During the next week in particular many of us may be finishing off our Christmas shopping or delivering presents to friends and family. During this period please take extra care in terms of personal safety and vehicle security to ensure that you don't fall foul of opportunist thieves.
Whilst out shopping:
Try and park in a well lit and safe place that you feel comfortable returning to if it has gone dark by the time you return to your vehicle
Try and avoid returning to your car with bags of shopping mid trip and if you do have to do so be mindful of anyone suspicious people loitering around watching you put your items in your car.
Keep an eye on how many shopping bags you have in total. It is easy to stop for a drink and leave one behind or for someone to sneak one away whilst you are talking / getting a drink.
Take extra care not to leave anything on show in your vehicle. This can include shopping bags, parcels you might have picked up from the post office and Christmas Cards. The items may not be particular valuable but bear in mind a thief may take the chance to find out - they may hope to find some cash in a Christmas card or some newly bought items that they can sell on or pass off as their own gifts.
As many of us finish our present shopping and go out food shopping be mindful of the security of your purses and wallets. During this time stores are much busier and it is easy to be jostled about more. Many of us are rushing around finishing jobs and it is easy to become more distracted than usual. Take extra time to ensure that you secure your purse / wallets back in a secure place - zipped in your handbag or in a zipped secure pocket - if you have a purse alarm or purse bell make sure you use it. Many people will be in a rush around you - don't be pressured into throwing your purse into a shopping back or not putting yourself in order because of someone tutting in a hurry behind you in a queue. Men - never carry your wallets in your back pocket as this is an extremely easy place for pick pockets to access without you being alerted.
Whilst Visiting Family / Delivering presents:
If you are heading out to drop off presents ensure that if it is going to be dark that you switch a light on at home to make is seem as though someone is in.
Many of us will load the car up with presents for several friends/family members and go on a present run. Ensure that any presents that aren't being dropped off at this stop are secured in the boot. Over the weekend - there has been an instance of wrapped presents that were left tucked under the drivers seat being taken from a vehicle in the Congleton area. As such it is important to remove them from sight altogether.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Christmas Crime Prevention Advice
As we are getting very near to Christmas and many of us are out and about shopping and attending Christmas parties please find below some basic seasonal advice to help you to have a crime free and enjoyable festive season.
Kind Regards
Home Watch Desk
Out & About – Shopping for Gifts
Although Christmas is a happy time for many of us, be mindful that criminals also enjoy the opportunities that the festive season can often present to them. Please be mindful of this advice over the festive period:
Whilst out shopping for Christmas and during the January sales, consider carefully where you are parking with regards to lighting and security. Is the area well lit and would you feel safe returning to your vehicle alone in the dark if it is in a quiet area? Is there any CCTV coverage in the area to offer extra protection? Wherever possible, try not to return to your vehicle mid trip to leave presents in your boot and if you need to be mindful of anyone suspicious who may be loitering or watching you place the presents in your boot. A boot full of presents or sale items would make a nice gift for an opportunist thief.
New Gadgets
For those of us who receive new gadgets such as satellite navigation systems, new phones and Bluetooth able items such as laptops take extra care when trying out your new toys! Ensure that you wipe away the sucker ring from the windscreen after using your Satellite Navigation System as this signals to a would be thief that there has been a system in the vehicle. Remember to switch of your Bluetooth when not in use as even if laptops and phones are locked in the boot where you believe them to be secure, criminals can use Bluetooth to indicate to them there is a Bluetooth device in their vicinity.
At Home
Although it is a fair bet that most households will have Christmas presents within them, try not to advertise the position of your gifts. A Christmas Tree with presents under it is a festive sight, however it may also offer an incentive for passers by on the look out for easily accessible presents to steal, so try not to leave presents in places where they are easy to view from the window.
Once you have opened your gifts make a note of any serial numbers and store in a safe place and also property mark your items in case of future thefts. It is always worth taking a photograph (alongside a ruler to give an idea of size) and recording a description and approximate value of any precious items as a precaution both for identification and insurance purposes if stolen.
Keep any empty boxes from Christmas presents out of your bin until recycling day. Wherever possible, break the boxes up and secure them together. Boxes and wrapping can provide burglars with ideal information about what new items have come into the property over Christmas.
If you are attending Christmas & New Year parties ensure that you make your house looked occupied whilst out by leaving lights on. If you are out on several regular occasions try to vary the lights you leave on so there is not an obvious pattern when you absent from your property. Consider investing in a timer switch from a DIY store so that some lights will come on automatically if you are back after dark.
Personal Safety
Whilst out and about socialising try to remain vigilant and keep an eye on your personal possessions such as phones, handbags and wallets. Take control of your own possessions, it is often easy to leave your bag on the floor or your phone on the table presuming that someone else, such as a friend, will stay with them - wherever possible try to keep your personal possessions with you because you will definitely look after them. Don’t carry your wallet around in your rear trouser pocket where it easily accessible for someone to dip into your pocket unnoticed whilst in a busy environment.
Always make someone aware of where you are intending to go on your night out and when you plan to return. Plan how you are getting to and home from your venue before you go so you know you have a safe way to get home. If using a taxi firm always pre-book the firm and don't be tempted to hop into any taxi's that are touting for trade. Always ensure that someone else knows what taxi firm you have booked with and that they have a contact number for them.
