Dorset Police Ringmaster information.
This information is provided by Dorset Police, to alert the community to events in the locality.
If you have any information regarding the events in these messages, please call either Dorset Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, your call will not be traced and you may receive a cash reward.
You may copy the information contained within these messages and pass it on to friends and neighbours.
If you have information on possible terrorist activity call the anti-terrorism hotline in confidence on 0800 789 321
Please visit us at www.dorset.police.uk or give feedback at www.feedback.dorset.police.uk
Your Safer Neighbourhood Team would like you to contact the Dorset Police on 101, if you have any information that can help identify those responsible for these crimes, or can help recover any of the stolen property You are also asked to report all suspicious incidents as soon as practical.
You can also contact the Police (including specific Officers, if necessary) via www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online where you can email, message and report issues.
Your Safer Neighbourhood Police Officers (Dorchester East section) are led by Sergeant 1824 Ged Want. The three officers working on the team are PC 1316 Jim Long, PCSO 5301 Sarah Hart and - for the Valley - PCSO 6500 Alison Donnison
Alison is making regular visits to Piddletrenthide Shop & PO and Piddlehinton Village Hall on alternate 3rd Fridays of the month, 1430-1500hrs, if you wish to meet her.She will be at the Shop on 17 August, October,December 2017 and the Village Hall on the 21st September, November and January 2018 and alternating thereafter. If she is not at the location, she may be on foot in the village.
Call them at Dorset Police on: 101 or use www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online where you can email, message and report issues. For emergencies, always call 999
Further information can be found on the Police website www.dorset.police.uk/neighbourhood-policing/dorchester-sherborne/dorchester-east-rural/
Scams, Frauds & Bogus Callers warnings notified
Safer Neighbourhood website link.
Dorset Horsewatch website link or 
Matters which should be notified to the Local Council, NOT the Police, are:
Roads and transport
- Report a road issue
- Live travel alerts
- Parking issues
- Driveway obstructions
- Bin collections
- Recycling
- Litter
- Street lighting
- Parks
- Noise complaints including parties
- Pest control
- Lost/found animals
- Fly tipping
- Bonfires and fireworks
- Trading standards
Recycling and rubbish
Planning and housing
Leisure and culture
Environmental Health
Dorset Police have (20/01/2018) introduced a new online knowledgebase website to help the public find answers to common enquiries and guide them to the right agencies for with non-urgent matters.
Do you have issues with parking? Noisy neighbours? Concerned with an animal's welfare? Not sure who to contact.....Then AskNED - the non-emergency directory.
AskNED offers help and advice around a whole host of topics such as civil matters including landlord and tenant disputes, as well as criminal matters including burglary and assault. AskNED provides advice and information about what you should do and who can help.
The online service is quick and easy to use. It is an alphabetical list of topics the police commonly receive enquiries about, along with details of the agencies who can help you, along with information and signposting details for that subject.
To access the AskNED knowledgebase visit www.dorset.police.uk/askNED. Remember, it is quicker and easier to report on-line, however the 101 non-emergency service is available should you wish to speak to someone. If a crime is in progress or life in danger always dial 999.
During the night of Sunday 11th September a Red Honda ATV TRX 420, along with power tools have been stolen overnight from a farm near Cranborne. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190125394.
Sometime during the night of Monday 15th July 2019. A Red Honda 420 quad bike was stolen from a farm garage near Buckland Newton, Dorchester without the keys. The registration that the quad bike was bearing when it was stolen was HF18 EUC. An Efcol TS327S hedge trimmer was also stolen at the same time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190109039.
Sometime between 11:30 and 17:30 on Tuesday 15th July 2019 at a farm near Sherborne a farm office has been entered and keys taken, offenders have then stolen a Dark Red Land Rover Discovery 4 WK64 YYS.
Anyone with any information or sightings of this Land Rover please contact Dorset Police by calling 101, visiting our website at www.dorset.police.uk or by sending an email to 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk quoting occurrence number 55190109526.
Officers investigating a fail-to-stop collision near Dorchester are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
At around 10.45pm on Wednesday 3 July 2019 a local woman aged in her 20s was driving her Honda Jazz in the outside lane along the westbound carriageway of the A35 Puddletown bypass near to Troy Town when a vehicle towing a caravan undertook her in the nearside lane.
After performing the manoeuvre the vehicle attempted to move into the outside lane, however it collided with the side of the victim’s car causing her vehicle to spin and hit the central reservation.
The driver of the vehicle reportedly stopped a few hundred yards up the road, placed their hazard lights on but did not get out and drove away. No details of the vehicle or caravan are known.
The victim was taken to hospital but thankfully only sustained minor injuries.
Police Constable Shane Hewitt, of Dorchester police, said: "I would urge the driver involved in this incident to please come forward so we can establish exactly what happened.
From witnesses at the scene, I believe there were a number of other vehicles travelling along that stretch of road at the time of the collision who may have also witnessed the incident and I would ask them to please contact me.
Finally, I am also keen to hear from anyone who may have captured the collision on dashcam."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190101488.
Sometime during Sunday 23rd June at 7pm and 09.00 on Monday 24th June 2019. A Satin Black Yamaha Kodiak 700 Special Edition quadbike which had black wheels and was bearing the registration HF17APU was stolen without the keys from an outbuilding from a premises near Puddletown, Dorchester.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190095831.
