooms and they target people who currently hold shares or have held shares in the past.

They usually operate by convincing people that they have an amazing ‘investment opportunity’ but end up selling them worthless or non existent shares. They usually claim to be a UK company operating from a UK address with a UK phone number. However most boiler rooms are based overseas, have bogus UK addresses and phone lines that are routed abroad. Anyone dealing with these companies could lose a lot of money. For further information, please visit the consumer pages of the FSA website and The City of London Police Operation Archway website;

http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/consumerinformation/scamsandswindles/sharescams/index.shtml http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/ECD/Fraud/boilerroom.htm

How to protect yourself

Make sure that you only ever deal with companies authorised by the FSA. You can do this by checking our register of authorised firms at: www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home.do;

Check our list of unauthorized overseas companies that have targeted people in the UK at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/overseas.shtml. However just because their name is not on the list, don’t think they are legitimate;

Some boiler rooms use the name of legitimate FSA-authorised firms. Always double check the caller is from the company they say they are by asking for their name and calling back using the telephone number listed for the firm on our register;

Under normal circumstances authorised firms cannot make cold calls. So, if you receive an uninvited call or email from a firm of which you are not a customer, treat it with extreme caution.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 20 MAY 2010

Cash Machines - ATM (Automated Teller Machine) Card Fraud: Police Advice

Cash machine fraud is not a type of fraud but describes the location where it occurs i.e. where the person withdrew money at an ATM (Automated Telling Machine) and had their account compromised.

Although fraud at cash machines in the UK has increased significantly in the last five years, it accounts for less than ten per cent of total plastic card fraud losses. Skimming at ATMs is a growing trend, often perpetrated by organised Eastern European criminal gangs.

How the frauds work: Card Reading Devices

o In the case of skimming at ATMs a skimming device is attached to the card entry slot and a separate miniature pinhole camera is hidden overlooking the PIN pad. This enables the criminal to produce a counterfeit card and withdraw money at a cash machine using the legitimate PIN. These devices are highly sophisticated and look as if they are part of the machine itself. The device may only be placed on a machine for a very short period of time whilst the fraudsters remain nearby. The fraudsters will eventually take the reading devices off and move to another location and do the same again.

Shoulder Surfing

· Shoulder surfing - where criminals look over a cardholder's shoulder to watch the PIN being entered, and then steal the card using distraction techniques or pickpocketing. This may be by dropping money on the floor and pointing out to the person at the machine that they have dropped it.

Card Trapping Devices

A device, inserted into a cash machine's card slot, retains the card inside the cash machine. The criminal tricks the victim into re-entering the PIN while the criminal watches. After the cardholder gives up and leaves, the criminal removes the device, with the card, and withdraws cash.

The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) are working hard with industry and law enforcement to reduce the volume of criminality relating to ATMs. In the meantime there are some basic things you can do:

· If you suspect a device has been placed on an ATM DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE IT . These are expensive devices and suspects may use violence if they think their precious commodity is likely to be interfered with.

· Instead call the police or contact the bank immediately

· Do not keep your card and PIN number together

· Be mindful of people behind you at cash machines. Do not let others see your PIN number

· When keying in your PIN try to cover your typing hand

EMAIL NEWS

A further attempt at phishing using the HM Revenue and Customs refunds with an email from ‘customers@hmrc.gov.uk headed ‘Reminder Please Submit Your Refund Payment’ with an attachment called ‘Verify_Form.htm. The link in the form leads to a website in France which will attempt to obtain your personal details for identity theft etc.

A new email which attempts to obtain cash from anyone gullible enough to reply from ‘ddallaways@amtelecom.net’ which claims that the sender is a Sir William Wilcox who works with the Euro Lottery. He can arrange for you to win the jackpot prize but requires 40% of the winnings himself! No doubt he would require an advance of cash from you to arrange the win.

Bank phishing emails this week with one from ‘privacy@abbeyplc.com’ which has an inserted picture with a message referring to a One Time Passcode inserted into a genuine Santander message. The link leads to a bogus site which attempts to obtain your login details. Whoever sent this email is behind the times as all the genuine bank information has been updated to Santander since the beginning of this year, no reference is now made to Abbey by the bank. Also Halifax targeted with an email from ‘onlineservice@halifax.co.uk’ which informs you that an important message is waiting in the banks secure area of their website. The ‘click here to read’ link leads to a website called ‘ppcollege.com’ based at a university in Vancouver, Canada.

SAFEGUARDING AWARENESS

Keeping safe from harm

Everyone should be allowed to feel safe from harm. If someone is hurting you at home or if you know of someone who is being hurt we can help.

