Speeding, ASB and drug dealing remain priorities for South Cambs

Thank you to the residents of South Cambridgeshire who joined us for our online meeting last week. For those who were unable to join us this time around, we heard from the South Cambridgeshire team about what they have been doing to tackle drugs, anti-social behaviour and speeding in the area. Speeding – We continue to work closely with Community Speedwatch volunteers and our Vision Zero team to carry out targeted speed checks, issue tickets and seize vehicles. If you live in an area of concern for speeding, please report it to us on the website. Drugs – We’ve charged a man in connection with the supply of drugs to children in Cambourne. Another warrant was carried out in Bassingbourn and cannabis found. We charged a man following the discovery of a cannabis factory in Knapwell and an investigation is ongoing into another cannabis factory in Sawston.  Thank  you for all the information you have shared with us. Please keep sending it to us. Anti-Social Behaviour – Over the past three months we’ve been engaging with schools and speaking to pupils about ASB. Hot-spot patrols have been carried out across the area. We held a community meeting in Cambourne and have carried out targeted activity. A persistent beggar in Cambourne has also been issued a Criminal Behaviour Order to curtail their behaviour. There’s also ongoing engagement with unauthorised encampments. Next three months At the end of the meeting we agreed to focus efforts on the below. This will be alongside our daily priorities (which can be viewed here). Anti-social behaviour – Fen Ditton, Fulbourn, Milton, Waterbeach, Histon and Impington Drugs – developing intelligence and targeted activity Speeding – Girton will be a focus but not exclusive Our very genuine desire is to focus the team on the things that are of the highest risk and concern for you, our residents. The South Cambs Neighbourhood Team will now provide regular updates to these priorities on the force Facebook and Twitter page over the coming weeks and months. We will then look to begin this process again with another meeting held on 1 November. You can register your attendance with us. Thank you for participating in this process. If you have any concerns in the meantime, visit our website. Inspector Shane Fasey South Cambridgeshire

Podcast: Vulnerable man gave thousands to fraudster he thought loved him

Dear Mandy Don’t miss the next episode from our latest podcast series… Like many people struggling with loneliness after the breakdown of a relationship, retired dentist Simon Frost, from Soham, turned to the internet looking for company, friendship and possibly love. Sadly, it didn’t work out as he’d hoped. In the second season of the force’s “Cambs Cops: Our Stories” podcast, Simon, who is in his late 70s, speaks openly about the heartbreak of falling victim to a romance scam.  In “I thought she loved me”, released today (16 August), Simon explains how meeting a woman online turned from a dream into a nightmare. He said: “I’d been living in Spain for 30 years when I returned to the UK, leaving my wife and life behind. “I started chatting to people online and it developed from there.  “I just wanted someone I could chat to on a one-to-one basis and be friendly with. I chatted to one woman almost daily and it developed very quickly into showing interest in each other, having conversations about family life etc. “She started asking me for money for a whole host of reasons. I first sent money over for her mother who she said was unwell, which I later discovered obviously wasn’t true.” To date, Simon has transferred more than £30,000 to different people he met online, who he now knows weren’t who they said they were. In the episode, we also speak to one of Cambridgeshire’s cybercrime and fraud prevention officers, Kate Thwaites, who has been helping Simon stay safe online. She said: “Simon’s story is sadly very common. The fraudsters themselves are very sophisticated and often know who to target. They gather evidence over a number of weeks and months and develop a relationship and build trust before asking people for money.  “For many lonely and vulnerable people, the person online may be the only person they chat to all week, so even if they suspect something isn’t quite right, to speak to that person is better than no one, so it can be very difficult to break the cycle. “Some of the key red flags to be aware when speaking to someone online include… ·  Asking you to move onto another platform: Fraudsters often try to move victims onto other platforms and sites to chat, away from the protection and monitoring of a professional dating site  ·  Professional photographs: Often fraudsters will use polished and professional-looking photos on their profiles as they often take them from other areas of the web   ·  Emotive scenarios: When asking you for money, fraudsters will often concoct elaborate or emotive stories, either about an illness, a crisis or perhaps for a business venture or travel costs to come and see you  ·  A reluctance to meet: For obvious reasons, fraudsters often show a reluctance to meet up in person or will let you down at the last minute giving an excuse as to why they couldn’t make it To listen to the podcast episode, or for more information about the new series, visit the force’s dedicated podcast web page. For more on fraud and how to protect yourself from scams, visit the force’s dedicated webpage.  Kind regards,