- (23/08/19) A White Ford Transit Panel Van with the registration number B*07*LD
- (21/08/19) A 56 Plate Black Mitsubishi Shogun 4X4 with the registration number L*56*HF. (13/8/19) A 12 Plate White Mercedes Panel Van with the registration number C*12*AF
A Blue Ford Transit with the registration GU**SKK
This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in the Purbeck area over the last few days (11 Feb). The occupants of this vehicle have been seen acting suspiciously around farms and outbuildings. When challenged the driver states he looking for batteries and scrap metal.
The Police have the full registration of this vehicle and the reason we're sending out this alert is to see if anyone else has seen this vehicle and to encourage other people to be on the lookout for it and report it if seen to Dorset Police.
A Silver Ford Transit with the registration OU**WHJ
This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in the West Dorset areas over the last few days (7 Feb).The occupants of this vehicle have been seen acting suspiciously around farms and outbuildings. When challenged the driver states he looking for scrap metal.
The Police have the full registration of this vehicle and the reason we're sending out this alert is to see if anyone else has seen this vehicle and to encourage other people to be on the lookout for it and report it if seen to Dorset Police.
- A 2007 Silver Peugeot Estate B*07 *WM. This vehicle and its occupants have been seen in suspicious circumstances in the West Dorset area and it is believed to be active in pheasant poaching in Dorset.
Around mid-day on Thursday the 1st of November a white male described as "stocky build and in his 40's" was observed leaving a private farm yard in Yetminster. When challenged he said he was looking for scrap metal. The male then drove away in a white transit type van with a partial registration of N***BTZ.
If you see a white van with this partial registration plate, please telephone Dorset Police quoting Dorset Police occurrence number 55180176741. If you feel a crime is in progress, dial 999.
- a 5 door Silver Mitsubishi Shogun with the registration C*07*NP. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in the area of West Dorset during the early hours of the morning. It is believed the vehicle and its occupants are involved in poaching and rural thefts.
- A White Citroen Berlingo Van with the registration FL** OUO which has roof bars on the roof. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances across Dorset over the last few weeks. (13/9/18). It is believed the vehicle and its occupants are actively involved in the theft from farms including metals and batteries.
- A 2008 registered White Ford Transit Pickup with the registration G*58*OP. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in the area of The Piddle Valley Near Dorchester (18/08/18). The occupants of this vehicle have been seen acting suspiciously near a farm asking about vehicles that were present.
- 2009 registered Silver Ford Transit Van with the registration O*09*WJ. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances trespassing on to farms in the area south of Dorchester. (July 2018)
- A 2005 registered white Ford Transit Van with the registration K*55*XP. The vehicle has signwriting on it and has fluorescent chevrons on the back doors. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in various rural locations across Dorset today and over the last week and it is believed to be involved in rural theft and enquiring about scrap metal and batteries
- a 2007 registered white Ford Transit Tipper K*57*ZL. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in various rural locations today and it is believed to be involved in rural theft.
- a 2007 registered white Ford Transit Connect B*57*FR
- a 2000 registered 5 Door Volkswagen Golf in Silver bearing the registration X2**HMR. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances driving on to farms and rural premises across Dorset over the last few days
- a 2000 registered 5 Door Nissan Almera in Black W*21R*W
- The vehicle is a 2001 registered Ford Transit Tipper in White with the registration BX51***. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in rural locations across Dorset over the last month and it is believed to be involved in rural thefts.
- a 2007 registered Ford Transit Connect Van in White BT57 ***. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in a rural locations across Dorset over the last month and it is believed to be involved in burglary, thefts & poaching. Reference: 101413267
- a 2005 registered White LDV Van B*55*AU. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in a rural location in the Purbeck area over the last week and it is believed to be asking for scrap metals.
- a 2006 registered White Ford Transit E*06*KZ. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in a rural area of North Dorset over the last week trying to sell items from the van
- a 2003 registered Silver Volkswagen Golf R*53*RY . This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances at rural premises near Dorchester and Blandford over the last week and it is believed to be being used for rural theft.
- a 2000 Green Ford Focus Estate X***JKE. This vehicle and its occupants have been seen in suspicious circumstances in the Purbeck area around farms and it is believed to be being used for poaching in Dorset.
- a 2001 Grey Ford Transit S*51 *KN. This vehicle has been seen driving onto farms and private access roads and believed that this vehicle and could be being used in rural theft in Dorset and Somerset.
- a 2000 Green Mitsubishi 4X4 W*5*SJH This vehicle and its occupants are believe to be involved in poaching in the East Dorset area.
- a 1994 Green Suzuki Vitara M*93*HU. It is believed that this vehicle has been used for poaching in Dorset.
- a White Ford Transit Custom Van P*14*SL van. This vehicle has been seen in suspicious circumstances in the Sturminster Newton area over the last few days and it is believed that this vehicle and its occupants are involved in poaching.
- (25/6/17)a White Ford Transit high top 57 Plate van N*57*KG has been seen in suspicious circumstances near rivers and rural premises near Dorchester over the last few days. It is believed that this vehicle and its occupants are involved in fish poaching and burglary.
- A white transit van part registration JHL has been seen in suspicious circumstances around the rural communities, asking for scrap metal and batteries.
- A White Ford Transit Van 58 Plate **58KUJ
- A 53 Plate white Ford KA Van - **53OXL
- A W Plate silver Honda HRV - W**PDP
- A white Ford Transit Van 55 Plate F*55*TX has been seen in suspicious circumstances in Wareham and Dorchester areas.
