Chris's Report 13th April 09
Information Update 140409
Warning about lottery and other scams
There are a number of e-mail and letter scams operating nationally. Below I set out the details of a recent scam which was uncovered, but I would ask you all to pass on the message – “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!” Please ignore any request that asks for money or information, particularly bank details.
A scam letter scheme which could have netted an estimated £35m a year has been smashed by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). It follows a police raid on a building in Somerset which was being used to process cheques for criminals abroad. Payments totalling nearly half a million pounds were recovered.
Cheques are now being returned to the 22,000 senders with a letter warning them about the scam and urging them to be more vigilant in future.
The letters, which were responding to international lottery scams and bogus offers, were intercepted by Soca during the raid in Somerset last June, before they could reach their final destinations overseas.
'Substantial blow'
They typically contained £20 cash and Soca believes the fraud could have yielded over £35m a year if it had continued.
Trevor Pearce, Soca's director of enforcement, said: "Mass market frauds are often sophisticated and convincing - criminals know just which buttons to press to make people part with money, especially in an economic downturn when we are more susceptible to believing good news."
People who respond to a scam can find themselves on a list which is sold to other fraudsters, and people can lose their life savings, he said.
"In this case we've been able to return people's money, and although the perpetrators are abroad and outside our jurisdiction, a substantial blow has been dealt to their operation by cutting off this particular channel," he said.
"The most powerful way to defeat the fraudsters though is to ignore them. Quite simply, be on your guard. Don't be a willing victim for their crime - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith congratulated Soca on the success of the operation, saying it sent a "strong message" to criminal networks that work was being done to stop them preying on innocent people.
She said: "We will continue to invest in agencies like Soca to enable them to tackle these criminals effectively. The public can be very confident that we are doing everything in our power to make it as difficult as possible for these groups to continue to operate."
Tolleshunt D’Arcy
Between 1400 on 25 March and 1130 on 9 April, a football net on the playing fields in Tolleshunt D’Arcy Road was burned and the lines cut, causing damage valued at £100. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Purleigh
Overnight on 6/7 April at the playing fields, The Glebe, damage was caused to the safety matting in the play area by pulling it up from its fasteneings, causing it to be unsafe for use. Damage valued at £1500. Information to Pc Tony England.
Southminster
Between 1800 on 9 April and 1200 on 11 April, a white Vauxhall Murvano was broken into. Entry was gained by damaging the lock on the nearside door. 2 Makita Cordless drills, a Bosch jigsaw, a Makita chopsaw, a Stanley hammer and a set of marble chisels were stolen. All of the tools have initials scrathed on them. Damage valued at £50. Value of goods £1200. Information to Pc Sam Pateman.
Overnight on 8/9 April at the Queens Head in Queen Street an insecure picnic bench was stolen from the front beer garden, valued at £70. Information to Pc Nicola Clarke.
Heybridge
Overnight on 9/10 April at Chigborough Fishing Lakes, Chigborough Road, a white Vauxhall Astra van was stolen from the car park. Value of car £1000. Information to Pc John Perry.
Between 2200 on 10 April and 1400 on 12 April an insecure pedal cycle was stolen from the raer garden of a property in Chestnut Avenue. The cycle is a black Ranger mountain bike with 2 26” wheels, the word Ranger in white down the frame, cats eye lights on the front and rear and blue and black plastic coated chains. Value of bike is £200. Information to Pc Lee Taylor.
Overnight on 10/11 April at Hall Bridge Rise a blue Alfa Romeo car was damaged by a long scratch from the front of the front panel to the rear of the rear panel on the offside, causing damage valued at £1000. Information to Pc Carla Hammond.
On the same night in Hall Bridge Rise a black Citreon Saxo was similarly damaged with scratches on the nearside front door and nearside rear panel. Damage valued at £250. Information to Pc Carla Hammond.
Maldon
Between 1800 and 2200 on 12 April, entry was gained to insecure premises in Butt Lane, through an open first floor window. After a messy search video recorders, a black LG DVD player and jewellery were stolen. Value of goods £200. Information to Dc Steve Bennett.
Overnight on 8/9 April at Royal Court car park, a red RS 2000 was broken into by pulling the top of the front nearside door from the vehicle. A Sony radio/stereo was removed from the dashboard, valued at £20. Damage valued at £700. Information to Pc Sam Pateman.
Between 2145 and 2345 at car park in Fambridge Road, a blue Citreon Saxo was stolen, valued at £2500. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Between 1015 and 1030 on 13 April, in the Promenade Park, a handbag was stolen containing a black leather purse, £15 in cash, various keys, a mobile phone and a Sony Cybashot silver digital camera. Value of stolen goods is £400. Information to Pc Anthony Crick.
