The recent elections saw David Newbury stand down and Tony Denton was successfully elected as Davids successor. Tony has started up a blog that covers the Clanfield area and I am sure will be a very popular resource locally. Please visit his Blog on www.cllrdenton.com and a link to his blog will be on the side bar of this blog.
Chief Inspector Beth Pirie, our new District Commander, is taking a very proactive role in community engagement, and one of the tools she would like to us to consider using is ‘Hampshire Alert’.
http://www.hampshirealert.co.uk is a free web based system which the public can sign up to and choose what information they want to receive and in what format – email, text or phone message – so the ‘alert’ is personal to them. People can sign up via the website, via their neighbourhood teams or via a portable kiosk that can be taken to events. People don’t need to have access to the internet as details can be added manually. Hampshire Alert is also linked to the Neighbourhood Watch network so anyone in a scheme can also access information about their specific Watch and NPTs can communicate directly with the database of members. Hampshire Alert is nothing like Facebook, Twitter or any other social media site. All the information is kept secure and private; you do not need to set up a social page or add pictures. Once registered, members only need to log into the system to update their details or preferences. Alerts will be sent to their chosen email or phone number. From April, Hampshire Alert will be the primary community engagement tool and the only method for how information is sent direct to communities.
What do we use it for? Primarily, NPTs will use Hampshire Alert to send out appeals, warnings about incidents, engagement events, Trading Standards warnings, crime prevention advice, good news – pretty much anything that would be included in a beat newsletter or Neighbourhood Watch communication. The benefit of it over our current distribution networks is that it can be used to target the community much more effectively using geographical or demographic data. It is also run via an external site so teams can send messages at any time from any internet enabled device. It is not linked to the force network. It also means that the whole team has access to all the community information, unlike now where many NPTs store lists in their own email contacts, or communication is reliant on a certain person being on duty. By using alerts and sending out information as and when incidents happen, teams will be communicating regularly with the public on the matters that they are interested in which is a much more effective and efficient use of their time.
Here is an example of a recent alert for the Horndean and Clanfield area:
Clarvoyant Scams
Hampshire residents are advised to be cautious of scams involving clairvoyants and psychics.
The scammer will make an unsolicited approach, usually by post but also by telephone, email or in person. They will use the person’s name, normally bought from a mailing list, and warn about some sort of trouble which they can help resolve. This may include selling a lucky charm, the removal of a curse or disclosing winning lottery numbers. However, they will ask for payment. If they do not receive this they will warn you that the bad luck will continue.
It can be very frightening to receive this type of communication. Although scammers tend to use mass marketing lists they will sometimes stoop as low as checking death announcements to hand pick their victims who are at a low ebb.
This scam plays on the wants, needs and fears of a person to make them feel safer in the future, in return for a one off or ongoing payments.
Council Tax Scam
Hampshire Trading Standards Service is warning residents to be wary of receiving a call from someone claiming to work at the local council:
Real life case study
Mr H received an unsolicited call from someone alleging to work at his district council. The caller said that Mr H had overpaid his council tax for many years and was due a large rebate. The caller then asked for Mr H’s bank account details so they could refund the money. Mr H had recently been in touch with Trading Standards about another matter where they had advised him not to disclose personal information to an unknown caller. Bearing this in mind Mr H terminated the phone call.
Local authorities have advised they never cold call residents asking for bank account details and the best advice is to terminate the call and report to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0345 04 05 06.
Energy Saving Device
This scam involves the sale of bogus energy saving devices.
As with most scams, this originates from an unsolicited call, normally made by telephone. The caller will make claims that they can help reduce a customer’s energy bill with the sale of a plug-in device. The call will sound very credible and ask for the customer’s bank details. The device is normally sold for £100.
Once received, the device will not work. Tests have shown that many of these devices are unsafe and do not save energy at all.
Real life case study
Mr C received a cold call from someone offering an energy saving device. He agreed to buy it and paid £129 by credit card. The device arrived without a plug. Mr C contacted his energy supplier who advised him not to use the device as it would be of no benefit and unsafe. Mr C contacted his credit card company and they agreed to refund his money.
Bogus phone call from Hampshire County Council
Real life case study
Mrs A reported she had received calls over two nights from a man asking about her home security arrangements. This included him wanting information on her locks, double glazing and details on who lived in the house and how old they are. When Mrs A asked the man where he was calling from, he said ‘Hampshire County Council’. Mrs A phoned Hantsdirect who confirmed this was not a genuine call and she should report this to the police. Mrs A wanted to warn Hampshire residents about this incident, and to report similar concerns to the police.
If you are worried about a potential scam please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline:
By telephone on 03454 04 05 06
Web site: Online consumer complaint form
Trading Standards Service
Montgomery House, Monarch Way
Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5PW
It had to happen sooner or later, and there have been reports of scammers impersonating Trading Standards officers. Details below:
Bogus Trading Standards Officers
Hampshire Trading Standards Service would like to alert the public to a spate of incidents where a cold caller to their home falsely states they are a Trading Standards Officer. Under this guise, the bogus caller attempts to defraud the householder by claiming that they are due money in connection with previous work that has been done on their property. In some cases thermal wall coatings have been mentioned.
The home-owner is told that they will have to pay court costs or other admin fees which will be refunded at a later date. Residents taken in by these false claims have lost several thousand pounds.
Trading Standards Officers, the Police and other officials do not ask for money. If you are suspicious of a cold caller please dial 101 or in an emergency 999.
