New Scams

We are still getting loads of calls from security companies - our receptionist at the Ascot Police Station front counter has just received one.  When she pointed out she worked for the police, they hung up immediately.  Please be extremely careful not to pass any personal details to anyone over the phone.  If you are concerned about your security, the first people to speak to, are your Neighbourhood Team.  All our PCSOs are trained to do House Security Surveys and give you whatever advice you need.  We - TVP cannot endorse named security installers.  What we would recommend, is that you employ a local security company that have a reputation to uphold.  If you are of pensionable age, you have automatic access to Julie Howard's 'List of Trustworthy Tradesmen'.  Julie, works for Repair With Care.  Her list covers every service you might need, from gardeners, tarmacers, roofers, plumbers decorators and electricians.  Her number is 01628 545000.

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Double Glazing.  We have had a call from someone in Millie Road, Waltham St Lawrence.  They had recently had their windows double glazed.  A man called purporting to be from the company, to say if they agreed a deal for cash, he would give them a large discount on the total cost.  They were suspicious and said they wanted to think about it and immediately phoned the company, who said the man was nothing to do with them.  Please remain alert.  If a deal sounds too good to be true - it is !

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Paintings door to door.  We have had 2 calls from people who have been approached by a young woman selling paintings door to door - Cotswold Close, Oldfield and Bedford Close, Cox Green.  One caller described the woman as Israeli, the other as Dutch, so there may well be more than one.  To do this she / they would need a 'Pedlar's Certificate' issued from a Police Station in the area, in which she lives.  We would really like to have her details, to make sure she has complied with the law.  Generally the paintings come from the Far East and are easily purchased on Ebay for a fraction of the cost she / they, are asking.

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR MOTTO - WE DO NOT BUY OR SELL, GOODS AND SERVICES AT THE DOOR !

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Dodgy Builders - these are not legitimate builders, who may do a shoddy job, but men who say they have carried out work, but in fact have done nothing.  Please keep your eyes open for builders vans suddenly appearing outside elderly neighbours houses and again - have a word with your Neighbourhood Team, who can drive past discretely, to make sure all is in order.

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What is a 'boiler room'?

Any company offering to sell you shares, or buy your shares without authorisation from the FSA may be committing a criminal offence. These companies are commonly known as boiler rooms and they target people who currently hold shares, or have held shares in the past.

They usually operate by convincing people that they have an amazing 'investment opportunity', but end up selling them worthless or non existent shares.  They usually claim to be a UK company, operating from a UK address, with a UK phone number. However most boiler rooms are based overseas, have bogus UK addresses and phone lines that are routed abroad. Anyone dealing with these companies could lose a lot of money.  For further information, please visit the FSA moneymadeclear consumer website and The City of London Police Operation Archway website;

http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uklguides/stayingsafe/staying safe against scams.html

http://www.cityoflondon.police.uklCityPolice/ECDlFraudlboilerroom.htm

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Many of you will be aware of the new Log Book scam that has been heavily covered on TV.  One of our NHW Co-ordinators has found some really good advice to protect anyone considering buying a car: http://web4.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=21470

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Locking up your houses.  A Shift Sergeant has just been to see me, having returned from visiting an attempted burglary.  The owners had heard some thumps at their front door, which had not been double locked.  It was held by the door chain and they did not get in.  At night, houses should be secured properly.  Mortise locks should be double locked.  If you have a UPVC door, it is not sufficient to simply lift the lever.  The deadbolts need to be engaged, by double locking the door with a key.  By doing this, with both wooden and UPVC doors, no one can get in using the letterbox method and it makes it much more difficult to force the door with a shoulder.

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Scams Generally.  I get loads of calls and emails about all sorts of threatening scams, particularly against women.  A piece of paper on the rear windscreen is a very common one.  These are almost certainly just a scary scam.  It is a very cheap way of keeping a population in a state of tension and fear, without actually doing anything at all.  It just keeps the fear factor bubbling away under the surface.  If you get emails of this nature - simply bin them.  People receive them and send them to everyone they know, so they circulate very quickly.  They go around the world and return about every 18 months.  As a Ringmaster recipient - you know everything that is going on.  There are plenty of scambuster websites you can check online, before sending something onto your friends to worry them.

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We have had a few reports of a male either turning up at peoples doors or cold calling on the telephone stating he is from the television licensing agency and wants to check television licenses. 

The Licensing agency confirmed that they do have officers nationwide who are employed to visit selected addresses who do not have a licence. But these officers have no right of entry (without a search warrant) and always carry full identification.

Officers checking licenses will only call on householders who do not have a current television license and have not held one for a length of time. Once a person reaches 75 years and becomes eligible for a free license very very occasionally an inspection call will be made to verify the age of the recipient.  In this instance all other methods of checking this information will have been exhausted and the householder will have received many letters informing them of this and the impending visit.   

 If you are contacted by someone stating they are from the television licensing agency but are unsure if they are genuine (especially if you hold a valid licence) then you can check the validity and identity of doorstep callers from the television licensing agency by calling 0844 800 6747.  This is a call centre number which is open 0800-2100hrs.  When calling, the householders will need to know the officers name or their unique identification number which is four digits long.

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We are hearing loads of reports about scams, which proliferate at this time of year.  If someone forwards you an email, or you hear about a mobile phone scam - press this and that on the phone and it hands over your phone minutes, or the call back is at premium rate etc. etc. Ignore 99%.  Most are just circulated to with the sole intention of keeping us in a state of heightened fear, apprehension and tension.  To make us feel we are continuously 'at risk'.  Simple common sense is generally all you need to identify a scam.  If you have not entered the European Lottery - you cannot win it !  If you are not expecting a parcel - a message on your mobile phone to phone back and arrange collection does not make much sense - AND - how did the Post Office get your mobile number ?  It would be a wonderful improvement in their service - I usually get a note put through my letterbox.  As I say 99% are simply scams to be binned.  If you have email simply go online and search against Scams - the number of sights tells you how big this problem is.

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berkse/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berkse-winds/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n205.htm

We have now had the villagers priorities revealed for the Police in the next year and you can read about them on the Old Windsor Neighbourhood Action Group page. In joint first place was Anti Social Driving and this is something you can do something about very easily.