Hoilday Fraud – How to Enjoy Your Holidays
Dear Watch Member,
Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has published new data showing that in the last financial year, it received 6,457 reports of holiday fraud, amounting to over £15m lost.
Victims reported losing a total of £15,319,057, a 41 per cent increase on last year’s results, which amounts to an average loss of £2,372 per victim. From May – August alone, more than £4.6m was lost. Their news story can be found at:
With the summer months seeing the highest levels for holiday fraud reports, Action Fraud has launched a national awareness campaign to urge the public to think twice before booking a holiday, so consumers don’t get burnt before they are on the beach.
Interestingly, people in their 20s and 40s who reported losses accounted for 44 per cent of all reports, further dispelling the myth that only older people are targeted by fraudsters.
Holiday fraud encompasses many different tactics employed by criminals to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. The most frequent frauds are clone comparison websites, airline websites and holiday websites.
An emerging trend is fraudsters using counterfeit Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) protect numbers on their fake webpage. All credible and trusted companies are provided with a number that shows the company has passed the regulatory checks by ATOL, with this number being unique to the website. Recently, fake websites have used duplicate or fabricated numbers which have been edited onto an ATOL logo.
ATOL recommends double checking all numbers on websites and with travel operators before handing over any money. If you do pay, use a credit card as this can offer greater protection should you lose your money.
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
Cuppa with a Copper.
The next Cuppa with a Copper will be at Cafe Amici on Wednesday 10 May btween 2pm and 3pm.
It’s your chance to come and talk about policing issues that you might be concerned about.
Secure Your Garden and Home
Dear Watch Member,
To paraphrase Michael Caine, “Not a lot of people might know this”, but this week is National Gardening Week. Which seems an appropriate time for me to remind you of how important it is to secure the outside of your property this summer.
Doing so not only keeps your valuables safe in your shed and garage, but is often the first line of defence against burglars trying to enter your home via rear access points.
Keep them out with the following tips:
- At the front of your house, hedges and walls should be kept low to increase natural surveillance and give burglars nowhere to hide;
- Side and rear hedges, walls and fences should be higher and topped with trellis, thorny plants or other suitable anti-climb topping;
- Ensure side gates are locked at all times; open gates are an open invitation for burglars to easily access the rear of your home;
- Keep power tools and bicycles inside a locked and secured shed.
If you are green-fingered, planting particular shrubs along walls and fences can create a natural defence against burglars and make it harder for them to access your property or even deter them completely.
View the attached document for ideas of what to plant. For further burglary prevention advice, please click here.
Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.
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
Time Set for Emergency Alerts Test
Dear Watch Member,
Please read the attached document containing information about the forthcoming Emergency Alerts Test.
Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.
- Time Set for Emergency Alerts Test (104 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]
Neighbourhood Watch: 2023-24 Crime Survey for England and Wales
Dear Watch Member,
We have been informed that Kantar Public, on behalf of the Office for National Statistics, will be conducting the 2023-24 Crime Survey for England and Wales.
The Crime Survey asks adults in England and Wales about their experiences of crime. The Crime Survey and police recorded crime are a complementary series and together provide a more comprehensive picture of crime than could be obtained from either series alone. The Crime Survey includes crimes that are not reported to police.
The survey is conducted throughout the year across all areas of England and Wales and it will be coming to Pinner on the following dates in April:
- Wednesday 12th;
- Friday 14th;
- Saturday 15th;
- Sunday 16th;
- Tuesday 18th.
The interviewer carrying out the Crime Survey in the area may visit you as late as 9pm. All interviewers who work on the survey will carry a Market Research Society Interviewer Identity Card, an example of which is attached. This card includes the interviewer’s name and photograph and a number to call to verify their identity.
If you require any further information about the survey, please call the Crime Survey Information Line at Kantar Public on free phone 0800 051 0882 during office hours or email [email protected].
You can also visit the Crime Survey for England and Wales website: www.crimesurvey.co.uk.
Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.
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
Cuppa with a Copper
Do come along to raise your concerns.
Harrow Public Spaces Protection Order consultation
Dear Watch Member,
Harrow Council want to crack down on anti-social behaviour and people who make the borough a dirty and unpleasant place – you can help by taking part in the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) consultation.
Please take 5 minutes to take part and make Harrow a safer place to live and work
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]
Regards,
Louise Nicholson
Watch Liaison Officer
Email: [email protected]
Warning: Pickpockets in Pinner
Dear Watch Member,
We are currently investigating a series of recent pickpocket offences in Pinner. The most recent ones have occurred in Café Nero, Lidl, Marks & Spencer and WHSmith, where the victims have had their mobile phone and / or bankcards stolen from coat pockets, handbags or purses.
Although many of the pickpocket victims are elderly females, anyone can be targeted by thieves who often dress smartly to avoid being detected. Some thieves work alone; others with an accomplice.
Wherever you go it’s important you don’t make yourself an easy target by following this advice:
• Look out for people who get too close to you in a queue;
• Never leave your phone, wallet or purse in an open pocket;
• Never leave your handbag / rucksack unzipped and carry your bag in front, preferably diagonally across your body;
• Don’t leave your phone or other valuables unattended or out of sight, such as in a trolley;
• Don’t leave bags hanging on the backs of prams and chairs;
• Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN;
• Don’t become distracted when using an ATM; ensure that any money you withdraw is safely secured;
• Don’t keep your house keys with any document showing your address.
For more personal safety advice please click here.
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
Social Engineering Scam Techniques
Dear Watch Member,
Social engineering is a technique criminals use to get you to trust them, and then convince you to give away your money or confidential information.
3 ways they may do this:
• Phishing, Vishing and Smishing – these are fake emails, phone calls or text messages supposedly from a friend or family member or even a trusted organisation. They’re used to get you to give scammers your personal or financial information.
• Remote access – this is when a criminal tricks you into letting them take control of your device. They do this by getting you to click on a link or download an app which gives them access to everything on it.
• Pressure – this happens when a scammer puts pressure on you to pay for something quickly, for example, a limited time offer. They’re trying to panic you into making a payment without thinking it through.
What to look out for:
• Never assume someone contacting you is genuine – caller ID and email addresses can be spoofed to appear genuine.
• Is an offer or sale too good to be true?
• Never download an app, click on links or open attachments without taking time to think about if it’s genuine.
• An email, call or text message to say your device has a virus or your antivirus software is out of date.
• Be very wary of requests to pay by bank transfer. Always use the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers.
For more information about social engineering, please read page 4 of the attached booklet, which is full of information and advice that can help prevent you from becoming a scam victim.
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.
The_Little_Book_of_Big_Scams_-_Fifth_Edition
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