Click on the MPS Response images to see the latest Hillingdon Crime Survey (June 2020) Images courtesy of Metropolitan Police
Category: Police&Security
Police advice on Test and Trace scams
The Government Test and Trace service is extremely important in the fight against Coronavirus, and of course it’s vital that the public get on board with it.
Unfortunately, criminals will use the existence of this service to exploit every opportunity they can to defraud innocent people of their money, or steal their personal details, and will now seek to use Test and Trace as a vehicle to execute scams on the unwary.
The Metropolitan Police Cyber Crime Unit have therefore issued an advice sheet which you can download from the attached PDF.
NOTE: If you have an elderly neighbour who is not online, then remember that scammers can use telephone methods with great ease on the elderly where health is concerned – so please take the time to print a copy of this single sheet to give to your neighbour.
Eastcote Police update
The latest OWL newsletter can be read here
COVID-19 SMS/Text message Scams
for advice about SMS/Text message scams that criminals are using during this current crisis.
Metropolitan Police advice
The police have issued the following guidance on fraud prevention:
Crime prevention advice in relation to bogus callers
Please find attached the latest advice from the Metropolitan police regarding bogus callers:
SCAM callers claiming to be from NHS and also Eastcote Residents Association
We have had reports of people phoning and knocking on doors of local residents claiming to be from the NHS or Eastcote Residents Association, conducting surveys or selling facemasks. Please report any such contacts to the police.
COVID-19 – Elderly Scam Alert – message from Met Police
Be aware that opportunists and criminals can take advantage of the elderly and vulnerable who are self-isolating. Anyone being offered “kindness” by cold callers by way of running errands, collecting prescriptions and doing shopping should not accept services from strangers who may ask for cash up front, a credit card and its PIN, or gain trust simply to execute a more elaborate scam e.g. to access savings.
Most people offering to help elderly people in their neighbourhood are genuinely kind, honest and caring. The elderly self-isolating will be stuck for food, supplies and someone to talk to if they don’t have friends, family or a nearby neighbour that they already know.
If everyone makes contact now with their nearest elderly neighbours who they already know and gives them their phone number and offer of help for when they need it, it will reduce the chances of them accepting help from a stranger who may turn out to be an opportunist, confidence trickster and thief.
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: hillingdonnhw@gmail.com
Regards,
Dave Ludlow
Community Coordinator