Received 21st June 2018
Phishing Alert – Fake texts about your EE bill.
Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link or attachment in an unexpected email or text.
The fake text messages purport to be from EE and claim that you haven’t paid a bill. The link in the message leads to a phishing website designed to steal your EE account login details as well as personal and financial information. For more information on how to stay secure online visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk
Received 20/07/2016 from Louise Walker, Police Watch Liaison officer
Please be aware of a scam that is currently circulating in the Blackpool and Lancaster areas whereby phone calls and text messages are received from callers pretending to be from HMRC.
One of the calls involves an automated message along the lines of “This is Her majesty’s Revenue and Customs. We have been trying to reach you to let you know we are filing a law suit against you. Please press 1 to speak to a case officer”.
Text messages have been received, supposedly from HMRC regarding a recent tax rebate the recipient has applied for. It asks them to complete a form, which includes the last 3 digits of their bank card and their driving licence number.
If you receive any of these calls or text messages, please DO NOT GIVE OUT ANY PERSONAL DETAILS OR BANK DETAILS. Contact your service provider and Action Fraud as soon as possible on 0300 123 2040 or at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud.
Received 11/07/16 from Police Sgt Danielle Feaney, Wyre and Garstang
A reminder please to ring 101 or 999 in an emergency, email an officer direct or email the local Neighbourhood Police Team or ring Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111 with any information that you may have in relation to possible illegal drug use or the selling of illegal drugs.
As a result of a number of complaints and intelligence about a male dealing cannabis from a car in the Wyre area, local officers acted upon the information and came across the identified vehicle. There was clear evidence of cannabis on display in the car. Some of the information was that the car had been seen in suspicious circumstances with young children from the local high school seen approaching the car after school on a local car park and that they were buying drugs from the occupants of the car. The two males from the car were issued with cannabis warnings as there was no evidence of the cannabis being supplied to anyone.
It is clear from the information provided to the police that unlawful drugs are not tolerated by the majority of residents in the wider area and they will act upon clear intelligence.
So again, if you know of someone using or dealing unlawful drugs you can ring 101, contact an officer directly by logging on to the Lancashire Police website, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.
Received 30/03/16 from Engagement Team, (Police, Police Staff, Lancashire)
Lancashire Constabulary are inviting people to consider a career as a special constable.
The force is hosting three recruitment events on 5 April at University of Cumbria, Lancaster Campus, Lancaster starting at 7pm; 7 April at the 1st Bispham Scout and Guide Centre, Devonshire Road, Blackpool at 7pm and 12 April at Accrington and Rossendale College. The events will give people the chance to hear presentations from existing special constables whilst asking any questions they have about joining the force.
To register for the events, visit the website at http://www.lancashire.police.uk/join-us/special-constables.aspx
The recruitment window opens to apply at 10 am on 8 April till noon 25 April 2016.
Received 17/02/16
The application form for PCSO recruitment will go live on the Lancashire Constabulary website at www.lancashire.police.uk at 10 am on Thursday 18 February 2016. They are recruiting numerous officers to start work around the end of June 2016. These are permanent positions and there will be full and part time vacancies. They are also committed to supporting flexible working wherever possible.
PCSOs play a vital part in keeping communities safe. There are vacancies across Lancashire and Lancashire Constabulary are keen to hear if you have experience of helping or working with vulnerable people in our communities.
All applications need to be completed on-line and must be submitted by FRIDAY 4 MARCH 2016 AT 12 NOON. After this, there will be an assessment centre later in March with interviews for successful candidates currently scheduled for early April.
If you want to know more about what it is like to be a PCSO in Lancashire, have a look at the two officer profiles at http://www.lancashire.police.uk/join-us/pcsos.aspx
Received 28/01/16
Message sent by Action Fraud – National
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau is warning people of the dangers of Recovery Room fraudsters targeting former victims of Timeshare fraud. Recovery Room Fraud refers to a scam whereby fraudsters contact the victim of previous frauds, often by way of cold calling them, and claim to be able to recover previously lost funds.
They usually claim to be a legal professional or a representative of a government agency (normally within the country where the original timeshare property was based) in order to legitimise the scam. The fraudsters know personal details about the victim and their previous investment, which gives them credibility. They claim that the advanced fees requested are for local taxes or litigation costs incurred during the recovery of the funds. It is suspected that the persons behind Recovery Room frauds are often the same people involved in the original scams.
Initially a small fee, typically £200-£400 is requested by the fraudsters, which they often claim is refundable as part of a no-win no-fee basis. The fraudsters rely on the victims seeing this as a nominal fee compared to the amounts lost and therefore worth paying if it facilitates the return of their money. Once paid, various excuses are made by the fraudsters to explain delays in the recovery of the funds. Subsequently further larger amounts are then requested by the fraudsters. Needless to say, no refunds ever materialise and no money is ever recovered.
NEVER RESPOND TO UNSOLICITED PHONE CALLS. IF IN DOUBT, HANG UP.
ALWAYS CHECK THE DETAILS OF THE ORGANISATION OR COMPANY CONTACTING YOU (SUCH AS THE WEBSITE, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER) ARE CORRECT
DON’T BE FOOLED BY A PROFESSIONAL LOOKING WEBSITE AS NOWADAYS THE COST OF CREATING A PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE IS EASILY AFFORDABLE.
BE WARY OF ANY FIRMS OR INDIVIDUALS ASKING FOR ADVANCED FEES.
CONSIDER SEEKING INDEPENDENT LEGAL AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF FRAUD, REPORT IT ONLINE TO http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report fraud or telephone 0300 123 2040.
Received 16/10/2015
Beware of Cold Callers offering Gardening Services. A gentleman who lives in St. Anne’s has paid out tens of thousands of pounds for tree felling (badly) to a couple of brothers in their 30’s, of which one has jet black hair. They have a white Citreon Despatch van with yellow and red hazard stripes on the back. The brothers have taken advantage of this man by making him pay money up front so they can hire equipment for tree felling. The work was never finished.
Please don’t agree to gardening, roofing or driveway work being carried out by people cold calling at your door. Always ask friends, family or neighbours for recommendations if you see they have had work done and it looks professional, or you can go to the Lancashire County Council Safe Trader website.
If you want to report suspicious people or vehicles in your area, phone the Police on 101 or go to https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/
If you have been the victim of a fraud go to the Police Action Fraud website to report it. www.actionfraud.police.uk/report fraud