Overnight on 7/8 April at Woodrolfe Road an anchor chain and rope were stolen from the deck of a boat moored on a buoy in the leavings at Woodrolfe Creek. Value of goods is £200. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Between 2330 on midnight on 12 April, at the Oakhouse Bar Café in the High Street, a large tan handbag was stolen, containing a purple snake skin purse, debit card and Ni card, £15 in cash and keys, valued at £60. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 1215 and 1230 on 11 April in Poundstretchers, High Street, a black leather purse was stolen from a closed bag, containing debit cards and £100 in cash, valued at £130. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Overnight on 8/9 April in America Street, two wicker hanging baskets were stolen from the front of a property, valued at £30. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Between midnight on 7 April and 1000 on 9 April a large Euro 240 wheelie bin was stolen from a shop in Market Hill, valued at £50. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 2130 and 2300 on 10 April, in Washington Road, the nearside wing mirror of a black Vauxhall Astra was smashed. Damage is valued at £150. Information to Pc Lea Keene.
Between 1830 on 8 April and 1500 on 11 April, the nearside wing mirror of a red Rover 220 and a purple VW Golf were damaged and the rear windscreen wiper was ripped off in Warwick Drive, causing damage valued at £200. Information to Pc Lea Keane.
Overnight in Warwick Drive the offside wing mirror of a black Toyota Corolla was ripped off and the nearside front door was scratched, casuing £200 damage. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 1600 and 1730 on 9 April at Tescos, Fullbridge, a silver Vauxhall Astra was damaged when the entire nearside door and panel were scratched. Damage valued at £200. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Wickham Bishops
Between 1900 on 6 April and 1200 on 8 April, from a property in Hatfield Road, a red and orange belle petrol cement mixer was stolen, valued at £300. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Between 1130 and 1300 on 11 April in Church Road, the rear nearside window of a silver Peugeot 206 was smashed, causing damage valued at £100. Information to Pc Nicola Clarke.
Forthcoming NAPs meetings:
Tuesday 12 May at 7.00pm Village Hall, Wickham Bishops
Thursday 14 May at 7.00pm Town Hall, Maldon
NHW co-ordinators should make every effort to attend their local meeting. In that way, they can be certain that the issues in their area are identified and prioritised.
Mrs Chris Walker
14 April 2009
Warning about lottery and other scams
There are a number of e-mail and letter scams operating nationally. Below I set out the details of a recent scam which was uncovered, but I would ask you all to pass on the message – “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is!” Please ignore any request that asks for money or information, particularly bank details.
A scam letter scheme which could have netted an estimated £35m a year has been smashed by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). It follows a police raid on a building in Somerset which was being used to process cheques for criminals abroad. Payments totalling nearly half a million pounds were recovered.
Cheques are now being returned to the 22,000 senders with a letter warning them about the scam and urging them to be more vigilant in future.
The letters, which were responding to international lottery scams and bogus offers, were intercepted by Soca during the raid in Somerset last June, before they could reach their final destinations overseas.
'Substantial blow'
They typically contained £20 cash and Soca believes the fraud could have yielded over £35m a year if it had continued.
Trevor Pearce, Soca's director of enforcement, said: "Mass market frauds are often sophisticated and convincing - criminals know just which buttons to press to make people part with money, especially in an economic downturn when we are more susceptible to believing good news."
People who respond to a scam can find themselves on a list which is sold to other fraudsters, and people can lose their life savings, he said.
"In this case we've been able to return people's money, and although the perpetrators are abroad and outside our jurisdiction, a substantial blow has been dealt to their operation by cutting off this particular channel," he said.
"The most powerful way to defeat the fraudsters though is to ignore them. Quite simply, be on your guard. Don't be a willing victim for their crime - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is."
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith congratulated Soca on the success of the operation, saying it sent a "strong message" to criminal networks that work was being done to stop them preying on innocent people.
She said: "We will continue to invest in agencies like Soca to enable them to tackle these criminals effectively. The public can be very confident that we are doing everything in our power to make it as difficult as possible for these groups to continue to operate."
Tolleshunt D’Arcy
Between 1400 on 25 March and 1130 on 9 April, a football net on the playing fields in Tolleshunt D’Arcy Road was burned and the lines cut, causing damage valued at £100. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Purleigh
Overnight on 6/7 April at the playing fields, The Glebe, damage was caused to the safety matting in the play area by pulling it up from its fasteneings, causing it to be unsafe for use. Damage valued at £1500. Information to Pc Tony England.
