Category: Police

The February 2025 edition of OUR NEWS is here

We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.   Highlights from the February 2025 edition of Our News include: * Guidance on spotting Romance fraud and scams * SimpliSafe demonstrates the importance of Professional Monitoring when it comes to home security * Phonely provides answers and information on how to prevent scam calls with their services * We celebrate a decade of partnership with Patlock!   READ THE FEBRUARY EDITION OF OUR NEWSLETTER   We hope you enjoy this edition of Our News – please share with your neighbours, friends, and professional networks.

Booking.com users targeted with scam messages

Those using the platform Booking.com to book their holidays or accommodation are being warned they could be targeted with emails or messages requesting payments from hotels who have had their account taken over by fraudsters. Between June 2023 and September 2024, Action Fraud received 532 reports from individuals, with a total of £370,000 lost.   Insight from Action Fraud reports suggests the individuals were defrauded after receiving unexpected messages and emails from a Booking.com account belonging to a hotel they had a reservation with, which had been taken over by a criminal. Using this account, the criminals send in-app messages, emails, and WhatsApp messages to customers, deceiving them into making payment and/or requesting credit card details.   The specific account takeovers are likely to be the result of a targeted phishing attack against the hotel or accommodation provider, and not Booking.com’s backend system or infrastructure.   Adam Mercer, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said: “With more than 500 reports made to Action Fraud, those who have booked a holiday on the Booking.com platform should stay alert to any unexpected emails or messages from a hotel using the Booking.com platform, as their account could have been taken over by a criminal.  “If you receive an unexpected request from a hotel’s account you booked with using Booking.com, asking for bank details or credit card details, it could be a fraudster trying to trick you into parting ways with your money. Contact Booking.com or the organisation directly if you’re unsure. “Remember to report any suspicious emails by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk, or if you receive a fraudulent text message, you can forward it to 7726.”   How can you protect yourself?   Booking.com and Action Fraud are providing the following advice on how to spot signs of fraud and protect your Booking.com account: ·  No legitimate Booking.com transaction will ever require a customer to provide their credit card details by phone, email, or text message (including WhatsApp). Sometimes a hotel provider will manage their own payment and may reach out to request payment information, like credit card details – before providing any information, always verify the authenticity of communication between yourself and the hotel’s account. ·  If you receive any urgent payment requests that require immediate attention, like a booking cancellation, immediately reach out to the Booking.com Customer Service team via the details on the official Booking.com website and/or app to confirm. Any payment requests that do not match the information in the original booking confirmation should also be double checked and confirmed with Booking.com Customer Service before proceeding.  ·  Any messages purporting to be from Booking.com that contain instructions to follow links and/or open/download files should be treated with caution. If you have any doubts about a message, contact Booking.com directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the suspicious message and use the details from their official website. ·  For more information about how to protect your Booking.com account, please visit: Safety Tips for Travellers | Booking.com If you receive any suspicious emails or text messages, report them by forwarding emails to: report@phishing.gov.uk, or texts to 7726.   Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk   If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at  https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040.   (If you found this information useful, please share it with friends, family and colleagues)

Message Sent By Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Winter Fuel Allowance scam

Dear Mandy,   One of our PCSOs received this text recently and recognised it as a scam. If you receive a message similar to this one, it is important to not click any links.  To protect yourself from these scams: 👮‍♂️ Be suspicious of all ‘too good to be true’ offers and deals 👮‍♂️ Always log on to a website directly rather than clicking on links in the message 👮‍♂️ Don’t hand over any details to anyone you don’t know or trust   If you do fall victim to these scams, please report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.   More information and advice on how to protect yourself from scams can be found on our website.   Kind regards,

Message Sent By Lucy Ward (Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Communications Assistant, Peterborough and Fenland)

Keep your home safe from burglars this Christmas

Following recent reports of burglaries, we are urging you to make sure your property is secure.   Here’s a few ways to keep your home protected:   ·  Consider installing CCTV or a ring doorbell, this can act as a deterrent for anyone trying their luck! ·  Ensure your garden gates are secure and locked when you are away ·  Install sensor lighting outside in a yard or garden allowing someone to be clearly seen. ·  Use indoor timers for lights and lamps inside your home at pre-set times when you’re away ·  Consider installing an accredited burglar alarm system  Make sure to check in with your neighbours and look out for each other over the next few weeks.   If something doesn’t seem right, then it probably isn’t, call the police on 101 or if you believe a crime is taking place, always call 999.    For more advice on how to keep your home safe, head to our website here.

