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Beware of bogus guttering & cladding traders in white transit van registration number NG54 OPA
This message is sent on behalf of PCSO Rob Elton of Stratford Safer Neighbourhoods Team:
Please can we ask you to be on the lookout for rogue traders operating from a white Ford Transit van with the registration number NG54 OPA.
These traders are offering to replace guttering and claddings in the Stratford and Bidford areas but intelligence suggests that this may well be more widespread.
Trading Standards have been alerted but please could we remind you to take the following steps when using a contractor or trader in order to protect your property and yourself:
Always ask for identification and check the authenticity of it by checking the number given, either in the phone book or on the internet. Do not ring the number on the card given as this may be bogus and another member of the rogue trading team could be on the end of the phone waiting for your call.
This may take a few minutes but a genuine caller/ trader will understand and will not mind waiting.
Always use a trusted company. Use someone who has been recommended to you or someone that you have found through the telephone book or a trade directory.
Always get a minimum of three quotes to make a comparison and to ensure that you are not being overcharged. Ensure that you get a copy of the estimate in writing before work commences.
Do not be intimidated by callers at your door. You are allowed to say NO. You are even allowed and encouraged not to answer the door to anyone you do not know or are not expecting.
If in doubt always ask the visitor to call back when you have a neighbour or relative with you. Legitimate traders will be happy to do this and anyone calling from the utility companies will have made an appointment with you before attending your home.
Call Police on 101 if you have concerns or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Of course, in an emergency, always call 999
If you believe that you spot these traders, with their van, in your area, please contact Police on 101 immediately and report their whereabouts as Stratford Police are keen to have a word. Thankyou.
Julie Dale
Watch Co-ordinator
Community Protection
Please be aware of door stop traders, especially if they are offering services for cash in hand.
Here are some typical examples of incidents to be aware off, in regards to door step traders looking for business.
During the day an elderly resident of the Green, Long Itchington was approached by a unknown white male approx 30 years of age, stocky build. He asked if he could cut some of the bushes in her garden and she accepted, the male has then hacked at the bushes and demanded a large quantity of money. The male was confronted by the ladies neighbour and the male has then left in possibly a white van, leaving all the garden rubbish in the garden.
Three white males approached a property in Warwick Place, Southam and asked the occupant if they would like their grass cutting and weeds killing for the sum of £200. The occupant has agreed and then 3 males have begun working. When asked about the chemicals they were using the 3 males have got into the vehicle and left promptly leaving the grass half cut. The males had no equipment with them except a van with the sign writing 'Green leaf Maintenance & Landscapes' & 'Special OAP rates'
The description of the males is as follows:
1) White Male, approx 50yrs old, Slim build, 5ft 8, Dark Blue Cap, Dark Green Tee with Lowther Maintenance & Landscapes on the front and back
2) White Male, approx Mid 20's, 6ft, Medium Build, Tattoos on arms, Crew-cut, Dark Green Tee with Lowther Maintenance & Landscapes on the front and back
3) White Male, approx 18yrs old, Slim Build, Dark Hair, Dark Green Tee with Lowther Maintenance & Landscapes on the front and back
A White male, approx 30-40 years old, workman type clothes with sleeveless high viz, has been seen in the Merestone Close area of Southam acting suspiciously, looking into properties, then knocking at one occupants house asking to read the gas, when asked what company he was from he couldn't
answer the question. He then continued to walk up and down the street.
A member of the Public contacted the Station.
Later another young male approached her door, and asked to test her water. He claimed to be from Severn Trent and showed an ID card. But was still refused entry, the male then left.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) wishes to increase awareness and understanding of scams to reduce the number of scam victims.
The top five complaints to Consumer Direct, the OFT- managed consumer advice service are;
1. Advance fee and money transfer
2. Prize draws and sweepstakes
3. Ticketing
4. Foreign Lotteries
5. Career opportunities
If you think you have been a victim of a scam, or suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam
Recent Scams
'Householders Scammed With Illegal Electricity Top-Ups'
Householders who use electricity prepayment meters are buying half price electricity top-ups keys for cash on the doorstep, not realising that they will end up having to pay twice for their electricity.
