ScamWarningsPage

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.

9.12.09: The Daily Telegraph published a list called the 12 Scams of Christmas.
Click here to read.

EMAIL NEWS

An old email from 2004 regarding a company called Parcel Delivery Service asking you to contact them on a premium rate number is being circulated yet again. This company was closed down in 2005 and the number no longer works. If you receive such an email please delete it and do not forward it.

Multiple attempts at bank phishing emails occurring, there has been a marked rise in these, probably getting ready for Christmas! HSBC, Egg, Santander, Alliance & Leicester, Halifax and Nat West all are targeted with fake emails attempting to obtain your bank log in details. The links in these emails lead to websites in the USA, Mexico, South Korea, Peru, Spain and Australia, many of the sites have copies of the genuine log in pages to fool unsuspecting customers. No bank would ever ask for this information as they already have it! Some emails claim that the information has been lost due to upgrades etc, any bank that had really lost this information would not be safe to deal with.

A N/W member has forwarded a copy of an email supposedly from HM Customs and Revenue which claims that refund of tax is due to you and they require your credit card details so that they can refund you. HM Customs are aware of these scam messages and would not refund overpayments by credit or debit card, they either send you a cheque in the post or refund your bank account directly where they have the information on file. There is also an email from the Internal Revenue Service in the USA claiming that you have unreported income and should click on the attached file for the details, the attached file contains a virus so do not open but delete the message immediately.

INFORMATION FROM KENLEY SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

In recent weeks we have seen a marked increase in the amount of reported "rogue traders" in Kenley. We believe that for every 1 reported crime approximately 20 go unreported. Each year thousands of householders are exploited by rogue traders ‘cold calling’ and tricking them into parting with hard earned money, or entering their home under false pretences. These unscrupulous criminals often masquerade as home maintenance professionals. They may say there are problems with tiles, trees or driveways, but will then extort money in return for little or no work. By taking a few simple precautions you can ensure that you don’t become a victim. Ask the ‘salesperson’ for written confirmation of their business address and a landline telephone number (not a mobile). Agree to pay for the work only when it is completed. Be wary of anyone offering to provide a product or service for cash only. Avoid someone who says they are only in the area for a short while and ‘can do a special deal’. Croydon Trading Standards operate ‘Check a Trade’, an approved Trader scheme. For details of vetted local traders call 0845 408 4866 or visit http://www.checkatrade.com

The Tree of Hope Children’s Charity

We recently warned of a possible scam in the form of a leaflet delivered through some of our doors from a firm called SOS Clothes Ltd apparently working on behalf of The Tree of Hope Children's Charity. We looked on the internet and considered that SOS Clothes Ltd did not look legitimate, as has been the case with another collection leaflet in the fairly recent past.

But we are fully assured of the genuineness and importance of Tree of Hope themselves and their work in helping sick and disabled children. We are happy to point interested residents to their informative website http://www.treeofhope.org.uk/ . If you wish to find out more information, seek their help or offer a donation, their email address is: cgardner@treeofhope.org.uk.

As a matter of interest, Tree of Hope do say that they did have problems with a firm with a name similar to SOS Clothes Ltd which has now closed down.

You are urged to beware of responding to leaflets from clothing collection companies, particularly those collecting on their own behalf. If you can, check on the internet to see if anyone has reported on their genuineness or otherwise, Look at the leaflet to see if it is related to a genuine charity or not, see if the leaflet contains spelling or grammatical mistakes (good giveaways) and whether there are sound contact details. If in doubt, ignore it and rather give your clothes to local well-known charities.

On 2 October 2009, a new one arrived in this area from a firm called RUTEX Ltd. There are references to its dubious nature on the Internet.

TELEPHONE SCAM - BE AWARE

PLEASE PASS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY.

Phil Thomas, RRA Committee member, writes on 4 September 2009:

The new telephone 'scam' has arrived in Medway (although it has now been reported across the UK).

I received a call from a 'representative' of BT, informing me that he was dis-connecting me because of an unpaid bill. He demanded payment immediately of £31.00 , or it would be £ 118.00 to re-connect at a later date.

The guy wasn't even fazed when I told him I was with Virgin Media, allegedly VM have to pay BT a percentage for line rental!