Message Sent By Annabelle Mullee (Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Communications Assistant, Cambridgeshire)

Drink driving: We need your help

This is a reminder to venues across Cambridgeshire that a designated driver scheme organised to support the force’s crackdown on drink and drug drivers this Christmas will return in December. ‘I am DES’ is a national initiative where licenced premises sign up to offer an incentive to encourage customers to have a ‘designated driver’ within their party. The campaign ran for the first time since Covid in December 2023 across Cambridgeshire, with more than 60 businesses sign up in support (the most we’ve ever had!). We also saw a reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured through road traffic collisions for that month compared with the previous year, with more than a 20 per cent reduction. If interested in taking part, your business and venue location will be included in a press release highlighting this year’s police drink and drug drive campaign, and mentioning the I’m DES initiative, where drivers within a group can benefit from a discount on soft drinks only.  The terms and conditions will be within your control – you decide which soft drinks to provide an incentive on, such as draught only. Free soft drinks have been offered in the past but the economy is in a very different place than it was years ago, and therefore any kind of incentive through a discount will still be very welcome and allow you to take part. Members of the public taking part are asked to say to venue staff “I am Des” or words to that effect and show their car keys. It’s up to yourselves if you wish to add anything additional to that. I know some of you have used wristbands or a stamp system to keep track of designated drivers before. If you are interested or would like to know more, please email nick.southern@cambs.police.uk stating that you are interested or with any questions. Please do not reply directly to this eCops message. Please also spread the word and forward to anyone you think would be interested in supporting this year’s designated driver campaign. Kind regards,

Message Sent By Tara Cox (Police, Communications Officer, Corporate Communications)

Fraud warning

It’s the penultimate day of our fraud awareness campaign and today we’re delving into…   Courier fraud  In these cases, fraudsters often target elderly and vulnerable people and call them over the phone purporting to be from the police or the bank. Once these con artists have engaged a victim, they may make up a story claiming to need help with an investigation into a money scam at the victim’s bank or perhaps spin a line that their account has been hacked and they need further details to protect their assets. They may ask the victim to disclose their card details and pin number or withdraw money from their account ready for them to collect. Recent reports of courier scams in our area show the fraudsters are getting even more sophisticated and providing convincing fake police identity badges at the door.   Prevention:  ·  Remember, we – the police – will never call you up to request or collect bank details, cards or cash ·  If you receive a call of this nature, pause and think. End the call and process the information. Call us on 101 – preferably from a different device to the one the call came in on – and we will be able to verify if the person you spoke to was a genuine officer ·  Call your bank immediately if you think you have been scammed so they can freeze your account    For more advice about all kinds of fraud, visit our website

Message Sent By Larissa Chapman (Police, Communications officer, Corporate Communications)

Day three of our scam awareness mission sees us looking at…   Quishing scams Quishing, also known as QR code phishing, involves tricking someone into scanning a phony QR code with their phone or device. The QR code then takes the user to a fraudulent website that might download malware or ask for sensitive information. QR codes are often found on things like parking machines, charging points, emails, even restaurant menus and you may well use them even more this time of year as you dash between car parks to purchase presents and meet up with friends in cafes and restaurants.    Prevention:  ·  Check… if the QR is on a poster in a public area, always check whether it appears to have been stuck over the poster, window or billboard. If the sign or notice is laminated and the QR code is under the lamination or part of the original print, chances are it’s more likely to be genuine ·  If in doubt… download the app from the official Google or Apple store or search the website on your phone’s internet browser, rather than scanning a QR code to take you there. It may take longer, but it’s more secure ·  Trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. For more advice about all kinds of fraud, visit our website

Force to publicise every 999 call they receive in Postathon

Have you ever wondered what people across Cambridgeshire are calling 999 for?    The force is set to run a social media ‘Postathon’, in honour of Control Room Week, to demonstrate the hard work and dedication of its control room staff.     They will update their Facebook and Instagram pages every 30 minutes summarising every 999 call that has come into the control room during that time frame.    It is hoped that the Postathon, which will be held between 4pm-9pm on 25 October, will provide the public with an insight into the daily demand control room staff face.    In September, the demand hub received 12,478 calls to 999, 19,024 calls to 101 as well as 2,309 web chats and 2,575 online reports.   Superintendent Nick Church, head of demand, said: “We often hear about officers on the frontline, but rarely do we hear about the hard work and resilience of our control room staff, who are on hand 24 hours a day to help the public whenever they need police assistance.    “This Postathon is important not only to raise awareness of the volume of calls we receive, but also to demonstrate the variety and complexity of some of the incidents we deal with, too.”  “I would like to use this opportunity to thank our control room staff, whose hard work, resilience and dedication does not go unnoticed. Their hard work is absolutely vital in keeping Cambridgeshire safe.”   You can tune in to the Postathon by following @CambsCops on Facebook and Instagram and looking out for updates on Friday (25 October).    They will also be taking to their social media pages throughout the week in honour of Control Room Week, where we have shared posts featuring call handler Lyndsay and dispatcher Aimee.    Having recently returned from maternity leave with a young family, Aimee said: “I wanted a role which would give me a good work life balance, however I still wanted a fast paced environment, and that is definitely what the control room offers.”    Call handler Lyndsay said: “when we answer calls, we never know what we are going to be dealing with. I have experienced and learnt about situations working here that I would never have thought I’d come across!”   The force is currently recruiting for control room staff, including call handlers and dispatchers. Find out more or apply on the force’s website.

