WINSHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH |
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August 22nd Please take a moment to read the attached advice
from our Fraud Protect Team on Investment Fraud. If someone contacts you with an investment
opportunity that seems too good to be true… it is. Although
investing can be a successful way of making money, it has resulted
in many people losing their entire life savings. Fraudsters will
persuade you to invest in all kinds of products, offering high rates
of return, which often do not exist. It can be extremely difficult
to tell a genuine investment opportunity apart from a fraudulent one
– even for experienced investors. Fraudsters are organised and convincing, and you
may even see some initial small returns on an investment as an
incentive to put a much larger amount of your money in. Requests to
cash out will be met with excuses and demands for various fees to be
paid. There will always be “just one more payment” needed to receive
your money. They often have professional looking websites, glossy
marketing materials and prestigious addresses in London to make you
feel assured that they are legitimate. Criminals can even be aware of the investments
you hold, or have previously held, and they may make reference to
these or target you with similar schemes. They may offer to
“recover” funds you have lost in a previous investment. The same
criminals may target you again, hiding behind a new identity. Remember: • Genuine investment companies will not cold call
you – always be wary of any unexpected calls. • Research the company and the offer that they
have made to you – contact Trading Standards if you have concerns
and seek independent financial advice before committing to any
investment. • Before you invest anywhere, check with the
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register to see if the firm or
individual you are dealing with are authorised (https://register.fca.org.uk/)
• Check
the FCA Warning List of firms to avoid. • The FCA also provide a ScamSmart test which can
help you check if an investment is potentially a scam. Whilst the above measures are useful, please also
be aware of ‘clone firm’ investment scams, where fraudsters imitate
real-life companies. ‘Clone firms’ are set up by fraudsters using
the same details as real companies authorised by the FCA, making it
even more difficult to establish whether or not a firm is genuine. If you use the internet, it is also worth being
aware of fraudulent cryptocurrency investments which often present
themselves on social platforms. Never assume anything you are
offered online is real. Criminals can even use technology to make it
look legitimate, showing trusted personalities/celebrities
supposedly endorsing their investment opportunities. Don’t be pressured into making any quick
decisions. Always seek independent financial advice. Question whether an investment company would call
you out of the blue.
https://register.fca.org.uk/s/ Attachments:
17th April Motorbikes, mopeds and other two-wheeled vehicles
are popular targets for thieves across the Avon and Somerset
policing area. Some of these vehicles are stolen to order and
are targeted by criminals but many others are stolen by so-called
joy riders who dump the bikes when seen by police or when it runs
out of fuel or breaks down and are often found with severe damage or
burnt out. The attached document gives you tips on how to
reduce the risk of your motorbike being stolen. Attachments: 12th April 2023 We’ve received numerous reports of people trying car doors across the Avon & Somerset policing area recently. Thieves are always looking out for unlocked vehicles and items to steal and are finding easy pickings everywhere. Many things can distract you from locking your vehicle – taking care of children, talking to passengers, taking your shopping inside or even the weather if you’re rushing to avoid the rain. Please take a moment to check that you’ve locked your vehicle, try the door handle or check with the key fob if you have remote locking. Please take everything out of your vehicle. It’s easy to think that your belongings are safe inside your car because it’s locked, but criminals don’t care about damaging your pride and joy and think nothing of smashing a window to get in. This can cost you far more to fix than losing the few pounds of small change you’ve left in the centre console or glovebox. If you leave a wallet or purse inside, the thieves can use any debit cards for contactless payments, which can cost you hundreds of pounds before you or your bank stop payments. You can help reduce car crime by taking these
simple steps and share this information with every other driver you
know. Attachments:
FAKE BANKING ACCOUNT Please be advised of some useful information
provided by our Fraud Prevention Team: This is not new, but we have seen many
occurrences recently where people have been defrauded when selling
items using Facebook Marketplace. The victim will advertise an item and the
fraudster agrees to buy it. The fraudster then arrives at the
victim's address, presenting a fake banking app showing that the
payment has been made to the victim. The victim hands over the
goods, believing they have been paid, only to realise that they
haven't received the money some hours later. If the victim checks
their account and questions why the money hasn't yet arrived in
their bank, the fraudster will say that it can take a couple of days
to show. Intimidation tactics may also be used. A few tips for using buy and sell sites include: • Staying on the site when communicating • Research seller/buyer history • Use the recommended payment method, or you may
not be refunded for any losses to fraud. • If the deal seems too good to be true, it
probably is - listen to your instincts • If you are selling online, be certain that
funds have entered your account before handing over/sending goods -
fraudsters can send fake emails stating funds have been sent or
present a fake payment confirmation when they arrive at your door to
collect. Login to your account via the trusted route to check this. GENERAL PROTECTION A few moments
ago, we received a copy of the attached PDF (Protecting Your Home &
Belongings V4) from our Crime Reduction Manager. There are some very
useful updates contained within and I would recommend it is worth
reading and retaining a copy. Do please share this as much as possible. I hope you find this useful. Kind Regards Paul Johnson NHW Admin Somerset Areas Attachments: BIKE THEFT Nationally over 300,000 bikes are stolen every
year. As many people will receive bikes as Christmas presents, please see the attached document for tips on keeping them safe. ** |
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