HOME WATCH SCHEME

Ian Lambert has taken over the role of Home Watch Area Co-ordinator for the parish from July 2011 and can be contacted via homewatch@tiverton-cheshire.org.uk

There have been up 11 Home watch Co-ordinators in the parish who work closely with the Area Co-ordinator

Homewatch briefings that cover the Tiverton area can be found at www.tattenhallpc.org/homewatch.htm

Another good website giving up-to-date local police information can be found at  http://www.cheshire.police.uk/news--appeals/latest-news.aspx

Recent postings about scams:

PRIZE DRAW AND SWEEPSTAKE SCAMS

Consumers receive an official looking letter or e-mail notifying them that they

have already won a large cash prize, government payout or other major award.

To claim the win the recipient must often send a fee of between £5 and £30,

variously described as a 'processing', or 'administrative' fee. Or it is implied

that an order must be placed from an accompanying mail order catalogue in

order to claim the prize. Often in faint small letters on the reverse of the

notification, the 'Terms and Conditions' or the 'Official Rules' will explain that

the recipient is only being offered the opportunity to enter a prize draw or

sweepstakes with a very small chance of winning the major cash payout. Some

promoters send a cheque for a nominal sum, but not the promised large win.

Others send cheap prizes or nothing at all

FOREIGN LOTTERY SCAMS

Consumers receive a letter, telephone call or e-mail telling them that they have

won a major cash prize in an overseas lottery. They will often be told to

telephone a sales agent who will ask the victim to send money to cover

adminstration, customs and taxes. The winnings do not exist and are never

received.

WORK AT HOME AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SCAMS

A work or business opportunity is advertised in a local newspaper, magazines,

shop windows, on lamp posts, on the web or in a letter which claims to offer a

quick way to make a lot of money from home without having any qualifications,

skills or expertise.

The catch is that before starting any work the victim has to pay money up

front. This is in the form of a registration fee or to buy goods. After this money

has been paid the victim either finds that there is either no work to do or that

they will not be paid for any work done.

Some common examples

Addressing or stuffing envelopes: a registration fee is payable to join in return

for simple advice on how to place similar advertisements to attract other people

into the scam.

Home assembly kits: a fee is payable to receive a kit for making things from

baby boots and aprons to toys. However, the kit is usually inadequate for

making the goods required. The scammer either promises to pay for the goods

but then rejects them because they say the work is sub-standard or suddenly

tells the victim that he has to sell the goods and when he tries to do so he finds

that there is no market for the goods.

Home working directories: Promises of a variety of different home work

opportunities in return for a fee of £10 to £25 are made, but the victim only

receives a directory of other companies who have their own registration fees

and a list of shopping catalogues.

PREMIUM RATE TELEPHONE PRIZE SCAMS

Consumers receive a letter, SMS text or automated telephone message telling

them that they have won a major prize and urging them to ring or text an 090

premium rate number to find out what they can claim. The impression is given

that the recipient has won a large cash prize, holiday, or other valuable award.

Calls to the premium rate number cost up to £1.50 a minute and the caller is

kept on the line listening to a recorded message for several minutes. Nearly

everyone who responds ends up with a cheap 'giveaway' item such as discount

vouchers worth less than the cost of the call and may also be charged a delivery

fee to receive their 'prize'.

SCAMS that you should be aware of:

SCAM 1

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the
information, except the one piece they want. Note, the callers do not
ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is
worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone
Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself..
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was
called on Thursday from "MasterCard". The scam works like this: Person
calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and
Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been
flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify.
This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did
you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing
company based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues
with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a
company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497,
just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your
next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is
that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be
starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should
call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and
ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The
caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it
again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says,
"I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to
"turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers;
the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security
numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the
numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have
the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After
you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just
needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that
you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you
say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to
call back if you do", and hangs up You actually say very little, and
they never ask for or tell you the Card number ..


But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20
minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security
Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new
purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card. Long story - short - we
made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing
us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on
the back of the card.  Don't give it to them . Instead, tell them
you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their
conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for
anything on the card as they already know the information since they
issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you
think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your
statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then
it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud
report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from
a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the
VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish I hung up! We filed a
police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking
several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we
know that this scam is happening .

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each
other, we protect each other.

Scam 2

The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the following scam (it has been confirmed by Royal Mail) :

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).

Do NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655.

 

SCAMS Part 3

PYRAMID SELLING AND CHAIN LETTER SCAMS

Pyramid schemes are advertised through mailings, newspapers, the Internet, or

recruitment meetings, or consumers might hear about them through a relative or

friend. They are asked to pay to become a member and are promised large

commission earnings if they recruit others to the scheme. If enough new

members join, the pyramid will grow, possibly enabling some members to make

money. But, in order for every member to make money, there would need to be

an endless supply of newcomers.

Pyramid schemes may try to appear legitimate by claiming that members will

receive benefits such as discounted travel services, or will make money by

selling goods or services, but the real purpose of the scheme is to encourage

them to recruit new members.

BOGUS HOLIDAY CLUB SCAMS

Consumers are approached on the street whilst on holiday and given a scratch

card which reveals that they have won a 'free' prize or they are phoned at home

or receive a letter at home telling them that they have won a 'free' holiday. All

they need to do is go to a presentation to collect their prize and learn more

about a new holiday venture.

They will be made to feel as if they are joining an exclusive holiday club which

will offer exciting and great value holidays all over the world in top class

accommodation. They will be pressured into signing up on the spot. In reality

dates or destinations are not guaranteed and holidays are often not available

when and where wanted. Victims later find out that the 'free' holiday isn't free,

as they must pay for extras, such as flights and other add-ons and go

somewhere they don't want to go at a time that doesn't suit.

INTERNET DIALER SCAMS

Consumers open a spam e-mail, click on a pop-up box or visit a pay-per-view

website and unwittingly download dial-up software which changes their

computer settings. The rogue dialer connects them to the Internet via an

expensive telephone line. They think that they are still connected via their usual

Internet connection but in fact they are racking up bills on lines charging more

than the standard rate per minute.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY SCAMS

Bogus vanity publishers

Consumers see an advert offering to turn manuscripts into successful published

books. The publisher will express enthusiasm for their manuscript and its

commercial potential, outlining a plan for getting the published version into

bookshops. However, they will also explain that for the plan to be put into

effect, they will need to pay a fee towards the initial costs of publishing and

marketing. The fee may amount to hundreds, even thousands, of pounds. The

publisher will say that the fee will soon be recovered when the royalties from

book sales start rolling in. The reality is likely to be publication of a relatively

small number of copies of the manuscript and the publisher making no real effort

at marketing the published book.

Bogus invention promotion companies

Consumers see an advert offering free information on how to patent and market

inventions. After giving their invention a preliminary review, they will be told

that the company needs to do a market evaluation of the idea for a fee that can

be several hundred pounds. The 'research' is bogus, and the 'positive' reports are

mass produced in an effort to sell clients additional invention promotion and

marketing services.

Bogus model and casting agencies

Consumers see an advert in a newspaper encouraging them to attend meetings

and casting seminars. They may be convinced into parting with money up front.

They are promised that the casting agency will take a portfolio of photographs

(which are often overpriced and very poor quality) and find them at least one top

agency which will offer them a contract. They are told that they could get work

in films, brochures and catalogues and promised that if they do not receive the

offer of a contract from an agency within a set period of time the money paid

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