Category: Community

Theft of fuel cans
We have had a report of cans of fuel being stolen from a construction site in the North Dorset area.

These cans were not secured but hidden away near machinery and the area they were stolen from was closed to the public.

Please can we remind residents that opportunistic thieves are around and to keep items, however small, secured and safe.

Regards,
Kate Hann
North Dorset Safer Neighbourhood Team

Royal Mail e-mail scam
A scam email is currently being sent to victims fraudulently claiming to be from the Royal Mail. Attached to the email is the CryptoLocker virus.

The victim receives an email purporting to be from the Royal Mail stating that they are holding a parcel/letter for the victim. The victim is then required to contact the Royal Mail to arrange for the item to be resent/collected.

By following the instructions within the email the CryptoLocker virus is subsequently downloaded to the victim’s computer. This virus encrypts files on the victim’s system and requests a ransom be paid in order for the files to be decrypted.

Additional incentive is added for early repayment as the ransomware states that the cost of decrypting the files will increase the longer the fine is outstanding.

Protect yourself:

• Look at who the email is addressed to. Is it generic or specifically addressed?
• Look at the quality of the images included on the email. Are they of sufficient high quality that they could come from Royal Mail?
• Do not open attachments from unsolicited emails regardless of who they are from.
• Do not click on the link supplied. Instead, go to the relevant website and log in from there.
• Check the address of any email received to see if it appears legitimate.

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040

Good Afternoon

Just a reminder that there will be a “Sheducation” event at the Blandford Rural Homewatch Meeting, held at Okeford Fitzpaine Village Hall at 1030am on Thursday 25th June.

If you would like further information, would like to be involved or have any suggestions for any other crime prevention activities then please reply to this message. Alternatively come and visit us on the day and have a chat or call 101.

Many Thanks

Blandford Rural SNT

Message sent by

Amy Crowfoot (Dorset Police, Communications and Engagement Department, Force HQ)

Click here to view the itinerary:

http://www.dorset.police.uk/pdf/NHW_Week_2015_Events_Lists_v2.pdf

Fraud and cyber crime are the key themes in this year’s Neighbourhood and Home Watch Week – a national event which encourages communities to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour by working together and increasing community spirit.

Community-led events will be happening all over Dorset between Saturday 20 June and Sunday 28 June 2015. This will include a cyber crime awareness day in Bournemouth and Blue Light Day in Shaftesbury, both on 27 June.

Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups work alongside organisations including the police, fire service, local authorities and the Dorset Association of Town and Parish Councils, to make their community a better place and to improve the quality of life for local people.

The police provide tips and tricks on how to bolster home and garden security and advice on personal safety and staying safe online and in the home – focusing on phone and doorstep fraud.

Members of Dorset Watch groups will be joining their fellow countrymen and women from across England and Wales during the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Week.

A total of 173,000 coordinators will be spending the week talking to their neighbours about the dangers of phone scams and cyber crime.
Dorset has lost over £1 million to phone fraudsters since March 2014 but since BT and other operators have shut the lines down, after two seconds of being disconnected, the police have not received any reports.

The message of never giving out bank details over the phone still applies. Criminals are likely to find different ways to scam people, so police will be attending events across the county to give out free, impartial advice on crime prevention and will encourage people to get into the habit of hanging up on fraudsters.

According to Neighbourhood Watch, new research shows that £23.6 million was lost nationally over the course of the year through phone fraud – the most common type of crime of this nature.

Tackling cyber crime is high on the agenda of Dorset Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and several other agencies and charities.

John Shave MBE, Association of Dorset Watches Chair, said: “National Neighbourhood and Home Watch week provides all groups with the opportunity to promote the benefits of Watch membership and crime prevention advice.

“Across the county, various groups will be running events and distributing materials. This year there is a particular focus on cyber crime and fraud in all its various forms.

Helen Brittan, Head of Volunteers Strategy Project, added: “Neighbourhood and Home Watches are the largest volunteer organisation in Dorset and they demonstrate community action at its best in helping to keep Dorset safe.

“Dorset Police supports Watches wholeheartedly in their role and this week highlights the vital volunteering work being undertaken by schemes.

“We are advising people to Hang Up On Fraudsters in our phone fraud campaign and people can get free advice on cyber crime by visiting www.getsafeonline.org.”