I asked the guy's name - the very 'English' John Peacock with a very 'African' accent - & phone number - 0800 0800 152 (one too many zeros on 5th digit).

Obviously the fella realized I wasn't believing his story, so offered to demonstrate that he was from BT. I asked how & he told me to hang up & try phoning someone - he would disconnect my phone to prevent this.

AND HE DID !! My phone was dead - no engaged tone, nothing - until he phoned me again (he didn't replace the handset whilst on the call and thereby blocked the line to outgoing calls).

Very pleased with himself, he asked if that was enough proof that he was with BT. I asked how the payment was to be made & he said credit card, there & then.

I said that I didn't know how he'd done it, but I had absolutely no intention of paying him, I didn't believe his name or that he worked for BT.

He hung up.

Dialledd 1471 & phoned his fictitious 0800 number - not recognised.

I phoned the police to let them know, I wasn't the first! It's only just started apparently but it is escalating.

Their advice was to let as many people know by word of mouth of this scam. The fact that the phone does go off would probably convince some people it's real, so please let as many friends & family aware of this.

The BBC broadcast an item about this on 19 Sept. Click here to read the report.

Neighbourhood Watch have also issued their warnings:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION for 24th September 2009

EMAIL NEWS

Following on from last weeks item regarding scam phone calls from BT claiming that you owe them money. A CBNWA Committee member has received information from a person who is a volunteer worker at Ruislip Police Station who has dealt with a lady who apparently has received one of these calls and gave out her credit card number to the scammer; fortunately no money had been taken from her account. It would appear that some unsavoury individuals are using the instructions on how to block the phone line given in the email to try and obtain banking details. The advice given by BT NOT to give out your bank details would appear to be very important. The following has also appeared in the Herald Express newspaper in South Devon on the 14th September:

Police probe telephone scam after demand for payment

Monday, September 14, 2009, 09:22

WARNINGS about a telephone scam conning people out of hundreds of pounds have been issued by the police.

Officers are investigating reports that a man claiming to be a BT engineer is calling residents and demanding they pay their phone bill. When people protest, the man becomes threatening and says he will cut off the phone line.

Many people have fallen prey to the fraudster, giving him their bank card details. One person reportedly lost £30 a day for a month — so police in Devon are calling on people to be on their guard.

If you personally receive any such call refuse to give any bank details and follow the BT advice and call them on 0800 800 150. If necessary put your phone down and leave it for a while, the scammer will probably give up and clear the line, if not use a mobile or another line to contact BT.

The following has also recently appeared on the OFCOM website:

Scam alert: Beware of bogus callers 17|09|2009

Fraudsters are currently phoning consumers claiming to be from BT or Ofcom.

They claim that the consumer’s telephone line needs digital upgrade work. This, they say, will cost £6 and if it isn’t paid within 10 days the consumer’s phone line will be cut off.

In some cases, the fraudster will claim that the line needs testing and they will temporarily disconnect it. When the consumer tries to make an outgoing call they are unable to do so. This is simply because the fraudster is still on the line meaning no outbound calls can be made.

This is a scam. Ofcom and BT have alerted the relevant authorities for investigation.

What to do if fraudsters call

If you receive such a call and you suspect that it is fraudulent:

- Do not give out any personal or bank details

- Call your service provider’s nuisance call bureau to see if the call can be traced

- If it can, pass on details to Ofcom or Consumer Direct (contact details at the end of the article)

What to do if you have given out personal details

If you have already received a call and given out your bank details you should:

- call your bank immediately to let them know about the scam and to cancel your credit card or change your bank details

- ask your bank to try and trace the payment

- and if you get any details, let Ofcom or Consumer Direct know

To contact Ofcom’s Advisory Team call 0300 123 3333.

To contact Consumer Direct call 08454 04 05 06.

BURGLAR ALARM SALES CALLS

Following previous warnings we gave about SAS security calling and offering a free alarm installation they are still making calls throughout the Croydon area. A co-ordinator reports “I received a phone call from someone calling themselves SAS Security Systems offering to fit a free alarm system”..