The Croydon Safeguarding Adults Board (formerly Croydon Adult Protection Committee) is here to help protect adults who are vulnerable because of their mental health, their disability, an illness or because they are elderly.

We have revised the “Croydon Multi-Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures” and will constantly update it, to make sure vulnerable adults stay safe.

We not only make sure the person who has been hurt is made safe, we also make sure the person or people abusing are not able to hurt anyone else.

You can see the most up to date of our procedures on the council website here www.croydon.gov.uk/sgap

If you would like more information and promotional material such as leaflets, bookmarks, pens and balloons for your local event(s) please contact:

Richard James, at Croydon Council 0208 726 6500 ext.60175 or e-mail

richard.james@croydon.gov.uk

Audit & Quality Assurance Officer

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Service

North-West Quadrant

14th Floor

Taberner House

Croydon CR9 3JS

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 13 MAY 2010

BE AWARE OF BOGUS PROPERTY WORKERS IN SOUTH CROYDON AREA

During March 2010, an incident happened on GREVILLE AVENUE, SOUTH CROYDON where suspects entered an elderly person house stating that there was a broken tile on his roof which needed grouting. They produced some kind of Identification with KENT/ MAIDSTONE written on it.

One of the suspects went inside the loft area and produced a carbon fibre from the roof which was wet and said, "its leaking and needs fixing."

Victim agreed to this work and asked if they could fix the loft from outside as he needed to go out. Upon victim return, suspects asked for £120 cash which was paid and later victim discovered no work was carried out and actually loft was not leaking at all.

Suspects described as two/three Irish males, one described as 'round faced white male a/a 35 wearing a shirt and trousers with a London accent'.

The other with 'square faced white male a/a 35 wearing a t-shirt and jeans with a London accent'.

They were also driving a dark colour blue estate car at the time of offence.

If you witnessed this incident or you have any useful information regarding this incident, please contact DC Ronald VYAS - FRAUD UNIT @ SOUTH NORWOOD POLICE STATION on 0208 649 1379.

If you wish to receive any crime prevention advice or leaflets, please contact your local safer neighbourhood team.

Alan Phillips, Croydon’s trading standards team manager said: “Doorstep crime is a particularly nasty offence. People who target elderly and vulnerable people in this way don’t just walk away with their money – they leave them feeling traumatised and unsafe in their own homes. The simple advice we always give to residents is to treat anyone who knocks on the door offering to do unsolicited work on your house or garden with deep suspicion. Never allow workman into your home unless you are 100% confident about their credentials, and don’t part with money unless you are as sure as possible that work has been carried out satisfactorily. If you are in doubt or need further advice you can call consumer direct on 08454 04 05 06. If you feel threatened then phone 999 and request police assistance”

EMAIL NEWS

Beware account cancellation scams

More of these than usual are popping up. I’ve received a number of messages telling me that my account has been or is about to be cancelled — purportedly from Amazon, PayPal, even from a bank. Close examination of the messages show them all to be bogus. Of course, in many cases, I already knew that, because I don’t even have an account with them.

Here’s another clue: The message contains a link that looks genuine, such as www.hbos.co.uk, but when you hover your mouse pointer over it to show the actual URL, it’s something different, often with a foreign country code such as .ru (Russian) or .cn (China).

Still another clue is that these scam messages often contain typos or grammatical errors you wouldn’t expect from a legitimate company.

Another scam email from ‘BT Online’ which claims that there is a problem with your Webmail due to a server upgrade and you must click on the link provided to validate your account. The link leads to a website called nodeware.org owned by an individual in Stourport, Worcestershire.

A spate of emails headed ‘Please look at my CV. Thank you’ from different email addresses with an attachment called My Resume 000.zip. Beware this contains another fake anti virus called BredoZp-B which will try and frighten you into purchasing it to remove the hundreds of viruses it claims are on your PC.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 6 MAY 2010

An old email from 2006 which refers to a missing child called Reachelle Marie Smith is being circulated. This originated in the USA and has since been copied around the world with claims that the child is missing from various countries, the latest version refers to the UK. The little girl has never been found but a male who lived with the child and her aunt committed suicide shortly after she went missing but the child’s body has never been found. As this email contains false information it should be deleted and please do not circulate it any more.

An email from a ‘John Smith’ who claims to be working for Allied Irish Bank has a client who died intestate with the same surname as you. He offers to share the money 50/50 with you if you contact him, no doubt he would require an advance payment from you to release the funds, if you send this you will never hear from him again.

Another fake anti-virus Trojan is circulating with an email claiming to be from iTunes Products regarding you buying an iTunes Gift Certificate. The attachment contains a Trojan called Fake AV-BW.