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

Doorstep crime happens when someone comes to your house or doorstep, usually without an appointment, with the sole intention of getting something out of you, whether that be money or information.  No one likes to deal with confrontation, especially when it is on your doorstep, so there is added pressure when someone is at your door. It is much easier to put the phone down on someone than it is to shut the door in their face, which is why some people find doorstep callers much more difficult to deal with than cold-callers on the phone or online.

Action Fraud released figures to say that around £18.7m was scammed on doorsteps, but since many of these crimes go unreported it is likely to be much more than that.

National Trading Standards figures showed that the over- 65s were 85% more likely to be a victim of a doorstep crime. This is because older people might be more likely to be home during the day while their neighbours are out at work, which makes them more isolated, with fewer people around who might be able to intervene.

People buy from so-called Nottingham Knockers on the premise that it is a legitimate scheme for (usually) young people who are just out of prison on probation and that this is part of their rehabilitation back into society and the workforce. However, there is no such scheme and these  young men (and their gang-masters) are considered to be doorstep criminals because, while you are getting goods (albeit over-priced) for your money,  their interactions on the doorstep are used to gather intelligence around addresses which might be good for a subsequent burglary or doorstep approach, information which is then sold on to other criminals, perhaps to some of the doorstep criminals listed below.

Rogue trading is usually associated with people wanting to re-lay your drive way, or pressure wash it, or empty your gutters, but it might even be someone looking like a builder with a sign-written van, saying they had noticed roof tiles had slipped and they had just had a job cancelled and can fit you in today if you want. (Note the rush element: “I am free now”, “today”, “immediately”, implying you will miss out if you don’t say yes.)  They might offer to do it cheaply as they are already in the area.

Unfortunately, the reality can be a number of things:

• They might have made up the problem, or even caused a problem.
• They might demand money upfront and not come back and do the work.
• They might do shoddy work.
• They might charge a lot more than the job is worth, or that was verbally agreed.

Hard-luck stories can come in many guises , “My car has broken down, can I use your phone?” This was mainly used before everyone owned a mobile phone. “My dog has vanished through the hedge, is it in your garden?” or “I have come over all funny, could I trouble you for a glass of water?”  Of course, you will want to be helpful. However, if the person is working alone, s/he might look to see what valuables you have lying around while you are getting, or taking them to, the phone, or getting a cup of water. If they are working in pairs, the person on the doorstep might keep you talking while an accomplice slips into the house through another door and searches it for a so-called distraction burglary.

The Bogus official scam isn’t much different to the hard-luck stories, it is just another way of gaining your trust. If an official person with a uniform and an ID badge looks to be from the Police or a utility supplier, you might let them in to check something, or read the meter, or answer their questions which will be designed to gain information from you.

The good news is that there are are lots of things people can do to protect themselves!

It is much easier to adopt a policy of not buying or selling on the doorstep and not letting anyone into your home without an appointment. If you are ever unsure, and especially if the caller has become pushy or intimidating, ring 999. 