Criminal gangs are cloning electricity meter top-up keys and selling them door to door for half their normal costs i.e. a £50 top up for £25. Householders are buying them in the false belief that they will save money. However, energy companies detect when they have not received payment for electricity used. As the energy credit is illegal any customer buying top-ups on the doorstep will end up paying twice, first to the criminal and then to their energy supplier.
Energy companies and Consumer Focus, the consumer watchdog, have reported that up to 85,000 households across the UK have been affected by the doorstep scam.
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service is urging Warwickshire residents to only buy electricity credit through official channels (recognized PayPoint or Payzone shops or The Post Office).
Companies never sell electricity top-up door-to-door. The fraud involves only electricity, not gas, prepayment meters.
'HSBC 'Phishing' Email Warning'
Email users are warned to beware of a scam email that falsely claims to have been sent by the HSBC bank and is entitled ' Incoming Payment Error Notification Update'. The email reads:
As with all 'Phishing' emails, recipients are advised not to click on any links in the message (which invariably send them to a bogus website) or enter any personal or financial information (which could be then used fraudulently) . Clicking on the link may also put your PC at risk of infection from viruses.
For more informationon 'Phishing' email scams, visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
‘On Probation' Doorstep Sales Warning'
Warwickshire residents have reported receiving door to door sales visits from people claiming to be young offenders working on community redress probation schemes. The sales people are reported to be selling household products and using fake ID. They may have come from the Nottingham area. Warwickshire Trading Standards Service believe that the door to door sellers are using this probation scheme ‘story' to encourage people to buy from them when they may not otherwise do so. To our knowledge no probation service runs a scheme of this nature where ex-offenders sell items door to door. Trading Standards Officers advise householders to think twice before buying goods or services door to door.
For more information visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/doorstep
‘Neighbourhood Watch Support'
A resident in South London has reported a possible scam taking place in his locality. A man claiming to represent ‘Neighbourhood Watch Support' telephoned to say that a Neighbourhood Watch brochure was going out to all the local residents. The caller was encouraging local businesses to advertise in this brochure. The resident agreed to place an advertisement and later received a further phone call from a company calling itself ‘Business Community Support Multimedia'. The caller took some details over the phone. At a later date the resident received a letter with a ‘proof' for the advertisement. Apart from the name of the business and the contact phone number, every detail was incorrect. The accompanying letter said that unless any amendments were received within five days (by phone, email or fax) they would assume that the details were correct and place the advert. The resident tried several times to contact the company by email and phone but to no avail, finding his emails unanswered and his phone calls cut off. Luckily he had not yet paid any money for the advertisement.
We would like to make it clear that there is no such organisation as ‘Neighbourhood Watch Support' and the Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network does not produce any such local brochures nor contract Business Community Support Multimedia to do so.
If you have any concerns, questions or issues you would like to raise relating to this, please contact us on enquiries@nationalnhw.org or 0116 229 3118 and do not agree to anything over the telephone or on your doorstep.
Telephone Publishing Scam
A farm house at Brinklow near Rugby was contacted by telephone the male caller stated he was calling on behalf of the local PCSO and Farm Watch and asked for a financial contribution to a magazine they were publishing. Upon declining the offer the phone was slammed down. It is believed the first call was made from a call centre. Warwickshire Police do not sell advertising space by cold calling people, and such calls should be treated with extreme caution.
Distraction Burglary Awareness
A male called at the home of an elderly resident in Starbold Road, Bishops Itchington purporting to be a Police Officer. The offender showed the resident a form of identification and then the resident became suspicious and slammed the door. The offender then attempted to enter the house via a rear window but failed to get in.
Please remain alert, on the lookout for suspicious persons or activity around the homes of elderly neighbours. Please report anything that you consider to be out of the ordinary or of concern to the police - 01926 684385 Fax - 01926 684384 Email watch@warwickshire.police.uk