Crime Warnings For December

TV Licence refund

A few weeks ago we reported on a scam about emails TV licence refunds.  This scam is still on active warning.

Legitimate emails about your TV licence will come from donotreply@tvlicensing.co.uk or donotreply@spp.tvlicensing.co.uk and will include your name.

Shed Break-ins in Kilburn

Please be aware that in the Woodhouse Road area of Kilburn police have had reports of a couple of shed break-ins.
The incidents occurred over the nights of 8th and 9th December.
Please ensure you have secured all items within and remain cautious.
Report incidents on: 101/999.

Stay With Cars While Defrosting

Police are urging motorists not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engine running following two thefts in recent weeks.

As temperatures drop, you may be tempted to leave your vehicle running while the windows thaw but this leaves it vulnerable to opportunistic thieves.

More Belper Car Break-ins

Following the previously reported car break-ins in 6 locations in DE56, the police are now dealing with 2 more in the Belper area.
The new brak-ins occurred in the vicinity of Pilsley Close and Thornhill Avenue.
Please remain vigilant and ensure your motor vehicle is locked and all valuables are removed.
If you see or hear anything suspicious or have any issues please phone on 101/999

Netflix Account Freeze Scam

Here’s what you need to know about this particular scam:

• If you deleted the original email without clicking anything, you did the right thing. The crooks have tried and failed, so you win.
• If you clicked through to the fake login page but bailed out without entering anything, you’re also safe.
• If you went as far as trying to login on the bogus site, the crooks know your password. Get yourself to the genuine Netflix login page as soon as you can and change your password.
• If you gave away your credit card details, the crooks know those too. Call your bank as soon as you can to cancel your card. (Look on the back of your actual card for the number to call, for safety’s sake!)
• If you think your card was compromised, keep a close eye on your statements. You should keep your eye on your financial records anyway, but you might as well step up your scrutiny after a security scare of this sort.

What to do:

• Never login via web pages that show up in an email. If you always find your own way to login pages, for example via a bookmark or your password manager, then you never have to worry whether a login link is phishy or not, because you won’t be clicking it anyway!
• Use a password manager. Your password manager won’t put your Netflix password – or, indeed, any password – into a bogus site for the simple reason that it won’t recognise the site and won’t have a password to submit in the first place.
• Measure twice, cut once. The scam above has plenty of giveaways, including obviously fake URLs; the use of HTTP instead of HTTPS in the email; and spelling errors. Getting scammed is bad enough without the pain of realising afterwards that all the signs were there for you to spot easily, but you were in too much of a hurry to stop and check.

For further information about the Netflix scam: https://bit.ly/2LdTTq9

Social Media Scams

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has received intelligence to suggest that fraudsters are contacting social media influencers, based in the UK and abroad, offering them the opportunity to market a bogus product, service or investment opportunity. Fraudsters will present professional and credible pitches to the social media influencers and try to convince them to feature the opportunity for a fee on their social media profiles in order to entice unsuspecting followers of the influencer to sign up or make a purchase. Additionally, fraudsters are using the names of well-known public figures, implying that their opportunity or product is endorsed by the figure when it is not. The public should be aware that any apparent endorsement by celebrities, influencers or personalities does not necessarily mean that an investment, product or service is genuine. The public is urged to exercise a cautious approach to any such offer of investment, product or service with the same caution they would at any other time.

What You Need To Do

• If you are purchasing goods from a company you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, or ask friends or family for advice before completing a purchase.

• Professional-looking websites, adverts or social media posts do not guarantee that an investment opportunity or product is genuine. Criminals can exploit the names of well-known brands or individuals to make them appear legitimate.

• Avoid paying for goods or services by bank transfer unless you know and trust the person or company. Payments via bank transfer offer you no protection if you become a victim of fraud. Instead, use your credit card or payment services such as PayPal as they offer you greater protection if you become a victim of fraud.

Fake Business Services

Nailed has been recieving email that we have identified as the same scam source, due to repeated format and features, and repeated focuses.

The emails offer a service.  We have been offered information about a national event (for a fee).  This is not usual as inclusion in a news service is worth a lot in promotional terms.  Nobody charges for getting free services from someone else.  We’re the only news outlet in the area but this scam was in the same format as other emails we have recieved and may be tailored to your business.

Key factors:

• No company named, no contact details for the business
• Doesn’t use a business email address
• includes a vague fictional job title eg. “online business expert”
• often the name on the email doesn’t match the name on the fake proposal
• Offers to get your business to the top of search results, offer SEO advice, offers to redesign your website and similar

Police Advice on Christmas Shopping

Whilst Shopping:
Don’t carry too much cash and keep your purse, wallet or bag close to your body

If out shopping in your car, park in a well-lit area and keep all valuables and purchases out of sight

If you go for a coffee or something to eat, don’t put your bag over the back of a chair or anywhere readily accessible to others and don’t leave your mobile phone on the table, even when you are still sat at the table

When shopping on-line always check the web address to make sure you are on the correct site and sign-up to ‘Verified by Visa’ or ‘Mastercard Secure Code’.

Having got your presents home or had them delivered, then there are also some steps to take to keep your house safe:

Remember to lock your doors even when you are in.

Don’t leave Christmas presents in full view or leave empty boxes from expensive items outside the house for collection.

If out when it is dark, then give the impression someone is in by leaving lights and TV/Radio on.

If going away, then don’t advertise the fact on social media, make sure you have cancelled any deliveries and ask someone to bring your wheelie bin in.

 

Safer Neighbourhood Events:

If you have any particular worries then we are holding a range of range of events across the county where you can call in and speak to one of our Safer Neighbourhood officers:

Saturday 14 December
10am – 1pm – Long Eaton Market Place, Long Eaton
10am – 2pm – St Michael’s Brimington Church Hall, Church Street, Brimington, Chesterfield
12midday – 1pm – McDonalds restaurant, Raynesway, Derby

Sunday 15 December
12midday – 2pm – McDonalds restaurant, Osmaston Park Road, Derby

Monday 16 December
9.30am – 12.30pm – The Deli, Blenheim Drive, Allestree, Derby
5pm – 7pm – Sainsbury’s, Civic Way, Swadlincote

Wednesday 18 December
10am – 2pm – Co-op Funeral Care, Nottingham Road, Ripley
11am – 1pm – Linton Village Hall, Linton, South Derbyshire.

Thursday 19 December
12midday  – 2pm – B and Q, Peak Drive, Osmaston Park Road, Derby

Saturday 21 December
2pm – 4pm – Pavements Shopping Centre, Chesterfield

Monday 23 December
10am – 12midday – Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, Chesterfield
12.30pm – 2.30pm – Aldi, Coleman Street, Alvaston, Derby.