• Be on your guard: always be suspicious of anyone turning up at the door uninvited – regardless of their story.
• Put up a sign: place a sign in the window near your front door saying that uninvited callers are not welcome. “We’re Not Buying It” stickers are available from against-scams@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
• Keep your home secure: don’t let any stranger into your home. Keep your doors locked with the chain on if you open the door.
• Look for ID: ask to see callers’ ID cards and call the company to see if they are genuine. To be safe, look up the company number yourself rather than trust the number on their ID card. If you feel uncomfortable or have any doubts, don’t let them in. It is your home. Tell them you are not interested or that now is ‘not convenient’ and ask them to come back at a different time (when you can have a friend or relative with you).
• Set up a utility’s password: you can set up a password with your gas and electricity providers so that you can be sure callers (such as meter readers) are genuine – only genuine callers will be aware of your password. Call your utility company to arrange this. To activate the service they might need to put you on their Priority Services Register. 
• Nominate a neighbour: if you have a relative or friend who lives close by, ask if they would mind being on standby in case you get any suspicious callers. Before letting a stranger into your house, give your neighbour a call and ask them to pop round. If you don’t know anyone nearby, contact your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme or Safer Neighbourhood Team to find out if they can help.
• Consider smart security devices: smart doorbells incorporate a camera and can enable you to speak to a caller without opening the door; some can also send a message to a relative notifying them that you have a visitor. Find out more in our guide to smart security.
• Take a photo: if you are suspicious, take a photo of the caller’s van, make a note of the registration number, keep any documentation they provide.

Call the police: if a caller is persistent and refuses to leave, you can call 999. If you are suspicious, but not in immediate danger, call 101, the police non-emergency number.

Derbyshire County Council said residents had reported unsolicited calls claiming to be from a community alarm company.

Criminals are asking for a payment, telling people their existing alarm company has gone bust and they have taken over the contract.

Warning after elderly and vulnerable targeted in scam alarm calls – BBC News

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Over the past four weeks we’ve recorded 10 burglaries or attempted burglaries in South Cambridgeshire. We’re sure you will agree that is 10 too many.  The incidents include people entering through open or unlocked windows and doors. We’re also seeing burglars distracting their victims by pretending they are someone they are not to enter homes. Be alert to suspicious vehicles or unfamiliar faces and remember that if in doubt, keep them out of your homes. Keep an eye out for elderly neighbours and work with others in your street to keep a look out for each other’s properties when you are away this summer. Please take a few moments to have a read through our burglary and distraction burglary crime prevention advice so you can outsmart any potential burglars and keep your home safe and secure. Kind Regards, Detective Sergeant James Rabbett Southern Acquisitive Crime Team

WhatsApp Scam The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) is warning the public about the continued increase in reports about scams where victims are targeted on WhatsApp by criminals pretending to be someone they know – typically their children.  Between 3rd February 2022 and 21st June 2022, there have been a total of 1235 reports made to Action Fraud linked to this scam, with total reported losses exceeding £1.5mn. Criminals will usually begin the conversation with “Hello Mum” or “Hello Dad” and will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged. They will then ask for money to purchase a new one, or claim that they need money urgently to pay a bill. The criminal will provide bank details for the payment to be made to, with some coming back with further demands for money.   How to protect yourself: *STOP. THINK. CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity. *Ring the old number you have for your family member, several times if necessary to establish their number has changed.   *Set up a password with your family members, so if you get this message you can ask for the password. Or ask them a question only your family member will know the answer to.   *You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions. *Never share your account’s activation code (that’s the 6 digit code you receive via SMS) Follow us on Twitter| Facebook|Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/against-scams

Pre-payment of fees scam

The major banks are noticing an increase in the amount of people getting caught out in the latest scam preying on those struggling with the cost of living.  

How it works.

Fake websites attract people who are struggling to make ends meet, who perhaps have a poor credit rating and can’t go to high street lenders.  They are very plausible with their websites and their documentation. However, they will ask for the fees up front, and once the fees are paid, you do not get your loan.

More detail can be found in the Telegraph article in the link below.