06/12/17
If any of these vehicles or other vehicles are sighted acting suspiciously please gather as much information as possible such as the registration number and descriptions of the driver and any passengers and contact Dorset Police immediately.
The Dorset Police 'scam busters' website http://www.dorset.police.uk/Default.aspx?page=4821 will display confirmed scams in the area and is worth checking for information prior to reporting or passing on any information to others.
The Metropolitan Police have produced a useful booklet regarding scams and the link to this, and other advice, is https://www.met.police.uk/search?q=scams.
If you believe you have become the victim of a fraud or cyber crime, or have received a suspicious email, report it at: www.actionfraud.police.uk
- Drivers targeted with fake fines - June 2019
- HMRC Alert - June 2019
- Extortion Scam - November 2018
- The HMRC scam is back in Dorset - November 2018
- More on Fake phishing emails - September 2018
- Fake TSB phishing emails - May 2018
- TSB and sim card swops - May 2018
- Phantom Debt Fraud - Jan 2018
- A BT internet scam - Nov 2017
- Phishing Scam, compromised personal details - 04/04/2017
- Fake Amazon emails - Fraud Jan 2017
- Fake letters from Banks - Dec 2016
- Latest Scams - Nov 2016
- Bogus "Royal Mail" scam email. - Feb 2016
- Rental Scams
- Computer & Phone scams - July 2015
- Paypal" fraud
- Malicous Computer based scams
- Scam & Bogus "Police" telephone calls
Action Fraud have received an increase in reports and intelligence where elderly victims are being targeted by individuals purporting to be police officers or traffic wardens. The victims are being approached whilst parked in a car park and are told by the suspect that they have parked illegally or broken a speed limit and a photo has been taken of their car for 'evidence'.
Victims are advised that they will face a substantial penalty fine unless they pay a smaller upfront fee immediately. Victims, who opt for paying the smaller penalty, will be directed to a parking meter and asked to enter their card and PIN. These parking meters have been tampered with by the suspect in order to retain the card.
Once the victim inserts their card and are asked for their PIN, the victims are shoulder surfed for their PIN by the suspect. Once victims input their PIN, the card is retained by the machine and victims are told by the suspect to seek help from the company who operates the parking meter or their bank.
What you need to do:
- If you are suspicious about the authenticity of the fine, do not pay it until you have verified it with your local council.
- Always shield your PIN from view when using an ATM machine, and never share your PIN with anyone.
- If your bank card is retained by an ATM machine, contact your bank immediately to inform them.
What you need to know
- Action Fraud has experienced an increase in the reporting of malicious calls and voicemails, to members of the public purporting to be from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
- Fraudsters are spoofing genuine HMRC telephone numbers to deceive their victims over the phone. The fraudsters state that as a result of the victim's non-payment of tax or other duty, the victim is liable for prosecution or other legal proceedings in order to settle the balance. The fraudsters suggest victims can avoid this, by arranging payment to be made immediately by methods such as bank transfer or by purchasing iTunes gift cards.
- If the victim is hesitant or refuses to comply, the suspect makes a threat such as immediate arrest, sending bailiffs to the victim's address or, in some cases, deportation.
- Often, the period for which the tax is allegedly due is distant enough to guarantee the victim will have little, if any, paperwork or ability to verify the claims. Once the money is paid the suspects sever all contact with the victim.
- In genuine cases, HMRC will initially make direct contact with you via post/letter and potentially follow up that letter with a phone call at a later date.
- If HMRC contact you via telephone they will quote the reference number on the initial letter you should have received. HMRC will not discuss something you are not already aware of, like a tax investigation, and will NOT demand immediate payment.
It is vital that the public exercise caution when receiving messages or telephone calls of this nature.
What you need to do:
- Always question unsolicited requests for your personal or financial information. Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and contact details), it doesn't mean they are genuine. Instead, contact the company directly using trusted methods such as a known email address or phone number.
- Legitimate organisations wouldn't ask you to pay taxes, bills or fees using an iTunes gift card, or any other type of voucher. If you’re contacted by anyone that asks you to do this, you're likely the target of a scam
- Don't be rushed or pressured into making a decision. Under no circumstances would a genuine bank or some other trusted organisation force you to make a financial transaction on the spot.
- Report Phishing attempts. If you receive a call, text or email of this nature and have not lost money, you can report this as phishing to Action Fraud
Cyber criminals send victims their own passwords in extortion scam
Cyber criminals are attempting to blackmail unsuspecting victims by claiming to have used the victims' password to install spying malware on the victims' computer. The criminals claim they've recorded videos of the victim watching adult material by activating their webcam when they visit these websites. What makes this scam so convincing is that the email usually includes a genuine password the victim has used for one of their online accounts. We believe criminals obtain the passwords from data breaches.
What to do if you get one of these emails?
Don't reply to the email, or be pressured into paying. The police advise that you do not pay criminals. Try flagging the email as spam/junk if you receive it multiple times. Perform a password reset as soon as possible on any accounts where you've used the password mentioned in the email. Always use a strong, separate password for important accounts, such as your email. Where available, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Always install the latest software and app updates. Install, or enable, anti-virus software on your laptops and computers and keep it updated.
If you receive one of these emails, report it to Action Fraud's phishing reporting tool. If you have received one of these emails and paid the ransom, report it to your local police force.
Scammers are calling people at random using an automated message warning that they are under investigation by HMRC and need to call the number given or "face serious legal consequences".
This is a scam! Please don’t call the number or give any personal information out. Just hang up.
