gressenhallparishcouncil – Page 3 – Gressenhall Parish Council

Police Connect Message – 12th April 2019

Rogue Trader Alert – Sales of generators, chainsaws and pressure washers from vans

We have received reports of generators, chainsaws and pressure washers being sold from vans from several locations including Diss, Costessey, Swaffham and around Fakenham. Reports have included cold calls at domestic properties and people being approached in the street, in car parks of retail stores and drive through restaurants.

Never purchase items if approached in this manner. There is a high possibility that the items being sold are low quality counterfeits, which could be unsafe to use, or are stolen.

It is possible these sellers could move on to other parts of Norfolk.

Anyone sighting these sellers in Norfolk or concerned about rogue trader activity in their community can contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or to Norfolk Constabulary via 101.

Cold Calling Alert – Telephone cold calls requesting payment for your ‘solar panel service’

We have received a report of a telephone cold call which was made to a Norfolk resident regarding a ‘solar panel service’.

During the call the cold caller stated this service was ‘required every five years’ and that they needed bank details for payment.

Always be very wary of any approach made in a telephone cold call and never give or confirm any personal or financial details, agree a service or to someone visiting your home if approached in this manner.

If you need advice about cold calling or have agreed to a visit during a cold call contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or by telephone on 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – Emails offering a ‘Business Deal’

Watch out for emails circulating with the subject line ‘Business Deal’.

The email claims to be from a director of a large investment bank and asks you to be the ‘Foreign Beneficiary’ for a sizeable cash sum that ‘your entitlement is 40%’.

These emails are a scam and are not connected with the named business in any way. This is one of many variations of this approach that are often in circulation.

If you receive this or a similar email – delete it.

Cold Calling Alert – doorstep cold caller offering ‘free roof health checks’

We have had reports about doorstep cold callers in Norfolk calling at properties enquiring about your home’s ‘insulation’ and offering ‘free roof health checks’.

Reports in the last week have been received from the Watton, King’s Lynn, Terrington St. John, Caister and Scratby areas.

Be very wary of claims made by doorstep cold callers and never give access to your property, agree to services, buy items or for return visits if approached in this manner.

If you are concerned about doorstep cold calling in Norfolk contact us through Citizens Advice consumer helpline, via their online reporting form or by telephone on 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – ‘International Postcode Online Lottery’ Letters

Letters have been sent to Norfolk residents claiming to be from the ‘International Postcode Online Lottery’. The letter states the resident has been awarded a prize of £900,000 in a recent draw.

These letters are a scam and no prize is available. If you receive this type of letter dispose of it correctly without responding in any way.

Here are some simple steps you can take to avoid lottery scams:

If you haven’t entered a lottery then you can’t have won it. Never respond to unexpected communications.
Official lotteries in other countries operate in much the same way as the UK’s National Lotto. No official lotteries that we know of contact people to tell them of their win.
We don’t know of any official lottery operators who ask for fees to collect winnings. Any request for a fee payment is a good indication that someone is trying to scam you.
Never disclose your bank details or pay fees in advance to claim a lottery win
If they’ve provided an email address to respond to, be very suspicious of addresses such as @hotmail.com or @yahoo.com or numbers beginning with 07 because these are free to get hold of
Genuine lotteries thrive on publicity. If they ask you to keep your win a secret it’s likely to be a scam
Many examples of lottery scam letters have bad spelling and grammar – see this as a warning that fraudsters are at work

April 16, 2019

Chequers Lane Road Closure – 1st-3rd May 2019

Proposed Road Closure-Chequers Lane

Road Closure Order – Chequers Lane

April 11, 2019

Police Connect Message – 15th March 2019

Rogue Trader Alert – Doorstep cold callers offering driveway cleaning

We are warning residents to be on their guard after receiving reports of a doorstep cold caller in the Thetford area offering driveway cleaning.

We advise never to deal with anyone who cold calls at your property offering to do work on or around your property.

Anyone concerned about doorstep cold callers in Norfolk can contact us through our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or by telephone on 03454 04 05 06.

Looking for a Trader you can Trust? Try a Norfolk Trusted Trader. To search our directory and read feedback from their customers visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/trustedtrader

Scam Alert – Telephone cold calls claiming to be from BT

We are continuing to receive reports from Norfolk residents about telephone cold calls claiming to be from BT.

Recent reports have included:

Calls which deliver a message claiming to be from BT stating your ‘internet and landline will be cut off’ and then offering a ‘Press 1’ option. If this is complied with a call handler then attempts to gather personal data
Calls claiming to be from ‘BT Openreach’ during which the cold caller states that there are ‘problems with your router’
Calls claiming to be from BT stating they can ‘offer you a 35% discount on your bill’ and then attempting to gather bank details

We always advise to be wary of telephone cold calls and the claims made during them. If you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from BT do not give or confirm any personal or financial details. Hang up, wait five minutes and then contact BT customer service on 0800 800 150.