Britain’s biggest bank issues ‘urgent warning’ over new scam (telegraph.co.uk)

Warning following thefts from vehicles

Dear Mandy, We are urging motorists across the county to be vigilant and take precautions following a recent spate of thefts from vehicles. So far this month there have been 43 reports of thefts or attempted thefts from vehicles across Cambridgeshire, 25 of which have been in Peterborough. Overnight on Friday (8 July) into Saturday (9 July), six vehicles were targeted in Balsham, South Cambridgeshire. A breakdown of the offences is below: ·  Peterborough – 25 ·  Fenland – 4 ·  Huntingdonshire – 0 ·  East Cambs – 1 ·  South Cambs – 11 ·  Cambridge City – 2 These figures do not include reports of catalytic converter thefts, of which there have been 27 since 1 July – two in Fenland, two in Huntingdonshire, 14 in East Cambs, three in South Cambs and six at Trumpington Park and Ride in Cambridge. Unfortunately we are seeing a mix of offences with some vehicles being left unlocked and offenders chancing their luck, while others are much more brazen and have taken to smashing windows to get what they want from inside. A range of items have been stolen from small amounts of loose change, through to more valuable items such as laptops, mobile phones, sat navs, power tools and larger amounts of cash. We are working hard to catch anyone responsible for these thefts, however, we are urging members of the public to remove items from within their vehicles where possible, and also double check their vehicle is locked before leaving it. We’ve had several reports of attempted thefts or where someone has been caught on video doorbell cameras trying door handles of cars – please continue to report these to us. Anyone with information about suspicious activity around vehicles should report online here, where video footage can also be passed on. If a crime is in action, always call 999. Advice on how to best protect your vehicle from thieves can be found on the force website here. Catalytic converter theft prevention advice can be found by clicking here. Kind regards,

Message Sent By Lauren Alexander (Police, Senior Communications Officer for Peterborough and Fenland, All of Cambridgeshire)

Courier fraud is predominantly a telephone crime, where the victim receives a call from someone whom they believe to be in a position of authority, such as a Police Officer or bank official, and a courier is sent to the victim to collect cash, a bank card, or other items, as arranged. 

It will be started by the fraudster posing as the official and building up a relationship with the victim. This is done by offering information that the victim can see could have come from an official source, such as full name and address. The victim may have already given that information away themselves, or the fraudster will have obtained a database that contains their name and address, which is how they were targeted in the first place. The fraudster then asks for help.

Everyone wants to be helpful and if the fraudster is pretending to be from the Police, they might want your help to catch a criminal or, if a bank official, they might be trying to find corrupt staff. In that situation, everyone would want to help, it’s in our nature to be helpful, but this is how we get sucked in.

Remember this is all on the phone where you can’t see the body language of the other person and they are relying on tone of voice and their questions being enticing.

Research Google on how to make a good sales’ call and it will give you lots of ideas of tactics they might use, which you can then use as tell-tale signs.

Here are some specific examples of what fraudsters might say:

• Bank card expiry: Fraudsters claim to be from the victim’s bank and say their card is no longer valid. They ask for the pin number and then send a “courier” to collect the card before using it for fraudulent purposes.
• Purchasing high end items: The fraudsters pretend to be Police Officers and ask the victim to help with an undercover operation by purchasing expensive items like watches, jewellery and gold. Once the item is bought, the fraudster will send a courier to collect the items.
• Counterfeit cash/bank investigation: A person claiming to be a Police or banking official informs the victim that they need to help with a banking corruption investigation. The victim is told to withdraw a large amount of money and the cash is picked up later by a courier to “check for fingerprints” or to “identify counterfeit bank notes”.
• Computer takeover: The fraudster telephones the victim, purporting to be from their internet service provider, saying that they have had an issue with their internet connectivity, and they are due compensation. The victim is persuaded to download a remote access application, giving the suspects access to their home computers. The fraudster persuades the victims into thinking that they have been paid too much compensation and the victims then withdraw cash to pay the money back, which is later collected by a courier.