If you have received a call like this and wish to report it, please contact Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If the person receiving the call is vulnerable and they have suffered a loss or been otherwise specifically targeted, only then please report it to Dorset Police on 101.
Through the summer there has been a significant increase in the number of warnings about unexpected emails, apparently from genuine businesses, which are fraudulent attempts at obtaining personal details from individuals.
Examples are messages purporting to come from EE, Argos, British Gas, TV Licencing, Netflix, HMRC, LinkedIn, Amazon and the National Crime Agency.
Generally, an alarming message claims that the organisation has un-successfully attempted to collect money or make a refund to you and invites you to click on a link and update your details. This is generally fake and should be ignored as the link connects to the fraudsters own website.
- Don't assume a phone call or email is authentic: Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and address or even your mother's maiden name), it doesn't mean they are genuine. Criminals can exploit the names of well-known companies in order to make their scams appear genuine.
- Don't be rushed or pressured into making a decision: a genuine company won't force you to make a financial decisions on the spot. Always be wary if you’re pressured to purchase a product or service quickly, and don't hesitate to question uninvited approaches in case it's a scam.
- Stay in control: Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information. Always contact the company yourself using a known email or phone number, such as the one written on a bank statement or bill.
There has been a sharp rise in fraudsters sending out fake text messages (smishing) and phishing emails claiming to be from TSB. The increase in the number of reports corresponds with the timing of TSB's computer system update, which resulted in 1.9 million users being locked out of their accounts. Opportunistic fraudsters are using TSB's system issue to target people with this type of fraud.
Since the start of May there have been 321 phishing reports of TSB phishing made to Action Fraud. This is an increase of 970% on the previous month. In the same reporting period, there have been 51 reports of cybercrime to Action Fraud which mention TSB - an increase of 112% on the previous month.
Fraudsters are commonly using text messages as a way to defraud unsuspecting victims out of money. Known as smishing, this involves the victim receiving a text message purporting to be from TSB. The message requests that the recipient clicks onto a website link that leads to a phishing website designed to steal online banking details.
Although text messages are currently the most common delivery method, similar communications have been reported with fraudsters using email and telephone to defraud individuals.
In several cases, people have lost vast sums of money, with one victim losing £3,890 after initially receiving a text message claiming to be from TSB. Fraudsters used specialist software which changed the sender ID on the message so that it looked like it was from TSB. This added the spoofed text to an existing TSB message thread on the victim's phone.
The victim clicked on the link within the text message and entered their personal information. Armed with this information, the fraudsters then called the victim back and persuaded them to hand over their banking authentication code from their mobile phone. The fraudsters then moved all of the victim’s savings to a current account and paid a suspicious company.
Protect Yourself:
- Don't assume an email or text is authentic:
- Always question uninvited approaches in case it's a scam. Phone numbers and email addresses can be spoofed, so always contact the company directly via a known email or phone number (such as the one on the back of your bank card).
- Don't be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected text or email. Remember, a genuine bank will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your full PIN or password.
- If you have received a suspicious TSB email, please do not respond to it, report it to us https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_phishing and also forward it to emailscams@tsb.co.uk
Every Report Matters. If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to us online or by calling 0300 123 2040. or visit Take Five and Cyber Aware for more information about how to protect yourself online.
Also, see next alert below.
There has been an increase in reports made in May by TSB customers relating to "port-out" fraud. Fraudsters are number porting a victim's telephone number to a SIM card under their control and then using the number to access the victim's bank accounts.
The increase in the number of reports corresponds with the timing of TSB's computer system update, which resulted in 1.9 million users being locked out of their accounts. Opportunistic fraudsters are using TSB's system issue to target individuals, which follows the increase in phishing and smishing communications also targeting TSB customers this month. Victims' bank account and personal details including their phone number are collected by the fraudster, providing them with the information to execute the fraud.
Number porting is a genuine service provided by telecommunication companies. It allows customers to keep their existing phone number and transfer it to a new SIM card. The existing network provider sends the customer a Port Authorisation Code (PAC), that when presented to the new provider allows the number to be transferred across. This service can, however, be abused by fraudsters.
To gain control of the victim's phone number, fraudsters convince the victim's mobile phone network provider to swap their number on to a SIM card in the fraudster's control. Once the fraudster has control of the number they are able to intercept the victims' text messages, allowing them to use services linked to the victim's phone number. This can include requesting an online banking password reset or access to any two factor authentication services.
Victims have reported large losses as a result of this fraud. One victim initially dismissed text messages received from their network provider containing a PAC number. Two days later £6,000 was removed from the victim's TSB current account. The victim subsequently contacted their phone provider and was informed that someone contacted the provider purporting to be the victim and had cancelled their contract and transferred their number to a new SIM. This action allowed the banking fraud to take place.
Protect Yourself:
- PAC Code notifications - If you receive an unsolicited notification about a PAC Code request, contact your network provider immediately to terminate the request. Also notify your bank about your phone number being compromised.
- Clicking on links/files: Don't be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text. Remember, criminals can spoof the phone numbers and email addresses of companies you know and trust, such as your bank.
- Requests to move money: A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account.
- Port-out Fraud versus SIM Swapping: Port-out fraud is often incorrectly referred to as SIM swap fraud. SIM swap fraud works in a similar fashion, however, instead of porting the victim's number to a new network provider, the fraudster impersonates the victim and requests a new SIM card for their account. Once they have access to the new sim, they have access to the number.