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service
Montgomery House Monarch Way
Winchester Hampshire SO22 5PW
Tel: 01962 833620
Fax: 01962 833698
E-mail: doorstep.crime@hants.gov.uk
Network Rail are currently running a public consultation on their long term strategic planning process for services on the South West mainline over the next 30 years, covering services from London Waterloo to Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Dorset . Passenger numbers and freight are expected to continue to grow rapidly therefore the study is looking to address the need to provide sufficient capacity in the peak periods, specifically to and from London. The study proposes some urgent options and recommendations for control period 6 (2019-2024) as well as looking ahead to the longer term to 2043.
Network Rail are welcoming comments on the study document. It is lengthy and the deadline for responses is Wednesday 18th February 2015. Comments will need to be sent to either of the following addresses:
Email: WessexRouteStudy@networkrail.co.uk
Post: Wessex Route Study Consultation, Strategic Planner, Network Rail, The Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, London, SE1 2QG
Click on this link to down load the Long Term Planning Process Strategy
On behalf of all 5 Horndean District Councillors we would like to wish everyone in Horndean a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Prosperous New Year.
Guy Shepherd – Downs Ward
Sara Schillemore – Catherington Lovedean Ward
Dorothy Denston – Hazleton Blendworth Ward
David Evans – Kings Ward
Lynn Evans – Murray Ward
And all of the Officers and Staff at EHDC
Also from
Marge Harvey – HCC Councillor
George Hollingbery MP and team.
In lieu of Christmas Cards we have made individual donations to charities of our choices.
Bank Card ‘Courier’ Scam
The Trading Standards Service is continuing to receive calls from Hampshire residents who have been caught out by a sophisticated and malicious scam. Although variations of this scam have featured in the past two bulletins the circumstances of how it operates keep changing. Please read the case study that follows which demonstrates the lengths the fraudster will go to make this scam sound plausible.
Real Life Case Study
Mrs G received a phone call from a woman who said they worked at her bank, and there was a problem with her debit card. They told her not to use it and that a new one had been ordered which would be delivered in the next couple of days. The next day Mrs G visited her bank and they told her the card was fine to use. When Mrs G returned home she received another phone call from the same woman who told her the new card would be delivered on Monday. The woman gave Mrs G a security number to quote when the card was delivered. Mrs G later received a phone call from a man who said there was fault on the phone lines in the area and she must remove all her receivers from the hook. Later that day a man arrived at Mrs G’s door and said he had her new bank card. He asked for her current card which she gave him. Mrs G felt very uneasy about the situation and returned to her bank for advice. On checking, the bank discovered £2000 had been withdrawn from her account. Mrs G understands she has been the victim of a fraud, and she wanted to share her story to warn others.
Should you receive a call of this nature do not engage with the caller and hang up as soon as possible. Do not use your phone to check the plausibility of the caller, as there is a chance they may leave the telephone line open, which will reconnect you to them.
NEVER disclose personal information or bank details over the telephone.
International Lottery Scams
Hampshire Trading Standards Service continues to receive reports from residents receiving notifications that they are the winner of an international lottery. The unsolicited post typically carries a post mark from Australia or Canada, but it may claim to be from anywhere in the world.
This type of lottery scam has been around for a long time. Although fake lotteries may be easy to spot, scammers are becoming more sophisticated with the documentation they use, providing official looking certificates and authorisation stamps. They may also use genuine sounding addresses or websites to make the lottery appear convincing. They will often personalise the letter which makes the recipient believe they have won a valuable prize.
Real Life Case Study 1
Miss C was referred to the Trading Standards Service as it was noticed she was receiving a high volume of unsolicited mail. An officer visited her and discovered Miss C received on average fifty letters a day from various lottery companies claiming to be based in Australia. Although Miss C did not respond to every letter, she had replied to some, often sending cheques upwards of £10. Steps are being taken to reduce the amount of unsolicited mail Miss C receives.
Real Life Case Study 2
Mr B’s daughter was concerned at the high volume of unsolicited mail he received from foreign lotteries. Included in the mail were personalised items including a hand written Christmas card asking for his telephone number so they could let him know when his prize was ready. Mr B believed the scammer was his friend and that they were trying to help him. Thankfully Mr B did not disclose this information and he is now receiving support to protect him from similar scams in the future.
Remember do NOT send any money, pay a fee or disclose bank details to an unsolicited person claiming you have won a prize. The only winner will be the person operating the scam.
Postal Scam Alert – A Warning from Phonepay Plus
PhonepayPlus are the regulator for premium rate phone numbers and phone paid services in the UK. They have asked that the following warning is issued about an old postal scam using a premium rate number.
The Ghost of Christmas past – what to do if you receive an email about a 09066 611911 Number
With the nights drawing in and a chill in the air, it’s clear that Christmas is approaching faster than we all think. With people doing most of their Christmas shopping over the next 6 weeks, and having more and more packages delivered, it’s perhaps predictable that a ghost from the past has given its chains another rattle.
We have recently received a large number of number checker hits for a 090 number that was shut down by PhonepayPlus in December 2005. The number was originally part of a postal scam where a card was posted through consumers’ letter boxes telling them to call a premium rate number, 09066611911 in order to find out how to retrieve a parcel. On calling the number they would then immediately be charged £15.
Despite our best efforts chain emails still sometimes circulate on the internet warning about this number even though it is no longer operating and hasn’t been for some considerable time. If you do receive an e-mail referring to this we would like to reassure you that the number is not in service and should not be a cause for concern. You don’t need to send the warning e-mail on to others but it would be helpful to us if you could forward this information instead.
However, if you do receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and asks you to dial a premium rate number (usually beginning with 090, 09, 070, 118, 0871, 0872 or 0873) you can use our Number Checker or contact us on 0800 500 212 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.00pm) for further guidance.
If you are worried about a potential scam please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline:
By telephone on 03454 04 05 06
