Broughton and Appleby

Community Safety News

Cannabis edibles are a significant risk, particularly to young people which these drugs are often aimed at.  Please see the attached document which contains information and advice for children, parents and guardians.

If you think that someone is supplying cannabis edibles in your local area please contact Humberside Police on 101 or visit www.humberside.police.uk.   If you prefer to remain anonymous contact CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.





 
Links and attachments: Humberside Police will only ever link you to secure web-sites we trust. We will only send you attachments where we believe it is absolutely necessary.

Crime Prevention Advice

There have been increased reports of criminals spoofing genuine HMRC telephone numbers to deceive consumers over the phone. The criminals state that because of the victim's non-payment of tax or other duty, they are liable for prosecution or other legal proceedings. People are told that they can avoid this by arranging payment to be made immediately by methods such as bank transfer or by purchasing gift cards.

If the potential victim is hesitant or refuses to comply, the suspect makes a threat such as immediate arrest, sending bailiffs to their address or, in some cases, deportation.

Often, the period for which the tax is allegedly due is distant enough to guarantee the victim will have little, if any, paperwork, or ability to verify the claims. Once the money is paid the suspects sever all contact with the victim.

Act!

Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information. Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and contact details), it doesn't mean they are genuine. Instead, contact the company directly using trusted methods such as known email address or phone number.

Legitimate organisations wouldn't ask you to pay taxes, bills or fees using a gift card, or any other type of voucher. If you're contacted by anyone that asks you to do this, you're the target of a scam.

Don't be rushed or pressured into deciding. Under no circumstances would a genuine bank or some other trusted organisation force you to make a financial transaction on the spot.

Report phishing scam attempts. If you receive a call, text or email of this nature and have not lost money, you can report this as phishing to Action Fraud.




Visit our website for crime prevention advice

Links and attachments: Humberside Police will only ever link you to secure web-sites we trust. We will only send you attachments where we believe it is absolutely necessary.

Crime Prevention Advice

With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted throughout the UK, not only are we able to move more freely around our local communities, so can the criminals. The summer months are the peak months for doorstep crime so please be cautious when dealing with uninvited callers.

From bogus callers to rogue traders, doorstep criminals are cunning , creative, and convincing. Anyone can be fooled as these people are professional con artists.

Bogus callers try to get into your home and get personal details by pretending to be someone they're not. This can include council staff, charity collectors, meter readers and police officers. They are criminals trying to steal money and valuables.

Rogue traders usually cold call. they claim to be workers offering services, make repairs or carry out work on your property. They charge inflated prices for shoddy or work that isn't needed. They tell you the work needs to be done immediately. They will ask to be paid there and then. They may offer to go to the bank with you if you don't have the cash to hand.

Here are some tips on how to protect yourself:

- Keep front and back doors locked
- Fit a door chain or bar - use it and keep it on when talking to callers at the door
- If you're not sure, don't answer the door
- Don't feel embarrassed - genuine callers expect you to be careful
- Only let callers in if they have an appointment - confirm they are genuine
- Always ask for identification badges, but don't rely on them
- Identity cards can be faked - phone the company to verify their identity
- Never agree to pay for goods or give money to strangers who arrive at your door
- It's your home; there's no reason why anyone should ever enter against your wishes
- Purchase a video doorbell or CCTV equipment, these can act as a deterrent for criminals
- CCTV stickers and 'No Cold Calling' stickers also deter criminals

Report It!

If you are concerned that criminals are in your neighbourhood, call the police immediately on 999 if they are still in the area. If they are no longer in the area report it to the Police on 101




Visit our website for crime prevention advice

Links and attachments: Humberside Police will only ever link you to secure web-sites we trust. We will only send you attachments where we believe it is absolutely necessary.

Investment Fraud – don’t let your hard earned savings end up funding someone else’s lifestyle

In our ongoing campaign to protect our communities from fraud we are warning people of the dangers of Investment fraud.

Sergeant Ben Robinson from our Economic Crime Unit said, “We know people want to make their money work for them and people often look for a quick return on their investment. 

“But how can you tell if the person or company you are dealing with are acting in your best interest and will actually invest your money properly? 

“How can you know if they are not fraudsters looking to scam you out of your hard-earned money?

“We have received a number of recent reports of investment scams in our area and I want to warn people to be on their guard and check the legitimacy of the people they are dealing with before they hand over one penny of their money.

“I know there is lots of useful information online but we have gathered some general fraud prevention information together here to hopefully save anyone losing money they think they are investing.

“Remember if something seems too good to be true, it generally is.

“If you think you have been a victim of Investment fraud don’t keep it to yourself – tell Action Fraud – together we can help protect our community and their money.”

What is financial investment fraud?

There are many different types of investment fraud. They usually involve people being contacted via social media or directly over the phone and being persuaded to invest in a scheme or product. 

Often the schemes seem a great way to make your money grow but are actually worthless or do not even exist.
Once the caller has received their payment, they cut all contact and the money is gone.
One of the schemes seen recently the news both locally, nationally and internationally is a Ponzi scheme.

Ponzi schemes are ‘get rich quick’ investment scams which pay returns to investors from their own money, or from money paid in by subsequent investors. There is no actual investment scheme as the fraudsters siphon off the money for themselves. Read more about Ponzi Schemes below*

How to protect yourself from Financial Investment fraud:

Thinking of investing? Don’t be rushed into making any investment. Always remember that legitimate financial advisers or organisations will never pressure you into investing without the proper time to consider your investment.

Seek advice first: Before you make any significant financial decision, seek professional independent advice or speak with trusted friends and family members.

How can you check if the adviser is legitimate? The  Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register will contain a list of all companies that are regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn’t regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money.

For more information about how to invest safely, please go to: www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

Do you think you have been a victim of Financial Investment fraud?

Be careful they might try and contact you again - Previous victims may get another call from someone claiming that they can help them recover lost money.  This is just a secondary scam. Hang up the phone on any callers that claim they can get your money back.

Identity theft: If you think someone has stolen or used your identity, you can check your credit rating online. You should try and get into the habit of doing this every few months, use a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected results.

Legal advice: We advise that you seek professional legal advice or contact Citizens Advice to understand what you can do to try and recover your money.

You can also contact the FCA’s consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 or report suspicious businesses or individuals by using the reporting form on their website.

Useful links:

Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) www.fca.org.uk
For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud and cybercrime, or to update your crime report, visit actionfraud.police.uk.

*From the Action Fraud website: Ponzi Schemes - A fraudster places an advertisement for an investment opportunity that offers extraordinary returns in a short space of time.

After receiving the promised returns on their investment, the first investors start to spread the word to family and friends. In this way, the scheme gains credibility.

Because the money isn’t invested in any kind of investment vehicle, there are no profits. Instead, the first investors are simply paid out from the money paid in by new investors.

Ponzi schemes are created for all levels of income, and have taken in investors in the top bracket as well as those on middle and low levels.

Typically, the fraudster will vanish with investors’ money, so the system eventually collapses with later investors receiving nothing - including their initial investment.

Because Ponzi schemes are unauthorised and make no profits, you are very unlikely to recover any lost money.
You can find out more about Ponzi schemes on the Action Fraud website: www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/ponzi-schemes
 
Visit our website for crime prevention advice

Links and attachments: Humberside Police will only ever link you to secure web-sites we trust. We will only send you attachments where we believe it is absolutely necessary.