Crime prevention update

Our local police force has shared their latest crime prevention update with us again.

Avoiding getting scammed

Be wary of the carrot…

It is something of a truism that if someone makes you an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be especially wary if something you want (free money, holidays, etc.) come with strings attached, such as a request for your personal information, including your:

• full name
• date of birth
• address
• bank account details
• card details
• passwords or other login information

..and the stick

It is common for fraudsters to impersonate your bank or other institution and accuse you of wrongdoing or advise you of an emergency or suspicious activity operating on your account and ask you to ‘verify’ your personal details. They may threaten dire repercussions if you don’t comply. Always be on your guard if you feel pressured to act quickly because criminals commonly use pressure tactics to get people to act before they think. These may arrive through any channel – in the post, by phone and increasingly via social media.

Stop and think!

Always stop and think, then ignore the convenient contact details they are asking you to use, find the official contact details for whichever organisation has contacted you, call them using those contact details, and ask them if they have been in touch. If they have not, you know for certain someone was trying to steal your identity and gain access to your account.

Check out the full guide from Take Five and Mencap to staying safe from fraud.

Specific frauds of the moment

Number plate theft

Believe it or not, criminals steal number plates from parked vehicles. Stolen number plates can be used to disguise another car to aid crimes like ram-raiding, burglary, evading congestion charges, changing the identity of a stolen car so it can be sold, or driving off from petrol stations without paying. You can protect yourself by fitting your number plate with anti-theft security screws. These special screws can easily be fitted with a normal screwdriver but cannot be removed using normal tools.

If your number plate does get stolen, report it immediately to:

• the police at www.hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101
• the DVLA
• your insurance company

You must contact all three so that the use of the stolen numberplates can be tracked immediately and to ensure you do not become a suspect in any criminal activity involving a vehicle using the stolen plates. Replace your number plates, as it is illegal to drive without them. Registered and authorised suppliers are listed on the DVLA website.

Fake TV licensing emails

Action Fraud have received over 6000 reports in two weeks regarding fake emails claiming to be from TV Licensing. The email states that the licence is about to expire or there was an issue with the last payment. Remember to always contact the organisation directly using contact details from their official website, don’t use the contact details provided in the email or click on any links.

You can report suspicious emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk

Dating scams

Lonely hearts are linked to vulnerable wallets. It is all too easy for someone to woo a person online and then begin asking for money. This is all too common a scam. When meeting someone online for the very first time, you never really know who you are meeting. You can use Google Reverse Image search to see if their profile image – and any other photos they have sent of themselves – are actually genuine or can be found elsewhere online and check out any other personal details they have given you, but be aware that they might have built a persona based on a different, real person.

Maintain clear boundaries and if they present with financial problems, don’t send them any money and certainly don’t share your bank details. Whatever their motivation, this is likely to become a slippery slope that will leave you heartbroken and seriously out of pocket.

You can find more dating safety advice at Get Safe Online.

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