Action Fraud has recently experienced an increase in the number of calls to members of the public by fraudsters requesting payments for a "phantom" debt. The fraud involves being cold-called by someone purporting to be a debt collector, bailiff or other type of enforcement agent. The fraudster may claim to be working under instruction of a court, business or other body and suggest they are recovering funds for a non-existent debt.
The fraudsters are requesting payment, sometimes by bank transfer and if refused, they threaten to visit homes or workplaces in order to recover the supposed debt that is owed. In some cases, the victim is also threatened with arrest. From the reports Action Fraud has received, this type of fraud is presently occurring throughout the UK.
It is important to recognise that there are key differences between the various entities who seek to settle debts or outstanding fees in England and Wales. These differences range from the type of debt they will enforce to the legal powers they possess. To learn more, please take a look at some of the helpful information and links on the Step Change Debt Charity website; https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/bailiffs-and-debt-collectors-differences.aspx
Protect Yourself
- Make vigorous checks if you ever get a cold call. Bailiffs for example, should always be able to provide you with a case number and warrant number, along with their name and the court they are calling from; make a note of all details provided to you.
- If you receive a visit from a bailiff, they must always identify themselves as a Court Bailiff at the earliest possible opportunity. Ask to see their identity card which they must carry to prove who they are, this card shows their photograph and identity number. They will also carry the physical warrant showing the debt and endorsed with a court seal.
- If you work for a business and receive a call or visit, be sure to speak with your manager or business owner first. Never pay the debts yourself on behalf of the business you work for; some fraudsters have suggested employees make payment suggesting they can then be reimbursed by their employer when in reality the debt is non-existent.
- Exercise caution believing someone is genuine because you've found something on the internet; fraudsters could easily create fake online profiles to make you believe them.
- Double check with the court, company or public body they claim to work for to confirm whether the call is legitimate; if you use a landline make sure you hear the dialling tone prior to dialling as the caller could still be on the line and you could potentially speak to the fraudster(s) to confirm the non-existent debt. Also be sure to independently search for a telephone number to call; never use a number provided by the caller without carrying out your own research.
- Do not feel rushed or intimidated to make a decision based on a phone call. Take five and listen to your instincts.
- If you know you have a debt, keep in regular contact with your creditor and be sure to establish the debt type at the earliest opportunity if you are not aware. This will help you to understand who might be in contact with you regarding any repayments or arrears.
You can report suspicious calls like these to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfaud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Many reports have been made from residents across Dorset stating that people claiming to be from BT Open Reach are asking for remote access to computers to 'make checks' on things like connection speed, routers and security software.
These people are convincing and quite insistent. To offer reassurance about the legitimacy of the request, people are being provided with a telephone number to call. Once the number given is dialled it is answered by a supposed BT operator. Please be aware - this is not a trusted way to verify a caller's identity. Always use the company contact number found on a utility bill or correspondence from that company. Never trust a number given to you over the phone to confirm identity.
Please don't engage with these people, just terminate the call.
Fraudsters are sending out a high volume of phishing emails to personal and business email addresses, pretending to come from various email addresses, which have been compromised.
The subject line contains the recipient's name, and the main body of text is as below:
"Hi, [name]!
I am disturbing you for a very serious reason. Although we are not familiar, but I have significant amount of individual info concerning you. The thing is that, most likely mistakenly, the data of your account has been emailed to me.
For instance, your address is: [real home address]
I am a law-abiding citizen, so I decided to personal data may have been hacked. I attached the file - [surname].dot that I received, that you could explore what info has become obtainable for scammers. File password is - 2811
Best Wishes,"
The emails include an attachment - a '.dot' file usually titled with the recipient's name.
This attachment is thought to contain the Banking Trojan Ursniff/Gozi, hidden within an image in the document. The Ursniff Banking Trojan attempts to obtain sensitive data from victims, such as banking credentials and passwords. The data is subsequently used by criminals for monetary gain.
Protect Yourself:
Having up-to-date virus protection is essential; however it will not always prevent your device(s) from becoming infected.
Please consider the following actions:
- Don't click on links or open any attachments you receive in unsolicited emails or SMS messages: Remember that fraudsters can 'spoof' an email address to make it look like one used by someone you trust. If you are unsure, check the email header to identify the true source of communication (you can find out how by searching the internet for relevant advice for your email provider).
- Do not enable macros in downloads; enabling macros will allow Trojan/malware to be installed onto your device.
- Always install software updates as soon as they become available. Whether you are updating the operating system or an application, the update will often include fixes for critical security vulnerabilities.
- Create regular backups of your important files to an external hard drive, memory stick or online storage provider. It is important that the device you back up to is not permanently connected to your computer as any malware infection could spread to that as well.
- If you think your bank details have been compromised, you should contact your bank immediately.
Action Fraud has received several reports from victims who have been sent convincing looking emails claiming to be from Amazon. The spoofed emails from "service@amazon.co.uk" claim recipients have made an order online and mimic an automatic customer email notification.
The scam email claims recipients have ordered an expensive vintage chandelier. Other reported examples include: Bose stereos, iPhones and luxury watches.
The emails cleverly state that if recipients haven't authorised the transaction they can click on the help centre link to receive a full refund. The link leads to an authentic-looking website, which asks victims to confirm their name, address, and bank card information.
Amazon says that suspicious e-mails will often contain:
- Links to websites that look like Amazon.co.uk, but aren't Amazon.co.uk.