A new phishing email to try and obtain your log in details from ‘BTConnect customer service’ which requires you to update your Webmail account. The link leads to a website called ‘Electriacaldigest.co.uk with a server in the USA. The page is an exact copy of the normal BT login page.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 29 APRIL 2010

A n/w Co-ordinator in Heathfield Ward has had an attempted scam where a male from a white van left a scribbled note in his door saying that he should call a mobile number to arrange for a parcel delivery. He was not expecting any delivery but phoned the number given where the person mentioned Argos catalogues. Later that day he received a call claiming to be from his bank asking for his PIN number so that a replacement card could be sent. He refused to give the number and phoned his bank directly, where they informed him that they had not phoned him and that a replacement card recently sent to him had been used in an attempt to obtain cash at an ATM in Brixton. This was obviously an attempt to obtain his PIN number so that the stolen card could then be used to obtain cash.

Another report from the Selsdon Area where a black male who was well dressed in a suit knocked on the door at about 8.30 pm. He said he had the right to inspect any home over 26 years old and tried to push his way in. When refused he walked away but did not try and enter any other houses nearby. This would appear to be yet another variation on gaining entry to a house for a distraction burglary.

Another member has reported employing a temporary gardener to tidy his garden; he later found that various items of gardening equipment had disappeared. To obtain a reliable tradesman please use a locally recommended person where possible, if you do not have anyone who can give you a recommendation there are many websites which contain lists of recommended tradesman such as Checkatrade.com etc just enter ‘recommended tradesmen’ into Google uk for a long list of other sites.

EMAIL NEWS

A N/W member has recently received an email from PayPal claiming that a transaction had been declined on her account. She was required to log onto PayPal and add the details of her bank account, when PayPal were contacted directly they confirmed that they had not sent this email. It is worrying that the bogus email contained her full name and it is unclear where this information was obtained from. This reinforces the advice that you should only log onto a website using the full www address typed into your browser, never click on any links provided in an email.

Beware emails from Facebook and United Parcel Services which have attachment as these contain fake antivirus trojans which attempt to take over your computer with hundreds of bogus virus warnings and ask you to pay them for a removal programme. These programmes can be removed but involve editing the Registry etc.

The Nigerian 419 scam emails have some new variations with a ‘Mr Andrew freeman’ who is the General Manager of Thames Financial and Security Company who has received false reports that you are dead and they claimed your cash fund which he holds in your name. He requires you to contact him immediately when no doubt you will be asked for personal and banking details that can be used to clone your ID. There is a similar message from a ‘Dr Jack Dibor’ who claims to be from the US Department of State in Washington but his email was sent from a company website in Brazil! He has a parcel for you but requires the sum of $90 for immediate release of the item, if you send the cash you will never hear from him again.

False National Lottery email from a ‘Jim Douglas’ who informs you that you have won £850 thousand on the National Lottery Email draw, he requires you full personal details to send your winnings, as always if you did not buy a ticket you cannot be a winner.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INFORMATION 22 APRIL 2010

CRIME NEWS

VEHICLE CRIME - PROTECT YOURSELF

Did you know that...?

· Most vehicle crime is preventable. It can take as little as 10 seconds for a thief to steal something from your car. If at all possible, leave nothing on view.

· NEVER leave valuable items in your car, including sunglasses, the removable radio cover and your Sat Nav. Do you really need all those things you keep in the glove box?

· Wipe away the Sat Nav mark on your windscreen.

· Consider fitting anti-tamper screws to your number plate.

· Never leave your car keys at home where they can be seen from the front door.

Safer Parking Award Scheme
The Safer Parking Award is an initiative of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), aimed at reducing crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities.

Vehicle common sense

Always

· Close the windows and sunroof; lock the doors and activate any security devices when leaving your car unattended.

· Park with care, particularly at night or if you are leaving the vehicle for a long time. If possible, park in a busy, well-lit area.

Never

· Leave cash, credit cards, chequebook, mobile phones, vehicle documents or other valuables in the car.

· Never leave your keys in the car, even for a second - treat them as you would your cash and credit cards.

CRIME PREVENTION - STOP GARDEN THIEVES

Introduction

Your garden, as well as your house, has valued possessions that thieves would love to steal. It also has equipment that could help them break into your house.

Most burglars are lazy. They look for easy ways of getting into a house or garden. By taking a few simple precautions you can reduce the risk of being burgled and make your house and garden more secure.

Put away all tools and equipment and ensure that all outside sheds and store cupboards are securely locked when not in use.

Bring the tools inside if you do not have a garden shed or outbuilding.