Pegasus scheme

Our Pegasus scheme is for people who find it hard to communicate with us – we keep your pre-registered information safe on our computer and we can access it quickly if you call us. You don’t need to repeat all your details.

Who can register?

• Anyone who has a disability or illness that may make it hard to communicate with the police in an emergency or difficult situation. 
• Anyone who lives in the local area. Please make sure that you contact your local police force. 

Please note registration is free. 

How it works

We’ll register your personal details, including your phone number, on our police systems so that anytime you call our control room they’ll instantly see a Pegasus marker attached to your name or number.

• This marker is opened by the call handler who can then see all your communication needs. This means that we can access your details even if you can’t talk to us.
• Alternatively, you can say ‘Pegasus’, tell us your PIN and we’ll access your details right away.
• You can also show your card to a police officer, member of police staff or other emergency services staff if you need assistance in person and they’ll know you may need extra help and support.
• You can change or update your details at any time.
• If you agree, we’ll share your Pegasus information with other participating emergency services (fire, ambulance) and local authorities.

Pegasus terms and conditions

• Your information will be stored on a secure database owned by the police.
• Access to the database is controlled, but we may share your details with our partners, such as other emergency services, so they can help you.
• If you’re under 18 you must have your parent or guardian’s consent.
• Once a year we’ll write to you to check the information.

Please note that applications may take up to four weeks to process.

For more information on the scheme, or to register, visit the dedicated section on our website. Alternatively, email pegasus@cambs.police.uk.

Over 32 million suspicious emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), with more than a third of all emails reported in the last year, new figures reveal.   The reports have led to more than 329,000 websites addresses being removed by the National Cyber Security Centre. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, launched a national phishing awareness campaign on 24 June 2024, as reporting reached its highest level since SERS launched. New data shows a rise of 44% year-on-year, with almost 11,611,400 reports made to SERS in 2023, up from 8,074,200 reports in 2022.   Alongside emails, there has also been a huge number of text messages reported to 7726. In March 2024, more than 60,000 malicious websites were removed as a result of being reported using 7726. This is a free service, offered by mobile network providers, allowing customers to report suspicious text messages in order to prevent other people from receiving them too.   Claire Webb, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said: “When fraudsters go phishing for valuable information, anyone could be a target. They will hook an unknowing victim with a genuine-looking email, in a bid to get them to share personal information, or bank details.   “Year on year, the amount of people reporting phishing emails and texts is growing. Action Fraud is urging everyone to be extra vigilant of suspicious-looking emails landing in their inbox, which could contain malicious links leading to unknown websites.    “Remember, if you think you have received a phishing email or text message, make sure you report it. You can forward emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, or forward spam text messages to 7726.”   SERS was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the City of London Police in April 2020, to enable the public to forward suspicious emails and report any malicious website links. Since its launch, more than 32 million reports have been made to the service.   What is phishing? ‘Phishing’, ‘quishing’ or ‘smishing’ is when criminals use scam emails, text messages, QR codes, or phone calls to trick victims. Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” your bank account details, or a text message claiming you’ve missed a delivery and are required to pay a redelivery fee, the goal is usually the same – to trick you into revealing personal and financial information.   In 2023, a doctor from London lost more than £150 to a fake email claiming to be from TV Licensing. The email claimed that they needed to renew her TV licence as soon as possible. What made the phishing email so believable was that the victim’s TV licence had recently expired and the link in the email led to a fake TV Licensing website that replicated the real one.   Here’s some practical advice you can follow when it comes to dealing with suspicious messages and calls: ·  * If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website. Do not use the number or web address in the message. Your bank, or any other official source, will not ask you to provide sensitive information by email. * Received an email that doesn’t feel right? STOP! Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Send emails to this address that feel suspicious, even if you’re not certain they’re a scam – they will be checked. * Always report suspicious text messages or scam call numbers, free of charge, to 7726. Your provider can find out where the text came from and block or ban the sender. * To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 and then send the sender’s number when prompted. * To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam caller’s number. * If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Please find below summaries of the latest news from our courts over the last week – click on each headline to read the full story.   Cambridgeshire Shoplifter threw pen at staff’s face Man threw knife at ex-partner Man who used suitcase to beat girlfriend is jailed Man jailed after targeting men through dating app Drug dealer caught red handed on CCTV Peterborough Jail for man who spat at shop staff Peterborough shoplifter has suspended sentence activated Man claimed he raped woman in his sleep Peterborough thief steals cash from car Coffee thief has suspended sentence activated Man jailed for Bretton cannabis factory Peterborough drug dealer to hand over £225k Prolific shoplifter banned from Peterborough stores Man attacked friend with knife County lines dealer forced child to sell drugs Paedophile sent inappropriate photos   Fenland Jail for paedophile caught with 140 images of children   You can find more news from the force online here.

