Crime: 15 January 2014 

Sorry - today it is a long message, but it is full of really good advice from fellow members !
 
FIRST – THE COURIER SCAM:
Hi Jeff
 
I have to thank you for your information emails - very useful - especially as today, it was our turn for the telephone call from an unknown caller.
 
Exactly as you explained - my husband's cards had been stolen, people arrested, money taken from account, so please call DC Ian Morris at Hammersmith Police Station, using 999 (!!!), and ask for extension 2533.
 
With hindsight, the other tactic they employed was the emphasis on urgency - this is happening now, and you should contact your bank now, all in a very loud and firm voice.
 
My husband had taken the call and I was listening, so he rang off, and I called 101 from the mobile.  I spoke to the PEC, who were very helpful, explaining that this was indeed a scam and took our details.
 
When the call first came in, the initial reaction was shock and concern - but I suppose that, is then in their favour - we were lucky that there were two of us thinking things through, but for someone elderly on their own, it must be very frightening.
 
Thanks again
Regards
Clive and Pam
 
I am grateful for your kind words – that is what this system is for – to prevent crime – thus less victims of crime.

PLEASE SPREAD THE MESSAGE, FORWARD THESE EMAILS AS FAR AND WIDE AS YOU CAN.  GET YOUR FRIENDS, WORK COLLEAGUES, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBOURS TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THEM.
 
 
WINDOWS SCAM – STILL ALIVE AND VERY MUCH KICKING:
 
Hi Jeff
 
I've been repeatedly called by a number left on my phone.
 
I called it back tonight and it was answered by someone with a strong Indian accent.
 
When I asked why he was calling, he said it was regarding IT support.
 
A friend of mine was recently caught out by this, so I informed the person on the end of the phone that I knew he was a con and that I would be reporting his number to the police.
 
He just said ok and put the phone down !
 
Can you let everyone know, these scam calls are still happening ?
 
Claire
 
AND:
 
Hi Jeff
 
Can you put a reminder on the windows scam via the Alert system. I'm not sure what it is and how it works but feel I should be aware of it.
 
Many thanks
 
Gloria
 
Many thanks Claire and Gloria– can everyone, tell everyone they know, about the Windows / Microsoft Scam calls ?  Once you know how the scam works, you will never fall for it – so spread the word !
 
The Windows scam has 2 parts and works this way:
 
You receive a call from abroad.  The caller says they work for Microsoft and they can see from their monitoring systems that your computer is running slowly and that you have some errors on the system.  They can help you fix them.
 
Part 1
They ask you to access your computer / laptop.  They guide you through the process of opening up some software.  They then ask you to type in a line of computer code and press ‘run’.  That gives them access to your computer – ‘proxy your computer’.  You can then see them moving your mouse around on your screen.  They initialise a diagnostic programme – and while this is running, they can rummage wherever they like, or even copy, your entire hard drive.  That will contain all your passwords, including email, your online banking details and passwords, PayPal accounts – you name it.
 
Eventually, the diagnostic programme finishes and shows that you have loads of ‘issues’ and ‘temporary files’, which they offer to resolve and delete for you.  It looks serious and they tell you, your computer will work much more efficiently, when this has been done.
 
That is when part 2 of the scam kicks in:
To fix it........there is a charge and they have several levels of service.  A one off fix, an annual contract and a 3 year contract.  The basic charge is usually about £67.  Not a huge amount – the scam of course, is that you have to pay online, using a credit card.  They then get all your credit card details as well as the security number on the back !
 
They have done nothing, you could not really easily do yourself - AND - they are not connected with Windows, or Microsoft. Microsoft, have no way of seeing into your computer, to now if it is running slowly.  They rely on us not being IT savvy.
 
ALWAYS SAY:

‘THAT IS STRANGE – I DON’T HAVE A COMPUTER’ ! 

THEY HAVE NO IDEA, IF YOU DO, OR YOU DON’T – THEY ARE JUST CALLING, TO GET A BITE.

NEXT:
PHONE LINES REMAINING CONNECTED:
 
I have been informed that there are now plans to reduce the connection time, from 2 minutes, to 2 seconds !!!  That will end this scam, instantly.
 
Another explanation as to why phone lines stay connected from Mike:
 
Hi Jeff,
 
I am afraid my explanation of why phone calls stay up is a little different to yours… it works that way because that is how the standard was agreed between all the phone companies and equipment manufacturers. In the landline phone network, a call is setup by the person calling, so the phone network sees them as the owner of the call while it is in progress. They decided when to call you, so they can decide when to end the call too. Behind the scenes, there is a lot of  signalling and messaging over the phone network that lets it work, and lets someone in Maidenhead reach someone else in Maidenhead or someone in Australia. To change the rules for one would mean everyone else’s phones would need to understand that change… that would take a very long time to implement across all the phones in the world.
 
The mobile network was designed and operates differently – both parties can terminate the call. Thus, when people are concerned with their phone line being held open from a crank call, they should call their bank, the police, a family member, friend, whoever, using their mobile phone or a different line to be most secure.
 
