Vishing Fraud Alert

Please be aware of recent fraud activity that is targeting businesses within our Region.

The Fraud

Fraudsters are ringing up company wage clerks/finance directors claiming to be from Barclay’s Fraud department and gaining permission to remotely access the victim’s computer system. This is on the pretence that their business account has been compromised.

The victim opens up the bank account, the fraudster then transfers the money into what they state will be the company’s new, none compromised account. The funds are then automatically distributed in seconds.

Total regional losses have exceeded £1 million.

Protect your company

Do not be afraid to end cold calls.
Do not to assume a caller is genuine just because they hold some information about you. Criminals may already have got hold of some basic information about a potential victim, such as a name, address and account details to try to make the call appear legitimate.
If in any doubt hang up and call the bank yourself on numbers you know are genuine, however be sure to hang the phone up long enough to prevent the fraudster holding the line open.
NEVER call the bank back on the number the caller provides you.
The Bank will never call and ask for remote access to your computers or for passwords to access your accounts.

If you are a victim of “Vishing” call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online tool to report the fraud and receive a police crime reference number.

DI 3159 Lee Morton

Serious Economic Crime Unit

March 3, 2015June 15, 2015

February 2015 Crime Report

February 2015 Crime Incidents

February 2015 started the same as January with a theft of Diesel Oil, with just one other crime in the vicinity. Police have identified trends in theft of motorbikes and scooters as well as financial crimes and have issued information accordingly. For a complete crime picture, please visit http://www.police.uk/ however, please be aware this information is always three months behind.

Theft of Diesel Oil and Equipment – Cooks Hall Road

At some time between 15:00 on 30th January and 8:50 on 2nd February, unknown suspects gained entry tot he victims land by the rear of the property and removed 400 litres of red diesel from a bowser. No damage was caused in this crime. The suspects then also removed two trailers (after removing index plates which were left at the scene), which were then dragged over the land and through a hedge causing damage to the hedge in the process.

Theft of Scrap Metal – Fordham Heath

Taking place between 8:00 on 18th and 17:00 on 19th February, suspects did, on two occasions, remove scrap metal with a white Mercedes van with index plates KT08KTA.

Information Releases

A new form of ‘Stranger-Danger‘ this week – how to protect your bank account, and also advice to prevent motorcycle/scooter theft.

Never Talk About Your Bank Account To Strangers

Fraudsters are targeting people by “cold calling” them on the telephone. The scam starts with the following simple activity:

They will state that they are from the Bank Fraud department, the Police or other Law Enforcement.
They will tell the victim that fraud is being carried out on the victim’s bank account and that to prevent it they need to carry out any of the below activities:-

Need to access your bank accounts online.
Need to hand over your pin numbers and bank cards to a courier/official sent to collect them.
Need to hand over money to A courier/ official sent to collect them.
Need to transfer your money to another “safe” bank account(s) which they provide details of.

In order to prove their own credentials they will often ask you to telephone the “fraud” number you may have on the back of your bank card, or they may even ask you to telephone the Police to check that there is an official investigation, or telephone your own bank once the phone call to them is terminated.

Do not be fooled!

Do not telephone anyone at that stage as the phone line remains open and you are simply telephoning them back without realising. They will then continue with your assistance in stealing your money by any of the above methods.

Protect Yourself

The bank or the police will never telephone you “out of the blue” to ask you to transfer money into another account or hand over any of your money or bank cards. It is your money!!
The bank or the police will never ask for your personal bank account details, or pin numbers over the phone.
If you really want to check the credentials of a caller then go into your bank and ask to speak to the bank manager or use another phone to call the bank or police.
If you are still unsure then attend a police station.
Never discuss your banking details with strangers who call you!

Motorcycle security advice

If you are a motorcycle owner the follow advice may be useful in protecting and keeping your motorcycle safe. There are plenty of ways you can help to keep your motorbike safe and the more security you put around your motorbike or scooter; the less attractive it will be to thieves. No single product can cover all possibilities but if you invest in both mechanical (chains and padlocks) and electronic security (alarms & immobilisers), you will reduce the risk of becoming a victim of theft:

Security Tips

If your motorbike or scooter doesn’t already have one, get a ‘Thatcham’ or ‘Sold Secure’-approved electronic immobiliser professionally fitted. Try to get one which is also approved by your insurance company as you may get a reduction in your insurance payments.
If your bike has a high monetary or sentimental value, consider having a Thatcham Cat 5 security system professionally fitted. These systems send an alert to a control centre if your motorbike is stolen, track it and by remote operation prevent its engine once stopped from being re-started.
If you have a security device, use it and keep your keys with you when you leave your machine.
Always put the steering lock on.
Never leave your keys with the motorbike or scooter, even for a short time. Always keep your keys in a safe place when you are at home.
Wherever possible, use parking spaces which are built especially for motorbikes and scooters and have stands or security loops for you to secure your machine to. Also, look for car parks that display the Park Mark® sign showing they belong to the police Safer Parking Scheme.
When you are not using your motorbike or scooter, put it in your garage (if you have one) and make sure it has good locks. If you do not have a garage, make sure your bike is covered from view so planning an attack on it is more difficult.
Whether in a garage or not installing and using a ground anchor is a good bet.
Lock both the front and rear wheels to prevent one locked wheel being lifted and the rest of the bike being barrowed away.
Get the main parts of your machine marked with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (frame number), registration number or some other unique identifying number, ideally one linked to a recognised database that keeps data to the Loss Prevention Council (LPC) Standards 1224 and 1225. If you have used your own markings, make sure you have a record of them.
Take steps to defeat criminals who steal number plates by thinking about fitting theft-resistant ones that conform to the DVLA standard.
Covering your machine may reduce the risk of theft as attractive features, extras and desirability are not readily visible.
Whenever possible, avoid leaving your helmet or other possessions on the motorbike or scooter, or within any luggage.