Things to look out for:

• Courier fraud usually starts with an unsolicited telephone call to the victim.
• Typically, the fraudster will pose as a bank official or Police Officer, but it could also be a computer or utility engineer.
• Courier fraudsters will usually request the victim purchases high value items such as Rolex watch and gold bullion, withdraws cash or provides a bank card for collection all of which will be collected by a “courier”.
• Fraudsters will instruct victims to not tell any family or friends about what they are doing.
• When carrying out courier fraud, criminals will request the victim hangs up the phone to ring their bank for confirmation while keeping the line open. The fraudster then purports to be a bank official and provides false confirmation.
• Fraudsters will also make arrangements for a courier to meet the victim to collect the item they have purchased.

Finally, just to recap.

There are some simple steps that we can remember, banks or the Police:

• Will never call to verify personal details.
• They will not call and ask you for your pin.
• They will not send a courier to collect your bank card.
• Do not hand your bank card over to anyone or tell anyone your pin.
• They will not ask you to purchase items for them.
• Won’t tell you not to tell anyone including friends and family.

If you do want to make a call to verify them, follow these simple steps:

• Do not use a number they have provided for you, do your own research, use a number you already have for your bank or call 101 for the Police.
• If they called in on a landline, wait 5 – 10 minutes before you make your call and make sure you have a dial tone on the landline phone.
• Use another phone such as your mobile phone or use a partner mobile.

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View as a webpage Amazon Prime Day scams: what to look out for As Amazon Prime Day approaches on the 12th and 13th of July, Check Point Research (CPR) has warned of the danger of scams around the event. With Amazon among the top imitated brands, criminals are looking to use interest in Amazon Prime Day in order to create scams and lure in victims. According to the cybersecurity group, it has already witnessed a 37% increase in daily Amazon-related phishing attacks in the first week of July compared to the daily average in June. Follow the link below for more infomraiton. Amazon Prime Day scams: What to look out for (digit.fyi) Follow us on Twitter| Facebook|Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/against-scams

Beware of calls claiming to be from Action Fraud

Action Fraud (www.actionfraud.police.uk) is the national Police reporting centre for all fraud and cyber-related crime and provides quality information and products to help protect yourself, family, and business.

I am aware of information that suggests fraudsters are making telephone calls to the public and impersonating Action Fraud.

Currently, none of these reports appear to originate from within Cambridgeshire.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Action Fraud, hang up immediately it is highly likely a scam.

Action Fraud will NOT cold call the public either by telephone, social media, text, or email. If you wish to communicate with Action Fraud, then visit their genuine website www.actionfraud.police.uk and use the contact details on the webpage.

If you suspect that you may have been a victim of a scam, then contact your Bank immediately and then report to Action Fraud.

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With lots of music concerts and sporting events taking place in summer for the first time in 3 years, we’d like to warn people to take extra care when buying tickets.

Ticket fraud is when you buy tickets from a website or agent for a music concert or festival, a sporting contest such as a football match or rugby tournament, or a live comedian or performer, but the tickets either aren’t delivered, or turn out to be fake and you can’t get a refund.

Action Fraud says victims lost around £1.5 million to online ticket scams in 2019 (the last time data was collected) – nearly 5,000 people reported being scammed at an average of £365 each.

How it happens: Spot the signs

You may find a website advertised via email or social media offering you the chance to buy tickets to a popular event.

But fraudsters can easily invent their own bogus ticket retail companies; their websites are easy to make and look genuine. Some even use a name or website address very similar to a legitimate ticket sales website.

Protect yourself: Tips to avoid ticket fraud

Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official ticket agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site. Look at the artist’s website and see who they recommend you buy tickets from.

Fraudsters create fake websites that look similar to a genuine site, so people should double check the web address to make sure they’re on the correct website.

Is the vendor a member of Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)? If they are, you’re buying from a company that has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers a service to help customers with outstanding complaints.

Check the contact details of the site you’re buying the tickets from. There should be a landline phone number and a full postal address. Avoid using the site if there is only a PO Box address and mobile phone number, as it could be difficult to get in touch after you buy tickets.