Regards,
Mike
 
WHAT IS TRIVIAL, YET SHOULD STILL BE REPORTED TO THE P.E.C. (Police Enquiry Centre) ON THE 101 NUMBER?
 
Hi Jeff
I don't know whether to bother you with this, or not.
 
I read weekly about bikes being stolen in Windsor Town Centre.  Today, on my way into town, I saw a bicycle lock which was still locked, but had been cut through.  It was left on a ledge at King Edward Court Car Park on Charles Street.

Does it help to report something so trivial ?
 
I only thought it worth mentioning, as it could belong to someone who's had their bike stolen.
 
Josephine
 
Thank you Josephine.  Whether something is ‘trivial’, is a judgement call – BUT – you must always remember the Jigsaw Principal – you may have a tiny piece, of a much bigger puzzle and no-one knows where it fits, until someone else says – I need that bit.
 
In this case, the location of the dumped lock, could be extremely relevant.  We may have someone in the area, who saw one of our prolific offenders nearby, It may be an area – or the approaches may be – covered by CCTV !
 
When dealing with crime, including serious crimes, you don’t and sometimes we don’t know, what is important, until something happens – SO REPORT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY / SUSPICIOUS.
 
Suspicious !  What is suspicious ?  Anything that draws your attention – If you hear yourself thinking - What is that ?  What are they doing there ?  It is because your brain has seen some body language, or signals that don’t match your expectation.  Please remember 80% of all communication, is non verbal.  Our instincts are there for a reason and are brilliant - for our self preservation.  If your attention is drawn to something ‘odd’, rely on them, they are always right.
 
I always cite the case of Dan, one of our Area Co-ordinators from Maidenhead.  He was walking in his area one afternoon, when he saw a car shoot out of a side road at speed.  He thought it ‘odd’ and noted the index, along with a description of the occupants.  He phoned it through on the 101 number immediately, but nothing had been reported in that area.
 
At 8 p.m., someone got home from work, who lived in that side road ...... and found they had been burgled during the afternoon !  Due to Dan’s observation skills and the fact that he acted on them and reported both the car and occupants to us, we in fact had details of the offenders of a crime, which had not at that time, even been reported !!!  You cannot get a better example than that !
 
 
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
NO CRIME TO REPORT.
 
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
12/1 – 13/1  Sunday 3 p.m. / Monday 12.40 p.m.  Evenlode.  Car driver’s window smashed – SAT NAV with mount and charger stolen
 
MAIDENHEAD WEST
BISHAM, COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
13/1 – 14/1  Monday 5 p.m. / Tuesday 8 a.m.  Knowl Hill Common, Knowl Hill.  Shed break – BY UNKNOWN MEANS – green Hayter petrol mower stolen.
13/1 – 14/1  Lutman’s Haven, Knowl Hill.  Break in to a store room on a building site.  Padlock forced on rear door, but they may have been disturbed as they did not go in.  A Karcher petrol pressure washer was stolen from the yard
 
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
15/1  Wednesday midnight / 4,30 a.m.  Blenheim Road, Pinkneys Green.  CATALYTIC CONVERTER stolen from underneath a Peugeot SDI van.  I have just done a quick search on Ebay, where cat. converters from all sorts of makes and models of car, are readily available at around £30 - £50 – which makes it hardly worth a thief stealing them – saying that – if you have one stolen, it will cost a fortune, to have replaced !
 
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
BOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
Your Neighbourhood Page on TVP's Website - Click Here
13/1 – 14/1  Monday 1 p.m. / Tuesday 5.50 a.m.  Warwick Close, Cox Green.  Car left UNLOCKED on the driveway searched – nothing taken.
 
OLDFIELD & BRAY:
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk
13/1  Monday 6 p.m.  Larchfield Road.  A witness saw someone approach an aerial cable and cut it.
 
MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:
 
A WARNING:
Hi Jeff - just a quick one to make people aware.

Last Friday late afternoon in the Homebase carpark in Maidenhead, just as I was leaving the shop with my son, and my shopping, I was approached by a young man in his 20s showing me a handful of what looked like money. He told me he was homeless and needed 80p to get a roof over his head for the night. I have to say I didn't believe a word of it, he was clearly a scammer (I used to work with street homeless services in London and something about this chap wasn't right). So I kept my purse firmly in my pocket and said I didn't use cash. I felt pretty sure that if I'd got my purse out, both it and him would have been gone in an instant. I watched him approach a number of other people in the carpark, and called it in on 101. I'm not saying don't help someone in need, just be careful about people approaching you at dusk when your hands are full and your mind distracted.....
 
Cathy
 
 
Hi Jeff
 
Just in case your NW contacts are unaware of this scam.
 
I received an e-mail from ‘BT ‘s ebilling’ web site, stating that they have been unable to process my last payment & for me to update my payment details.
 
I have checked with BT & there are no problems with my payments. Please advise your readers to be aware of this scam.