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill commented: “I would always encourage people to join up to their local watch scheme. Neighbourhood and Home Watch volunteers are perfectly placed to spot crime as they look out for each other and are able to spot anything suspicious and are a point of contact for the police.

“It’s about the community policing itself and it’s about the community and the police working together. I am a strong advocate of Neighbourhood Watch and I am proud that my office is contributing funds to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Dorset.”

Action Fraud has seen an increase in the number of small to medium sized businesses being contacted by fake bailiffs requesting payments for a phantom debt.

The scam involves the business being cold called from someone purporting they are bailiffs working on behalf of a court, attempting to recover funds for a non-existent debt. The caller will then request payment by means of bank transfer and if this is refused, will threaten to visit the premises to recover the debt that is owed.

A range of different businesses are being targeted; including Nurseries, Manufacturers, Hotels and Taxi Services.

Protect Yourself

• Confirm what the debt is regarding; bailiffs are only used to recover certain debts such as council tax, child support and compensation orders. Bailiffs are not used to recover debts relating to private advertisement; these would be collected by debt collectors. Debt collectors do not have the same legal powers as bailiffs and will not have special court authorisation to act. For more details regarding this, please look at the Citizens Advice website.
• Double check with the Court or originating company to confirm whether the suspects are legitimate; if you use a landline make sure you hear the dialling tone prior to dialling as the suspects could still be on the line.
• Request details of the debt in writing to access its legitimacy.
• Do not feel rushed or intimidated to make a decision based on a phone call.

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

Fraudsters often target ‘goods for sale’ adverts on popular online auctions sites, so watch out whenever you’re selling anything online.

How does the fraudster operate?

The fraudster will contact the seller to say that they want to buy the advertised item.
The seller then receives what looks like a genuine PayPal email, to confirm that the money has been paid by the buyer into their account.

With confirmation of payment, the seller will then send the item to the buyer’s address. The seller will later find that the PayPal email is fake and that the money has not been paid. The seller ends up losing out twice as not only do they not have the money, but they no longer have the item to sell.

Protect yourself:

• Check your PayPal account to ensure that the money has been paid in and has cleared into your bank account before you send the item to the buyer.
• Do not be bullied or rushed into sending items before you know that the payment has cleared – a genuine purchaser will not mind waiting a day or two for you to send them their item.
• If you are selling a vehicle, think carefully when selling to overseas purchasers – especially if they tell you they will send an extra payment for shipping – check that the funds have cleared before arranging this.

People nationwide are receiving cold calls and are being persuaded to invest in ‘Fine Art’.

Concerns around this include:
• How the commodity is being offered, such as how the cold callers persuade victims to part with their money.
• Hidden costs charged to the victims to view the product, shipping costs or additional fees to store the item.

How to protect yourself:

•  If the investment sounds too good to be true it probably is.
•  Hang-up on investment cold calls. Legitimate companies will not ring-up and offer you an investment out of the blue.
•  Do not give out personal financial information to cold callers
• Check whether the art dealer is a member of a trade association, such as The Society of London Art Dealers (SLAD), The Association of Art and Antique Dealers (LAPADA), The British Art Dealers Association (BADA) or Confederation of International Dealers in Art Work (CINOA).
•  Request copies of old receipts, invoices and question the history of the previous owner of the art investment, to check if the product is genuine before investing.

We’re proud to announce that the Shaftesbury and Gillingham Home Watch association are now on line.

We’d like to ask anyone who has a home or business in these areas to get online and check them out. They are a great source of security information and practical advice for keeping yourself and your property secure.

www.sgwha.org.uk

North Dorset Officers have been investigating a theft of a Landrover discovery car, taken sometime between 2200hrs yesterday 14052015 and 0500hrs today 15052015
This vehicle has been taken from the Silton area of Gillingham.

This does follow on from another Landrover theft from Todber, Sturminster Newton during the day on Tuesday 12052015.

Both vehicles have been the older style Landrovers.

Although these don’t appear to be linked crimes at this time, the safer neighbourhood teams would like to encourage owners of older vehicles to check the security of their vehicles and to consider purchasing after market security features such as steering wheel locks or other devices that are widely available.