Before entering any payment details on a website, make sure the web address starts with https (the ‘s’ stands for secure). There should be a locked padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.

Should you choose to buy tickets from an individual (for example on eBay or on social media), never transfer the money directly into their bank account but use a secure payment site such as PayPal. See also PayPal warning: Paying someone you don’t know? DON’T use ‘friends and family’ (moneysavingexpert.com)

Paying for your tickets by credit card will offer increased protection over other payments methods, such as debit card, cash, or money transfer services for tickets over £100. Avoid making payments through bank transfer or money transfer services, as the payment may not be recoverable.

How to report it

Go to https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or call 0300 123 2040, the national reporting centre on cyber crime.

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Dear Subscriber, Thank you to the residents of South Cambridgeshire who joined us for our online meeting last night. For those who were unable to join us this time around, we heard from the South Cambridgeshire team about what they have been doing to tackle drugs, anti-social behaviour and speeding in the area. Speeding – Special Inspector Stephen Mudie and his team of volunteers have been focusing efforts across South Cambs while officers are working with local Speedwatch co-ordinators to help build capacity in the community. Drugs – Following intelligence received from the community we have carried out six warrants and there will be more to come. We’ve carried out numerous stop searches for drugs with positive results. Anti-Social Behaviour – We’ve seized four e-scooters in Cambourne, carried out patrols of our green spaces across villages, engaged with the community to develop intelligence and offer reassurance. We’ve also visited the parents of young people who have been involved in ASB. There has also been lots of partnership working with South Cambs District Council around households that are perpetrating the ASB. We talked through the survey results (see below) before we opened up the floor to residents for further discussion where many of the points already captured were spoken about in more detail. Results of the survey – a snap shot We had 387 responses to our online survey, including people from each ward across South Cambs, enabling us to get a good understanding of what is happening in each area and what issues concern you the most. Anti-social driving came out as the most critical issue followed closely by anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. So what next? At the end of the meeting we agreed to continue to focus efforts on the below. This will be alongside our daily priorities (which can be viewed here). Drugs Speeding Anti-Social Behaviour Our very genuine desire is to focus the team on the things that are of the highest risk and concern for you, our residents. The South Cambs Neighbourhood Team will now provide regular updates to these priorities on the force Facebook and Twitter page over the coming weeks and months. We will then look to begin this process again with another meeting held on 9 August. You can register your attendance here. Thank you for participating in this process. If you have any concerns in the meantime, visit our website. Inspector Shane Fasey South Cambridgeshire

Message Sent By Tara Dundon (Police, Comms officer, Corp comms)

To lo

View as a webpage Cambridgeshire Police Fraud Alert- Remote access Scam Scams involving the malicious use of remote access software continue to impact on local people. Remote access software is legitimate software that allows someone to remotely access a computer from anywhere in the world. I find it particularly useful when my mother complains that her computer is not doing what she wants it to, so I can login from afar and resolve things. However, and as always, criminals exploit technology to do things they were not designed or intended for. One example of the criminal use of remote access software would be a scammer making a telephone call purporting to be the bank, the police or an internet or telephone service provider. The scammer will ask or make an excuse to access the victim’s computer and deceive them to download and install software such as TeamViewer, AnyDesk, Chrome and Microsoft Remote Desktop. (There are many others.) Once the criminal has access, they can then search private folders and files and possibly access online banking/financial services and transfer money. They may demand payment for removing a virus that never existed. If you have concern for someone you feel is vulnerable to this type of scam, then, other than warning them, you could consider installing a ‘URL blocker’ on their browser. Such a blocker will prevent the user from accessing specific remote access software providers when instructed to do so by the scammer. For more information about the scam and advice on preventing it please visit: Remote Access Tool Scams | Action Fraud If you suspect you are a victim of a scam, contact your bank first and then report to Action Fraud. Follow us on Twitter| Facebook|Cambridgeshire.gov.uk/against-scams