If you have received a telephone cold call which you believe to be a scam you can report it to us via our partners the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – Telephone cold calls claiming ‘less energy efficient houses will pay more council tax’

We are warning residents to be on their guard after receiving a report of a telephone cold call which was received by a Norfolk resident regarding Council Tax.

During the call the cold caller talked about a ‘Carbon Tax on Council Tax’ which would mean ‘less energy efficient houses will pay more Council Tax’. The cold caller then attempted to make an appointment to undertake ‘a property survey’.

We advise always be very wary of any approach made in a telephone cold call and never give or confirm any personal details or agree to someone visiting your home if approached in this manner.

If you need advice about cold calling or have agreed to a visit during a cold call contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or telephone 03454 04 05 06.

Scam Alert – Emails claiming to be from ‘TV Licencing’

We are continuing to receive reports from Norfolk residents about emails claiming to be from TV Licencing. Reports have included emails claiming that direct debits ‘cannot be collected’ and emails stating ‘Your TV Licence has expired’.

These emails are not from TV Licencing and any links contained within the message are likely to go to a genuine-looking fake version of the TV Licencing website which will attempt to gather personal and financial details.

Action Fraud offer the following advice regarding these emails:

Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information in case it’s a scam
Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text

For more information about how to stay safe online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk

You can report suspicious messages to Action Fraud using their online form or by telephone on 0300 123 2040.

Cold Calling Alert – Telephone cold calls claiming ‘you have been mis sold cavity wall insulation’

We are warning residents to be on their guard after receiving a report of a telephone cold call which was received by a Norfolk resident regarding cavity wall insulation.

During the call the cold caller stated the call recipient had been ‘mis-sold cavity wall insulation’ and they could ‘obtain compensation’. The call recipient responded they had ‘never been sold cavity wall insulation’ and the cold caller hung up.

We advise always be very wary of any approach made in a telephone cold call and never give or confirm any personal details or agree to someone visiting your home if approached in this manner.

If you need advice about cold calling or have agreed to a visit during a cold call contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or telephone 03454 04 05 06.

March 25, 2019

Police Connect Message- 3rd March 2019

The following is a Police Connect message.

Norfolk Police are urging shoppers to be vigilant following a number of purse thefts in recent weeks.

It after incidents since 20 February 2019 where victims have had their purse stolen whilst shopping in supermarkets in North Walsham, Cromer, Swaffham and Diss.

To guard against purse thieves, shoppers are reminded to:

· Keep your bag closed and close to you at all times, if possible with the opening towards your body.

· Close your purse and put it away before you leave the till.

· Try not to overload yourself with bags and coats.

· Avoid carrying your purse or wallet in a back trouser pocket.

· Keep cash secure and out of sight.

· Do not leave your handbag; push chair or shopping trolley unattended for any length of time.

· Do not write down your PIN and keep it in your wallet/ purse/ handbag. If you cannot remember your PIN, you can change it at your bank to a number which is easier to remember.

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who has witnessed suspicious activity/persons in relation to these incidents. Anyone with information should call 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

March 11, 2019

Police Connect Message – 26th February 2019

Warning to residents following further cold caller scam

Police have issued a further warning for residents to be vigilant to cold callers claiming to be police officers following an incident in Walpole Highway near Wisbech.

It comes after an elderly resident received a call on Friday 22 February 2018 from someone claiming to be from the police stating her bank card had been used to purchase counterfeit Euros.

He asked the victim to assist police enquiries by purchasing 4,000 Euros from a Bureau-de-Change, which would allow police to check if they were counterfeit.

The victim agreed to do this twice and on each occasion the cash has been collected by a courier from her home address.

The male courier is described as being black, around 6ft 1 tall, of a slim build, aged in his 20s and was wearing hi-vis clothing.

Similar incidents have been reported throughout the county and it has been known that suspects request cash is posted or for residents to purchase high value goods, and to then meet the people purporting to be officers to hand over the goods.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Nichola Lane from King’s Lynn CID, urged for residents to be vigilant to this scam.

She said: “We’re urging members of the public, particularly the elderly who are primarily being targeted, to be vigilant to cold calls made on the telephone.

“Genuine police officers or staff would never approach residents and ask for cash withdrawals to be made or for people to purchase items on their behalf.

“I would ask people with vulnerable relatives, friends or neighbours to make sure they are aware of this type of scam.”

Officers have this advice:

• Never give out personal information about your bank account to anybody over the phone.

• If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their identification number and police force. Hang up and call 101 using a different phone. If you can’t use a different phone, wait at least five minutes before calling back. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check.

• Police and banks will never ask you to give out personal details such as account numbers or PIN numbers.

• If you have given out information which could compromise your bank account security in any way, call your bank to cancel your cards as soon as possible.

• Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere.

Anyone with concerns about such calls should contact Norfolk Police on the non-emergency number 101 or 999 if a crime is in progress. Alternatively, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

March 3, 2019

Police Connect Message 27th February 2019