Police urge people to check security after spate of burglaries

---

Police are urging homeowners to check their home security following a spate of burglaries across the south of the county.
There have been burglaries and attempted burglaries in Mill Road, Cherry Hinton, King’s Hedges and Barnwell areas of Cambridge, as well as Gamlingay, Ely and Histon, between Monday, 20 May, and yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May).
Detective Sergeant Jon Lockwood, from the force’s Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “We’ve seen burglaries in Cambridge where victims are leaving doors and windows unlocked, which is being exploited by opportunistic burglars. There has been a spike of these, especially the Mill Road area.
“I would encourage people to report suspicious behaviour to us so we can get a fuller picture of what is happening in the community.
“None of these burglaries are linked and investigations are on-going.”
We recommend the following home security advice when you’re not at home:

• Lift, lock and remove the key from your doors and make sure it’s double-locked if possible.
• Make sure windows are secure and locked.
• Make sure that any valuables are out of sight.
• Keep handbags away from the letterbox or cat flap and hide all keys, including car keys, as a thief could hook keys or valuables through even a small opening.
• Never leave car documents or ID in obvious places, such as kitchens or hallways.
• In the evening, shut the curtains and leave lights on.
• If you’re out all day, then it’s advisable to use a timer device to automatically turn lights and a radio on at night.
• Set your burglar alarm.
• Make sure the side gate is locked.
• Lock your shed or garage.
• Lock your bike inside a secure shed or garage, to a robust fitting bolted to the ground or wall, like a ground anchor.
  Further home security advice can be found on the force website.
  Details of the most recent burglaries and attempted burglaries in the south of Cambridgeshire are below:
• Two purses with money, a licence and credit card were stolen between 4pm on Monday, 20 May, and 11am, on Wednesday, 21 May, from a home in Covent Garden, Cambridge city centre. Crime reference: 35/36594/24.
• Three men entered a property in Mill Street, Gamlingay, at about 1.30pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May) and searched a property. They were chased from the house and escaped in a blue car, driven by a man. Crime reference: 35/36428/24.
• A purse containing bank cards and money, a tin containing £300, and designer clothes were stolen from a home in Turner Drive, Ely, at about 2pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Crime reference: 35/36457/24
• An attempted burglary at a house in Cambridge Road, Ely, at about 2.30pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May), where two men were seen trying to break in. They ran off towards Witchford Road when disturbed. Crime reference: 35/36498/24.
• Jewellery was stolen from a house in Normanton Way, Histon, at about 3pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Three men were seen breaking in and leaving in a white car. Crime reference: 35/36449/24.
• An attempted burglary at a house in Fernlea Close, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, at about 3.50pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May) where a man tried to get in through an unlocked door and ran away when the homeowner screamed. Reference: CC-22052024-0367.
• A burglary at a home in Nicholson Way, King’s Hedges, Cambridge, between 4.20pm and 8pm yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Reference: CC-22052024-0519.
• A wedding dress, passport and bank cards were stolen from a house in Wadloes Road, Barnwell, Cambridge, yesterday (Wednesday, 22 May). Reference: CC-22052024-0605.
  Anyone with any information or doorbell CCTV of any of these burglaries and attempted burglaries should report it through the force website using the relevant reference number.
  Anyone without internet access should call 101.
  In an emergency, dial 999 or you can report information through the force website.

Message Sent By
Matthew Brown
(Police , Communications Assistant , Corporate Communications )

Free older driver workshops

We were pleased as ever to help Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service run a recent older driver workshop at Cambridge Fire Station. Below you can see Nick Southern, our casualty reduction officer. The workshops are free, in person sessions designed for those over 65 and currently driving, to help them keep driving safely for longer.  They are delivered using community spaces and fire stations and so far, we’ve helped run more than 10 courses to more than 100 drivers.  Are you interested in attending a session, or do you know someone who might be? There’s more sessions lined up in the future in areas across the county including Sutton, Chatteris and Whittlesey.    Find out more via the fire service’s website. There is a limit of 15 people per workshop.

Message Sent By Tara Cox (Police, Communications Officer, Corporate Communications)