Information taken from http://www.humberside.police.uk/vehicle-security/crime-reduction/motorcycle-security.

Keep Informed

Keep informed about crime and policing issues which affect you by signing up to Essex Community Messaging – www.essex.police.uk/ecm.

March 18, 2014

Phone Scam Warning

Second elderly victim tricked into handing over cash

Thieves running a telephone scam have now tricked £15,000 from elderly people in just two days last week. On Monday, a woman in her 70s in Saffron Walden was tricked into handing over £5,000 and a man in his 70s in the Steeple Bumpstead area fell victim to the same scam, handing over £10,000 on Tuesday.

Six other people in Uttlesford, four at Saffron Walden,one at Clavering and one at Stansted Mountfitchet, were contacted within a short space of time on Monday afternoon. Fortunately they realised they were being targeted by tricksters, ended the calls and called the police.

More than 600 similar thefts and attempted thefts have been reported in Essex since the scam first came to light in January 2013 and similar crimes have been reported in the Met Police area and other counties.

More than 90 people in Essex have been tricked out of money and the total stolen is more than £325,000. Six people have been arrested in connection with the investigation.

In both cases this week, the victims were contacted by a man claiming to be a Metropolitan Police fraud squad officer based at Hammersmith who said he was investigating fraud at their respective banks. The trickster then claimed that he needed a large sum to be withdrawn from the local branches of the bank so that the banknotes could be forensically examined.

Fraudsters claim to be Metropolitan Police Fraud Squad Officers!

Extensive publicity campaigns have been carried out across Essex to warn residents of the scam and although thefts have reduced, elderly and vulnerable people are still falling for the scam.

Most of the thefts or attempted thefts have been in the west and south of the county but there has been a sudden shift to the north and more rural communities of Uttlesford and Braintree districts.

Chief Inspector Richard Melton, the Uttlesford and Braintree district commander, said:

These are despicable crimes being carried out by thieves posing as police fraud officers, the very people they ought to be able to turn to and trust in exactly this sort of crime. Instead, they callously prey on the elderly and vulnerable and have no thought for how their victims might suffer from the loss of money that might have been saved over many years. It is vital that whenever people receive this sort of call they should put the phone down and call us, but on another phone or mobile. Part of the con involves keeping people on the line while they pretend to transfer calls to police officers or bank officials.

Report

Anyone with information about the thieves should contact the Operation Seaford team at Grays on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Advice

Police will never ask for your PIN.

If you think you have been a victim, call police from a different number.

If you don’t have another phone, use a neighbour’s, or wait five minutes before dialling 101 or 999 (if urgent).

Source

Essex Watch Liaison Officer

December 4, 2013December 4, 2013

Drink Driving & other Xmas crimes?

Drink Driving

Adam Pipe, the Casualty Reduction Manager at Essex Police is asking all Speedwatch groups, and other community-minded folks, for any support they can give to the Xmas drink driving campaign. Such support is always much appreciated and could help save lives. He says:

We always look to the support of the community in providing us with intelligence relating to possible known drink drivers within your communities and this information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

As always you can stay in touch with our daily operations via following my Twitter page @EPAdamPipe.

As their poster cautions – drink-driving can have devastating consequences, don’t take the chance, make sure you arrange your lift home in advance.

Seasonal Fraud On-line

Criminals are always present in our lives and Christmas is no exception. The City of London Police recently issued a document detailing 12 top seasonal frauds being conducted on-line and how to protect yourself from them:

Shopping On-line? Beware bogus shopping sites – some may have nothing to deliver, others are shifting counterfeit goods;
Auction Sites are safe aren’t they? Only if used in the safest way and using trusted sellers.
Email links and attachments? Click them at your peril
Booking a holiday? If the price seems too good to be true it probably is.
E-card or e-virus? Many e-cards are safe – but not all are!
Social network special gifts & offers? Often just trying to capture personal data with nothing to offer at all.
It’s good to give to charity isn’t it? Of course it is – but make sure it is a legitimate on-line donation.
Paying on-line for presents and services? Safe only as long as you take precautions.
Transfer the money now to secure your purchase? Despite the financial institution involved, the ‘seller’ might be running a scam.
Voucher codes are good news? Possibly, but open to fraud as criminals spread ‘ransomware’ viruses.
Must-see event and cheap tickets? They might only be cheap because they don’t exist.
Paying with your mobile? Highly convenient but subject to hacking if not careful.

Read more about how you can protect yourself in 12 Online Frauds of Christmas.