Kind Regards
Home Watch Desk
Out & About – Shopping for Gifts
Although Christmas is a happy time for many of us, be mindful that criminals also enjoy the opportunities that the festive season can often present to them. Please be mindful of this advice over the festive period:
Whilst out shopping for Christmas and during the January sales, consider carefully where you are parking with regards to lighting and security. Is the area well lit and would you feel safe returning to your vehicle alone in the dark if it is in a quiet area? Is there any CCTV coverage in the area to offer extra protection? Wherever possible, try not to return to your vehicle mid trip to leave presents in your boot and if you need to be mindful of anyone suspicious who may be loitering or watching you place the presents in your boot. A boot full of presents or sale items would make a nice gift for an opportunist thief.
New Gadgets
For those of us who receive new gadgets such as satellite navigation systems, new phones and Bluetooth able items such as laptops take extra care when trying out your new toys! Ensure that you wipe away the sucker ring from the windscreen after using your Satellite Navigation System as this signals to a would be thief that there has been a system in the vehicle. Remember to switch of your Bluetooth when not in use as even if laptops and phones are locked in the boot where you believe them to be secure, criminals can use Bluetooth to indicate to them there is a Bluetooth device in their vicinity.
At Home
Although it is a fair bet that most households will have Christmas presents within them, try not to advertise the position of your gifts. A Christmas Tree with presents under it is a festive sight, however it may also offer an incentive for passers by on the look out for easily accessible presents to steal, so try not to leave presents in places where they are easy to view from the window.
Once you have opened your gifts make a note of any serial numbers and store in a safe place and also property mark your items in case of future thefts. It is always worth taking a photograph (alongside a ruler to give an idea of size) and recording a description and approximate value of any precious items as a precaution both for identification and insurance purposes if stolen.
Keep any empty boxes from Christmas presents out of your bin until recycling day. Wherever possible, break the boxes up and secure them together. Boxes and wrapping can provide burglars with ideal information about what new items have come into the property over Christmas.
If you are attending Christmas & New Year parties ensure that you make your house looked occupied whilst out by leaving lights on. If you are out on several regular occasions try to vary the lights you leave on so there is not an obvious pattern when you absent from your property. Consider investing in a timer switch from a DIY store so that some lights will come on automatically if you are back after dark.
Personal Safety
Whilst out and about socialising try to remain vigilant and keep an eye on your personal possessions such as phones, handbags and wallets. Take control of your own possessions, it is often easy to leave your bag on the floor or your phone on the table presuming that someone else, such as a friend, will stay with them - wherever possible try to keep your personal possessions with you because you will definitely look after them. Don’t carry your wallet around in your rear trouser pocket where it easily accessible for someone to dip into your pocket unnoticed whilst in a busy environment.
Always make someone aware of where you are intending to go on your night out and when you plan to return. Plan how you are getting to and home from your venue before you go so you know you have a safe way to get home. If using a taxi firm always pre-book the firm and don't be tempted to hop into any taxi's that are touting for trade. Always ensure that someone else knows what taxi firm you have booked with and that they have a contact number for them.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Home Watch - Card Scam in Circulation
A Coordinator has recently received a copy of the below email about Credit Card Security. As you will see from the below email this has been raised before and the below is a copy of the details about this from early 2009 - but several of these scam emails seem to circulate for a while and then go quieter again. It seems appropriate to remind members of this particular scam especially if it circulating again as it is likely several of you will receive information about this from friends etc.
Kind Regards
Home Watch Desk
Please be aware of the below that has been raised by several Coordinators. Having done a bit of research into the below scam it is one that appears to have been doing the rounds for quite some time via email. The various sites that I have looked at all suggest that this is indeed a plausible scam. They do however warn that although it is plausible that the message may over exaggerate the actual frequency of such scams. I can confirm that this has only ever been brought to my attention via a circular warning email and I am unaware of anyone who has been directly contacted over the phone in this manner.
Therefore as a general warning please be aware of the below email.
I have looked at the Visa website and they remind customers that 'Visa will never e-mail or telephone cardholders to ask for their account number or other card, personal or security details. You should never give your account, security or personal details in response to unsolicited communications claiming to be from any financial institution'.
Finally, the Visa website asks that if anyone is contacted directly that you refrain from giving any details and contact your card issuing bank to determine the validity of the call/email. Emails trying to gain your details can also be forwarded to phishing@visa.com for further investigation (please however don't forward them this circular warning email - only contact them if you are specifically targeted).
Regards
Home Watch Desk
Subject: FW: Warning - Credit Card Fraud Scam
Please be aware of the latest credit card scam :-
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .
Kind Regards
Home Watch Desk
Please be aware of the below that has been raised by several Coordinators. Having done a bit of research into the below scam it is one that appears to have been doing the rounds for quite some time via email. The various sites that I have looked at all suggest that this is indeed a plausible scam. They do however warn that although it is plausible that the message may over exaggerate the actual frequency of such scams. I can confirm that this has only ever been brought to my attention via a circular warning email and I am unaware of anyone who has been directly contacted over the phone in this manner.
Therefore as a general warning please be aware of the below email.
I have looked at the Visa website and they remind customers that 'Visa will never e-mail or telephone cardholders to ask for their account number or other card, personal or security details. You should never give your account, security or personal details in response to unsolicited communications claiming to be from any financial institution'.
Finally, the Visa website asks that if anyone is contacted directly that you refrain from giving any details and contact your card issuing bank to determine the validity of the call/email. Emails trying to gain your details can also be forwarded to phishing@visa.com for further investigation (please however don't forward them this circular warning email - only contact them if you are specifically targeted).
Regards
Home Watch Desk
Subject: FW: Warning - Credit Card Fraud Scam
Please be aware of the latest credit card scam :-
This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London ?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"
You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.
You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"
Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.
You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .
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