Month: August 2023

Dear Watch Member,

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has published its annual assessment covering 2022-23 and its findings include:

• Phishing emails continue to be the most common way frauds are started
• Hacking (Social media and email) is the top cyber crime type
• Online Shopping and Auction Fraud is the top fraud type, which means people are buying goods that possibly don’t exist.
• Courier Fraud reports are DOWN but losses have INCREASED by 96%.

Across London we know residents are still being conned through telephone and online frauds, and the fraudsters can be persuasive, and manipulative.

If you receive a telephone call or email to say you are entitled to compensation, or you could help with a Police situation relating to your bank account, or your broadband / energy company / phone provider is giving you money back – it’s likely to be the start of a fraud as the criminal will try to hook you with something that seems too good to be true. Any reputable company you do business with would have your postal address and would send you a letter about any money owing to you – they really wouldn’t phone, text or email you.

If you, or a family member or friend has been a victim, please report to the Metropolitan Police by ringing 101 or online via www.met.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v1/fraud/.

Please forward any suspicious texts to Action Fraud at 7726 (spells SPAM on your keypad). Please report scams and attempted scams to Action Fraud.

Please visit www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/ for information about how you can stay one step ahead of the scammers.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team

Dear Watch Member,

The National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team has secured funding to provide a limited number of free* call blocking units to help protect people in receipt of scam and nuisance phone calls on their landline phone.

You can apply on behalf of someone else with their consent, or you can apply for yourself.

What Is A Call Blocker?

The call blocking units available are trueCall Secure+. A call blocker is a unit that filters unwanted scam and nuisance phone calls from a landline phone (this unit does not work with mobile phones).

In previous call blocker projects run by the NTS Scams Team, these units have blocked 91% of scam and nuisance calls.

The unit plugs into an existing landline phone and phone line, it can work alongside broadband and/or lifeline/pendant devices that are already installed.

You can find out more about call blocking units, how they work and watch some short animations on how the unit works here.

For further information, please click on the below link:

www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/callblocker

Please note there are a very limited number of units available, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8721 2775

Dear Watch Member,

Our next Cuppa with a Copper contact point will be held on Wednesday 16th August at Cafe Amici.

You can have an informal discussion with a local officer regarding any concerns you have about anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in Pinner.

We will have plenty of crime prevention advice to give you, and maybe even some freebies too.

So come and join us, and support a local independent business at the same time.

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• Cuppa with a Copper – Cafe Amici (661 KB)

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]

Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]