Use plant protection - such as thorny shrubs.

Install outside security lighting, which comes on automatically.

If you have a burglar alarm, why not extend it to cover outbuildings and sheds?

Photograph valuable garden plants or ornaments.

Mark your property with your postcode. This makes stolen property easier to trace and it can be positively identified as yours.

Check that your household insurance policy covers theft from your garden and outbuildings.

If you have a burglary, don't move or touch anything, just ring 999.

If you have any information about a burglar or burglary and don't want to give your name, ring Crimestoppers, anytime day or night, on 0800 555 111.

In an emergency always dial 999. For non-emergencies ring 0300 123 1212

OFFICERS WARN OF CARD SCAM BEING CONDUCTED ACROSS LONDON

The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) have been investigating a number of cases where victims pan London and across the UK have been targeted by criminals trying to get them to hand over their account details, PIN’s and passwords.

The victims receive a phone call from a number beginning in 0845 or 0870, and the fraudster, claiming to be from their bank, tells them that their account has been compromised. They offer help to the victim and build up a rapport with them before tricking them into telling them their PIN’s and passwords over the phone.

A courier is then booked online and collects the cards from the victims. The cards are then tracked and delivered to an address - before the couriers get to the address however, they are approached on the street and the fraudster obtains the card from them. The fraudster then checks the balance of the account and goes onto use the card to buy high value goods such as technological equipment, designer clothes and expensive jewellery. Once the card limit is reached the card is usually discarded.

So far one suspect has been convicted, three await trial and enquiries are continuing to identify outstanding suspects.

Acting Detective Sergeant Simon Lawes, from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command, said: “We want to urge Londoners not to divulge PIN’s or any other personal information to anyone over the phone. A bank or credit card company will never ask you to give them your PIN as part of a security check nor will they arrange for the card to be collected.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH OFFICE Telephone: 020 8649 0318

PHISHING NEWS 19 MARCH 2010

Phishing emails trying to obtain the login details of BT customers continue with more messages this week. One claims that there have been unsuccessful login attempts on your email account, the link provide leads to a Website called ‘websitewelcom.com which is based the in the USA. Another which claims to be from BT connect customer services warns that someone other than you has attempted to log into your account and you therefore need to update the account. This link leads to a Website called ‘gorge.net’ in Oregon USA and has an exact copy of the genuine BT page, which asks for you username and password details. A third message from customer support claims that you account has been suspended and provides a link for you to use, this leads to another USA website called ‘atlasmissilebase.com’ in Texas.

With the end of the tax year approaching fake emails from HM Customs and Revenue are circulating with links for you to click on to obtain a large tax refund which is due to you. One leads to a Website called ‘cotogarden.com’ in Texas USA, which has a copy page exactly like the genuine Revenue site. However there are two warning signs in the email, the senders address is from Yahoo and the refund is quoted as 988.50 GBP, a genuine message sent from the UK would use the £ sign not GBP. The real Customs and Revenue never send out such emails, they always write to you and send a cheque or pay into your bank account directly if you have requested this. You never have to log onto a Website to obtain a tax refund.

Yet another very old fake warning email circulating again refers to an email called ‘Mail Server Report’ and warns that if you open the message you will be told ‘It is too late now your life is no longer beautiful’ and you computer hard disk will be wiped clean, the message claims to have been verified by Snopes.com. The entire message is a fake please do not forward it but delete immediately.

REPORT A FRAUD: NEW GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Every fraud, no matter what scale, is important. Call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

Currently, fraud is one of the most under-reported crimes in the UK. Action Fraud has been set up to change this. For the first time, members of the public have a central point of contact to report a suspected fraud and find out how to protect themselves.

If there is any danger or risk to life, or a fraud is in progress, call 999.

If bank cards are involved in the fraud, your first step should be to contact your bank or credit card company.

When you report to Action Fraud you will speak to a trained advisor who will give you a crime reference number and the information will be sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Not every report can be investigated, but all information submitted helps to build a national picture of what is happening and helps the authorities develop a suitable response.

Here are simple steps you can take to protect yourself against fraud.

1) Do not give any personal information (name, address, bank details, email or phone) to organizations or people before verifying their credentials.

2) When you are online take steps to ensure that the person you are communicating with is who they say they are.

3) If an offer seems too good to be true - question it!

4) Don't take a good sounding business offer for granted; check out the authenticity of the organization through regulatory bodies.

Please contact Action Fraud for more information; 0300 123 2040

SCAM WINDOW CLEANERS

It has been reported that unscrupulous people in Croydon are offering to clean windows for £10 and, when the job is apparently finished, demanding £100. They are preying on older people particularly. Beware.