Southminster
Between 1800 on 9 April and 1200 on 11 April, a white Vauxhall Murvano was broken into. Entry was gained by damaging the lock on the nearside door. 2 Makita Cordless drills, a Bosch jigsaw, a Makita chopsaw, a Stanley hammer and a set of marble chisels were stolen. All of the tools have initials scrathed on them. Damage valued at £50. Value of goods £1200. Information to Pc Sam Pateman.
Overnight on 8/9 April at the Queens Head in Queen Street an insecure picnic bench was stolen from the front beer garden, valued at £70. Information to Pc Nicola Clarke.
Heybridge
Overnight on 9/10 April at Chigborough Fishing Lakes, Chigborough Road, a white Vauxhall Astra van was stolen from the car park. Value of car £1000. Information to Pc John Perry.
Between 2200 on 10 April and 1400 on 12 April an insecure pedal cycle was stolen from the raer garden of a property in Chestnut Avenue. The cycle is a black Ranger mountain bike with 2 26” wheels, the word Ranger in white down the frame, cats eye lights on the front and rear and blue and black plastic coated chains. Value of bike is £200. Information to Pc Lee Taylor.
Overnight on 10/11 April at Hall Bridge Rise a blue Alfa Romeo car was damaged by a long scratch from the front of the front panel to the rear of the rear panel on the offside, causing damage valued at £1000. Information to Pc Carla Hammond.
On the same night in Hall Bridge Rise a black Citreon Saxo was similarly damaged with scratches on the nearside front door and nearside rear panel. Damage valued at £250. Information to Pc Carla Hammond.
Maldon
Between 1800 and 2200 on 12 April, entry was gained to insecure premises in Butt Lane, through an open first floor window. After a messy search video recorders, a black LG DVD player and jewellery were stolen. Value of goods £200. Information to Dc Steve Bennett.
Overnight on 8/9 April at Royal Court car park, a red RS 2000 was broken into by pulling the top of the front nearside door from the vehicle. A Sony radio/stereo was removed from the dashboard, valued at £20. Damage valued at £700. Information to Pc Sam Pateman.
Between 2145 and 2345 at car park in Fambridge Road, a blue Citreon Saxo was stolen, valued at £2500. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Between 1015 and 1030 on 13 April, in the Promenade Park, a handbag was stolen containing a black leather purse, £15 in cash, various keys, a mobile phone and a Sony Cybashot silver digital camera. Value of stolen goods is £400. Information to Pc Anthony Crick.
Overnight on 7/8 April at Woodrolfe Road an anchor chain and rope were stolen from the deck of a boat moored on a buoy in the leavings at Woodrolfe Creek. Value of goods is £200. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Between 2330 on midnight on 12 April, at the Oakhouse Bar Café in the High Street, a large tan handbag was stolen, containing a purple snake skin purse, debit card and Ni card, £15 in cash and keys, valued at £60. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 1215 and 1230 on 11 April in Poundstretchers, High Street, a black leather purse was stolen from a closed bag, containing debit cards and £100 in cash, valued at £130. Information to Maldon Police Station.
Overnight on 8/9 April in America Street, two wicker hanging baskets were stolen from the front of a property, valued at £30. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Between midnight on 7 April and 1000 on 9 April a large Euro 240 wheelie bin was stolen from a shop in Market Hill, valued at £50. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 2130 and 2300 on 10 April, in Washington Road, the nearside wing mirror of a black Vauxhall Astra was smashed. Damage is valued at £150. Information to Pc Lea Keene.
Between 1830 on 8 April and 1500 on 11 April, the nearside wing mirror of a red Rover 220 and a purple VW Golf were damaged and the rear windscreen wiper was ripped off in Warwick Drive, causing damage valued at £200. Information to Pc Lea Keane.
Overnight in Warwick Drive the offside wing mirror of a black Toyota Corolla was ripped off and the nearside front door was scratched, casuing £200 damage. Information to Pc Arran Shave.
Between 1600 and 1730 on 9 April at Tescos, Fullbridge, a silver Vauxhall Astra was damaged when the entire nearside door and panel were scratched. Damage valued at £200. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Wickham Bishops
Between 1900 on 6 April and 1200 on 8 April, from a property in Hatfield Road, a red and orange belle petrol cement mixer was stolen, valued at £300. Information to Pc Richard Hamilton.
Between 1130 and 1300 on 11 April in Church Road, the rear nearside window of a silver Peugeot 206 was smashed, causing damage valued at £100. Information to Pc Nicola Clarke.
Forthcoming NAPs meetings:
Tuesday 12 May at 7.00pm Village Hall, Wickham Bishops
Thursday 14 May at 7.00pm Town Hall, Maldon
NHW co-ordinators should make every effort to attend their local meeting. In that way, they can be certain that the issues in their area are identified and prioritised.
Mrs Chris Walker
14 April 2009
posted by Evelyn at 3:28 AM
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