- Attachments or prompts to install software on your computer.
- Typos or grammatical errors.
- Forged (or spoofed) e-mail addresses to make it look like the e-mail is coming from Amazon.co.uk
Amazon will never ask for personal information to be supplied by e-mail.
You can read more about identifying suspicious emails claiming to be from Amazon by visiting https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201489210
To report a fraud or cyber crime, call us on 0300 123 2040.
Lloyds customers should be on the lookout for a new sophisticated fraud that involves fraudsters sending fake bank letters.
The convincing letters being sent are a replica template from Lloyds and include their logo, address and signature from a customer service representative.
The letter tells recipients that there have been some "unusual transactions" on their personal account and asks them to call a number highlighted in bold to confirm they are genuine. When victims call the number, an automated welcome message is played and the caller is asked to enter their card number, account number and sort code followed by their date of birth.Victims are then instructed to enter the first and last digit of their security number.
The fraud was spotted by the Daily Telegraph who was alerted to it by a reader who had three identical letters sent to an office address. On separate occasions the Daily Telegraph ran some tests using fake details and were passed to fraudsters who claimed to be from a Lloyds contact centre. The bank has confirmed that the phone number and letters are fake.
The letters are essentially a sophisticated phishing attempt and serves as a warning to consumers to question written correspondence from their banks.
If you are ever suspicious about correspondence from your bank you should call the customer serviced number on the back of their card. To report a fraud and cyber crime, call us on 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud
Dorset Police is alerting local residents about the latest phone and online scams, after seeing a large increase in the number of reports compared to previous years.
The two most common companies criminals are pretending to be from are currently HER MAJESTY'S REVENUE AND CUSTOMS (HMRC) and TALK TALK.
Over the last couple of years, fraudsters have pretended to be police officers and bank workers when they've called their victims, but the latest phone scam involves criminals pretending to be from HMRC. Fraudsters are cold calling members of the public to tell them that they owe HMRC a sum of money or that HMRC owe them a refund. Criminals then obtain bank details and personal information from their unsuspecting victims and commit fraudulent activity on their bank accounts.
Some individuals have received an answerphone message and are advised to call 01202 281260 and 01202 834780, but these numbers are not connected with the real HMRC.
The vast majority of people who have been contacted have not suffered any financial loss, but it can leave them feeling vulnerable and unsure about what has happened, which causes stress and anxiety.
Criminals contact their victims by telephone, mail, over the internet, social media, email and on people's doorsteps. They are always thinking of new ways to steal money from people, particularly the elderly.
Remember - never give out bank details or bank cards in person, email, in the mail or over the phone - no matter where people say they are from and don't let anyone into your property if you don't know them.
Dorset Police has also received an increase in the number of reports for online scams - most recently about criminals pretending to be from telecoms company Talk Talk.
A 70-year-old man from Wimborne was recently targeted by fraudsters who pretended to be from Talk Talk. He lost approximately £6,000. Police are still investigating this crime.
"Having access to private information allows the offender(s) to manipulate the victim by appearing to know some of their basic details - convincing them that they are genuinely from the company they claim to represent. This can then lead to the victim allowing themselves to be directed to a webpage or link that allows the criminal to watch their online activity remotely and often leads to the gathering of bank details and in due course loss of money from the accounts.
We'd like people to continue reporting it so that we can build an intelligence picture and catch those responsible for causing misery to thousands of people.
The MICROSOFT brand name is also used in a similar way in this type of scam call. If anyone calls you unexpectedly and asks you to do something on your computer, please hang up and contact the company yourself to verify the call. Make sure you find the correct number on their Website and don't use the number the caller supplies.
Many of the telecom providers offer services that prevent unrecognised numbers getting through and just this simple step can often be enough to deter these heartless individuals.
To prevent unwanted calls, mail and emails, register for free with the following services:
- Mail Preference Service - call 08457 034 599
- Telephone Preference Service - call 08450 700 707
- Fax Preference Service - call 08450 700 702
- Email preferences - visit www.dmachoice.org
If you think you've been a victim of fraud, of any description, contact Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visit their website, www.actionfraud.police.uk.
There has also been a report of a text message purporting to be from HSBC. The text message was received from the same number as a previously genuine text message from HSBC and stated: "We identified an unusual login attempt on your account. Log in via the secure link to avoid suspension."
The recipient did click on the link but when personal information was requested they did not enter any details and closed the link because they became aware it was a scam.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR BANK WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR LOG ON OR SECURITY DETAILS VIA A LINK.
Message sent by the Police Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)
Fraudsters are sending out virus infected emails that claim a package has been seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom. The official looking scam emails claiming to be from Royal Mail contain a link to a document which will install malicious software on your computer designed to steal credentials like account names, email addresses and passwords.
An example email reads:
Title: Your parcel has been seized.
Royal Mail is sorry to inform you that a package addressed to you was seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom.
A close inspection deemed your items as counterfeit and the manufacturers have been notified. If your items are declared genuine then they will be returned back to you with the appropriate custom charges.
You may have been a victim of counterfeit merchandise and the RM Group UK will notify you on how to get your money back. Please review the attached PDF document for more information.
Document (RM7002137GB).Zip
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.
To help the spread of the virus, the email also says: "you will need to have access to a computer to download and open the Zip file".
If you receive one of these emails, do not click on any links or download any attachments and report it to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone: 0300 123 2040
Dorset Police are warning the public after reports of phone scams, with offenders claiming to be from Microsoft, and are appealing for other victims to come forward.