Other reports are that they are claiming there have been several burglaries in your local area and that their system can protect you. The catch is that the ongoing monitoring is where they make their money as you are tied into an annual contract.

SECURITY RISK

A NW co-ordinator has drawn attention to banks etc sending out letters asking for proof of identity from their clients as part of the money laundering initiative. They are sending reply envelopes with distinctive markings on them which criminals could use to identify that these envelopes will contain identity documents useful for identity theft etc. In view of the large number of items being stolen while in the post he has personally used a plain envelope to return his documents.

CAR DRIVERS: BEWARE CAR JACKING!

ALL CAR OWNERS AND CAR DRIVERS PLEASE READ Warning!!!!

Be aware of the car-jacking scheme. You walk across the car park, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift or put into reverse. You look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your parking space and you

notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift the gear stick back into park or neutral, unlock your doors

and jump out of your car to remove that paper or whatever it is that is obstructing your view.

When you reach the back of your car that is when the car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off!! > Your engine was running and therefore dependent on your Policy you are not probably covered by your insurance...

You would have left your purse/handbag in the car and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER AND IS MAKING ITS WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY !!!!!!!!

Just drive away and remove the paper later! It is stuck to your window and be thankful that you have read this email.

I hope you will forward this to friends and family especially to women!

A purse contains all identification, and you certainly do NOT want someone getting your home address. They already HAVE your keys!!!

JUST BE AWARE AND TAKE CARE IT WILL PROBABLY SOON ARRIVE IN YOUR AREA !!!

EMAIL SCAMS

Another phishing email claiming to be from Alliance & Leicester Internet Banking asking you to click on a link regarding an upgrading of their software. The web site that the link takes you too has already been closed down.

Also two emails headed `Customer details confirmation procedure' claiming to be from Barclays, as usual with links to bogus sites, both of which have already been closed down by the Bank.

This hoax has been distributed across the internet. The report is untrue, and the email can be safely deleted.

The text of the hoax reads as follows:

PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS:

You should be alert during the next days:

Do not open any message with an attached filed called "invitation" regardless of who sent it .

It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which "burns" the whole hard disc C of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list, that is why you should send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.

2. STEALING THE CONTENTS OF YOUR GREEN RECYCLING BOXES. People, again thought to be of Kosovan origin, are going round looking for some of the more valuable rubbish placed in the boxes, particularly clothes, that may have been placed in the boxes. They then sell this on for profit.

Bogus Callers (distraction burglaries)

Bogus callers have been up to their tricks in Croydon and in most cases getting away with a scam or stealing money and valuables. Do not think this could not happen to you – that’s what most of the victims felt. The people that come to your door can, and do, look quite normal and they are very good at conning their way into your home. They are well-organised gangs; they target the most vulnerable. They know a lot about the local area even though they themselves are not local. It might be a female saying that she is visiting a neighbour but they are not in and she has lost her purse with the keys to the house and she would like to borrow £10 to have a taxi home and she will bring back the money shortly. Obviously she is not seen again and she may have done this to quite a few people. It could be a couple of nicely dressed men with a form of identification, saying they believe you are not getting the correct pension and could they come in and discuss the matter. Well, once in the house one of them wants to use the toilet or a drink of water and, of course, he visits other rooms and things go missing. There are many different stories, all called BOGUS CALLERS, so take care and do not become a victim.

Remember, if it is an important matter most officials phone first to make an appointment, they do not just turn up at your door. Always keep the chain on the door when speaking with people that you do not know and are not expecting, especially if you are alone in the house. Even better look through the window and talk to them that way. Tell them to leave their details and you will contact them. You choose the time when you want any visits, not just let them turn up unannounced. Do not be embarrassed to look after your security; you feel very silly afterwards if you are a victim and you could have avoided becoming one.

A NEW WAY TO STEAL CARS. This scam starts off by someone, thought to be of Kosovan origin, placing a piece of paper on your rear window under the wiper, while your car is parked in a car park such as Tesco's. When you come back to your car, you don't notice this until, after you have started the engine, you look in the rear mirror and see the paper. Naturally you get out to see what it is, leaving the engine running. While you are at the rear of the car, the thief slips into the driving seat and drives off. So please watch out for this.