Month: August 2016

Dorset Police and Get Safe Online have issued a warning to the public to be cautious when accessing or supplying private, sensitive or personal data while connected to public Wi-Fi hotspots.

The advice given by Get Safe Online relates to Wi-Fi networks that are commonly found in public places like cafes, hotel rooms, airports, and pubs. It warns that if not fully secure, these networks have the potential to be hijacked by cyber criminals who will seize the opportunity to defraud individuals or steal their identity – or both.

In addition, it reports, cyber criminals have been known to set up fake hotspots on their own laptops in public places and fool members of the public into logging onto them.

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, commented: “The UK has well over 300,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in place – situated in many of the places we love to visit including high street shopping centres, hotels and restaurants.

“The very fact that we have all of these hotspots goes to show that we are a very connected nation. However, although public Wi-Fi offers us great convenience, it can also present a number of dangers – especially as many of us are unaware of the security of the hotspots we use on a regular basis.

“Although they may seem safe when logging in and even sometimes request a code, individuals could soon find themselves the victims of cyber- crime.”

Staying safe on public Wi-Fi networks:

Along with its warning, Get Safe Online has produced a number of simple tips which should be followed in order to stay safe when using public Wi-Fi networks:

1. Don’t use the public Wi-Fi provided in places such as cafes, pubs and hotel rooms if doing anything confidential online, including logging into online accounts.
2. Remember that just being given an access code or being asked for your email address, doesn’t indicate that the Wi-Fi connection is secure.
3. Instead of using premises’ hotspots, use a mobile broadband dongle that is set to secure, your 3G or 4G data connection – even if it’s slower – or wait until you can access a router you know to be secure.
4. Consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect when accessing your company network. If you are a mobile worker, ask your IT department.
5. Wherever possible, use well-known, commercial hotspot providers such as BT Wi-Fi.
6. Ensure your home and office wireless networks are secured.

It’s OK to use public Wi-Fi hotspots for things that you don’t have to log into or aren’t confidential, like checking the news or planning (but not booking) your next holiday.

Dorset Police’s Director of Investigations, Detective Superintendent Pete Little said: “Cyber criminals can easily hijack public networks in order to steal our money and our most personal data – in some extreme cases, even our identity.

“Our advice is not to use public networks if you are looking to browse confidential information, are about to log into an account (like an online bank account), or are about to make a payment of some sort.

“Doing so on a public network comes with huge risk – particularly if you have no way of knowing how secure the network you’re using is.”

Martyn Underhill, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner added: “Cyber-crime has the potential to affect every household and business in Dorset and I am committed to ensuring Dorset Police do everything possible to prevent these crimes.

“In a modern digital world, it is easy to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots and access a whole host of services, but we must remain vigilant.”

Students are being recruited, sometimes unwittingly, as “mules” by criminals to transfer illegally obtained money between different bank accounts. What is a money mule? A money mule is someone who is recruited by those needing to launder money obtained illegally. Criminals advertise fake jobs in newspapers and on the internet in a number of ways, usually offering opportunities to make money quickly, in order to lure potential money mule recruits. These include: Social media posts Copying genuine company’s websites to create impression of legitimacy Sending mass emails offering employment Targeting individuals that have posted their CVs on employment websites Students are particularly susceptible to adverts of this nature. For someone in full-time education, the opportunity for making money quickly can understandably be an attractive one. The mule will accept money into their bank account, before following further instructions on what to do with the funds. Instructions could include transferring the money into a separate specified account or withdrawing the cash and forwarding it on via money transfer service companies like Western Union or MoneyGram. The mule is generally paid a small percentage of the funds as they pass through their account. Money Laundering is a criminal offence which can lead to prosecution and a custodial sentence. Furthermore, it can lead to the mule being unable to obtain credit in the UK and prevented from holding a bank account.

Protect Yourself
Be aware that the offence of money laundering carries a maximum prison sentence, in the UK, of 14 years.
Never give the details of your bank account to anyone that you do not trust.
No legitimate company will ever ask you to use your own bank account to transfer their money. Don’t accept any job offers that ask you to do this.
Be wary of unsolicited emails or social media posts promising ways of earning easy money. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Don’t be afraid to question the legitimacy of any businesses that make you a job offer, especially if the recruitment procedure strays from the conventional.

Enquiries about dental appointments, seagulls causing a nuisance or requests for bus timetables are not appropriate calls for the police. Below are some calls we have received recently on the 101 line:

1. My BT landline is not working and I can’t get through on the fault line
2. Reporting there is a Frisbee in a field
3. My front door won’t shut
4. When does the Natwest bank open?
5. Mobile phone company asking what mobiles Police Officers use trying to make a sale
6. My printer was delivered from Argos today but no warranty with it
7. Can I have the details of a locksmith as my key won’t turn in the lock anymore?
8. Why has the traffic slowed down?
9. Can you get me the talk talk contact number?
10. Who should I vote for in the upcoming election?
11. Found roller skate in back garden and wanted police to collect it
12. Seagull going to toilet on my car as neighbour feeds them
13. I need help with crossword something a policeman holds, t something s something, something, taser!
14. I want a sign up to say bull in field as a warning to ramblers
15. 118 not working so thought to try 101
16. Cannot find my dental appointment and can’t get through to dentist
17. Wanting travel updates for Ringwood
18. Complaint that the google car is going around the streets
19. Complaint taxi was waiting outside and the fumes were annoying her
20. My mum won’t give me any money
21. Male wanting to report his wife for making him pay for her taxi
22. Wanting a lift from Dorchester to Bournemouth
23. A cat has caught a bat
24. New to area wants directions to B&Q
25. Caller unhappy with service of NHS & wanted to know what the police can do to help
26. We had a séance and now Dorset Police won’t answer the phones
27. My cat has got into neighbours garden and I’m worried their dog will attack it
28. Who should I pay my car insurance to?
29. How do I donate my car to the fire brigade to use for cutting?

Please think before you call. Only call Dorset Police if you need police assistance

People selling their items on online platforms are falling victim to a new type of advance fee fraud. This involves a fraudster, posing as a buyer, sending an email to the seller (victim), agreeing to the full asking price of the item. They state that they are unable to collect the item themselves and will arrange for a courier to pick it up instead.

The fraudster then sends a fake payment confirmation email from a different email address, one which falsely purports to be from a payment platform. In the course of the email exchange, the seller/victim is requested to pay the courier fee. Once the payment is made the contact is broken, the item is not picked up and the money paid for the ‘courier’ is gone.

An example of the most recent emails received by the victim/seller, from the ‘Buyer’, read:

“I want you to consider this a deal as i am willing to pay your full asking price! i actually want to buy it for a family member who is urgently in need of it, i have checked through your posting and i’m fully satisfied with it. Unfortunately, i would not be able to come personally to view/collect, i work offshore as an instructor on a oil rig so i dont have time at all, but like i said i am 100% OK with the advert”
Protect Yourself:

• Be wary when buyers wish to purchase items at the full asking price without viewing them.
• Check the validity of the payment receipt confirmation
• Avoid paying an advanced fee if you are a seller; should you choose to use a courier, arrange your own.
• Check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller/buyer. Feedback will give you useful information about recent transactions other buyers/sellers have made.

If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Did you know that many services are available through the website?

Do It Online is a contact portal that can be found on the front page of our website www.dorset.police.uk. Here you can select the service most appropriate to your enquiry and complete the form as directed. Please give as much information as you can to help us answer your enquiry.

The Do It Online function enables you to make enquiries without the need of calling 101, therefore saving your time and any unnecessary expense.