One incident occurred , Wednesday 5 August 2015, in the Weymouth area.
A male offender called the victim, a local man in his 40s, claiming he was from Microsoft and could assist with a virus on the victim's computer.
The fraudster tried to trick the victim into paying an amount of money into a foreign bank account for the services and requested his bank account details.
A similar incident occurred on Tuesday 4 August 2015 in the Bournemouth area. The victim, a local man in his 80s who had recently bought a new laptop, received a call from a man also claiming to be from Microsoft.
In this incident, the offender gained remote access to the victim's computer and said he would help with the setting up process. He then requested a significant sum of money from the victim for the services. This was paid in to a foreign bank.
Professional analysis of the victim's laptop, after the incident, showed that it had been attacked maliciously by the offender.
On both occasions the offender is said to have spoken with an Indian accent.
Detective Sergeant Alan Marks, of Dorset Police's Force Intelligence Bureau, said: "I would like to bring these incidents to the public's awareness. As with all phone scams, offenders can be highly convincing and I ask people to remain vigilant and ensure friends and family are also aware of such offences. I am also appealing to anyone in the county who has been targeted by these scams to report them to the police."
A scam email is currently being sent to victims fraudulently claiming to be from British Gas or The Ministry of Justice. The attached document or link leads to the TorrentLocker ransomware.
This malware encrypts files on the victim's system and requests a ransom be paid in order for the files to be decrypted; one reported amount has been £330 worth of Bitcoins.
It has been reported that some anti-virus vendors are detecting this and stopping the pages and or documents from being opened.
Protect yourself
- If you receive an email that you are suspicious of do not follow any links or open attachments until you can verify that the email is genuine. To do this contact the organisation that the email has come from by sourcing the number independently from the email received.
- If you believe the email to be fake, report it to your email provider as spam.
- Ensure your anti-virus software is up to date this will help to mitigate the potential for virus to be downloaded. It should be noted that anti-virus software is constantly being updated and may not stop all viruses especially if they are new or been adapted. It has been reported that some anti-virus vendors are detecting this and stopping the pages and or documents from being opened.
- If you have opened an attachment or followed a link which you believe to be suspicious it is recommended that you run your anti-virus and/or take your machine to a reputable company to have it cleaned.
- In cases where files have been encrypted it can be very difficult to retrieve them, and in most cases they will be lost. It is recommended that you always back up all files on a separate device or cloud storage to ensure they are not lost. Please remember that if a device is attached to the infected machine the files on this could also be encrypted with the virus so ensure they are kept separate.
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.
Courier fraudsters have been identifying themselves to victims on the telephone as "Detective Constable Martin Benton of New Scotland Yard Fraud Department". The fraudsters will invent a story regarding fraudulent activity on your card and request your bank/card details.
No such person exists at the Metropolitan Police. If you receive a call from someone purporting to be this individual, terminate the call immediately.
Protect yourself:
- Your bank will never send a courier to your home
- Your bank and the police will never collect your bank card
- Your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN
- If you receive one of these calls end it immediately
- If you have handed over any details to the fraudster, call your bank and cancel your cards immediately.
- If you want to call your bank, then do it from another telephone.
Online Loans Fraudsters are targeting individuals who have recently expressed an interest in an online loan. Unsolicited calls are made by fraudsters who appear to be calling from a genuine company. They state that the recently applied for loan has been agreed, but an "advance fee" is required before the money can be transferred.
Once these "fees" have been paid, either directly to the fraudsters' bank accounts or through a money service bureau, they are unrecoverable. In many cases, fraudsters have asked for multiple upfront "fees" to address issues arising with the loan.
Protect yourself:
- Authentic credit companies do not charge fees in advance.
- Be wary of anyone calling who says they represent a credit company.
- Report any instances of a credit company attempting to request fees in advance of a loan to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
'Apple Pay' Classified advertisement websites like AutoTrader are being targeted by fraudsters to advertise vehicles for sale. Buyers are then contacting these 'sellers' to find out more about the vehicles and are being told to pay for them via 'Apple Pay'. In this case the fraudsters are not using the genuine Apple Pay service and potential victims pay money directly to bank accounts in control of the fraudsters. Individuals receive emails claiming to be from Apple Pay with a web link to a cloned website with false terms and conditions of the 'escrow' service. Any money remitted to the fraudsters is then unrecoverable and the vehicles are not delivered.
Protect yourself:
- the seller 'face to face' and view the vehicle before parting with any money.
- Be cautious of web links in an email. They may not direct you to the genuine website.
- Report scam advertisements to the classified advertisement websites.
- If the vehicle is below market value, consider whether this is an opportunity too good to be true!
A Royal Mail Scam Email is currently being sent to victims fraudulently claiming to be from the Royal Mail. Attached to the email is the CryptoLocker virus.
The victim receives an email purporting to be from the Royal Mail stating that they are holding a parcel/letter for the victim. The victim is then required to contact the Royal Mail to arrange for the item to be resent/collected.
By following the instructions within the email the CryptoLocker virus is subsequently downloaded to the victim's computer. This virus encrypts files on the victim's system and requests a ransom be paid in order for the files to be decrypted.
Additional incentive is added for early repayment as the ransomware states that the cost of decrypting the files will increase the longer the fine is outstanding.
Protect yourself:
- Look at who the email is addressed to. Is it generic or specifically addressed?
- Look at the quality of the images included on the email. Are they of sufficient high quality that they could come from Royal Mail?
- Do not open attachments from unsolicited emails regardless of who they are from.
- Do not click on the link supplied. Instead, go to the relevant website and log in from there.
- Check the address of any email received to see if it appears legitimate.
Action Fraud has seen an increase in the number of small to medium sized businesses being contacted by fake bailiffs requesting payments for a phantom debt.
The scam involves the business being cold called from someone purporting they are bailiffs working on behalf of a court, attempting to recover funds for a non-existent debt. The caller will then request payment by means of bank transfer and if this is refused, will threaten to visit the premises to recover the debt that is owed.
A range of different businesses are being targeted; including Nurseries, Manufacturers, Hotels and Taxi Services.
Protect Yourself
- Confirm what the debt is regarding; bailiffs are only used to recover certain debts such as council tax, child support and compensation orders. Bailiffs are not used to recover debts relating to private advertisement; these would be collected by debt collectors. Debt collectors do not have the same legal powers as bailiffs and will not have special court authorisation to act. For more details regarding this, please look at the Citizens Advice website.
- Double check with the Court or originating company to confirm whether the suspects are legitimate; if you use a landline make sure you hear the dialling tone prior to dialling as the suspects could still be on the line.
- Request details of the debt in writing to access its legitimacy.
- Do not feel rushed or intimidated to make a decision based on a phone call.
If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk
Fraudsters often target 'goods for sale' adverts on popular online auctions sites, so watch out whenever you're selling anything online.
How does the fraudster operate?
The fraudster will contact the seller to say that they want to buy the advertised item. The seller then receives what looks like a genuine PayPal email, to confirm that the money has been paid by the buyer into their account.
With confirmation of payment, the seller will then send the item to the buyer's address. The seller will later find that the PayPal email is fake and that the money has not been paid. The seller ends up losing out twice as not only do they not have the money, but they no longer have the item to sell.
Protect yourself:
- Check your PayPal account to ensure that the money has been paid in and has cleared into your bank account before you send the item to the buyer.
- Do not be bullied or rushed into sending items before you know that the payment has cleared - a genuine purchaser will not mind waiting a day or two for you to send them their item.
- If you are selling a vehicle, think carefully when selling to overseas purchasers - especially if they tell you they will send an extra payment for shipping - check that the funds have cleared before arranging this.
Parcel awaiting delivery postcardsare being delivered to UK residents' homes claiming that a parcel containing "jewellery" is waiting for the homeowner.
Find out how to protect yourself and report to Action Fraud if you have received one.
Current spam email campaigns are trying to infiltrate or infect email accounts by pretending to come from either Adobe or LinkedIn Support. The emails from LinkedIn claim 'Irregular activities have prompted a compulsory security update'. With the Adobe emails attempt to direct the user to the latest updates.
Phishing is an attempt by a fraudster to steal valuable information by pretending to be a company that you know and use. It relies on people to think the message is genuine. Victims are initially sent an email that will have either a link to a website, or contain an attachment. What the fraudsters want you to do is click on the link or attachment so that they can steal valuable information from your computer, like your bank account or credit card details
Protect yourself:
- Look at who the email is addressed to - many will say "Dear user" or "Dear valued customer" and will not be addressed directly to you.
- If there are images included in the email they may be of a poor quality but will try to look like the company they are trying to represent.
- The message may have a few spelling mistakes.
- Do not click on the link supplied. Instead, go to the relevant website and log in from there.
Can I please remind you to reject any call from someone asking you to allow them remote access to your computer for any reason.
I personally know two people now, and there was a report in a local paper again recently of another person, who have been rung by someone claiming to be from either the Metroplolitan Police, Microsoft customer support or some other reputable organisation, claiming that your computer has been hacked into and they need to access your machine to update your security or some other excuse. They often have a small amount of information about you already, so they can make it seem plausible that they are genuine. They often offer you a phone number to ring to check bona-fides, but these are also fake.
If you permit them acess they will disable your computer, scramble files and harvest personal information like log-ins, passwords etc which will be used for fraud. They will also want payment from you in exchange for "a password to unlock your computer". DO NOT give them any details - they will take the money and the password will not work. The only thing you can then do is immediately un-plug yor computer from the mains and any network and contact a professional firm who specialise in disaster recovery. They may be able to help, or you may have to buy a new computer and will lose all the files that were on your old machine. Do not try to recover things yourself, it will generally only make the situation worse.
We have received a report that someone is sending text messages purporting to be from Dorset Police. If you receive any of these please call 101 with the details.
If you are expecting contact from us then verify this with a 101 call.
September 2014
Dorchester police wish to bring to your attention a fraudulent telephone call that was made to an elderly lady living in the area.
The call was alleged to have come from a police officer who was working for the Fraud Squad in Tooting.The information given was that a man was in custody who had admitted stealing from the ladies bank account. The lady was given bank account details into which she was to transfer the rest of her money as this would protect it from others who may have access to her account.
THIS STORY WAS COMPLETELY FICTITIOUS; BUT CONVINCING AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL CALL.
Do not "hang up" and then call any number given by the caller "to check the story" - The caller will have stayed on the line and will pretend to be the Police.
No Police Officer will ask for money to be transferred and neither will they ask for PIN numbers. Please hang up if you are concerned about a caller but it would be very helpful to check the callers telephone number by dialling 1471. You are then asked to call the police on 101 as soon as possible, preferably from a different telephone, as the information you provide may prevent someone else becoming a victim of this caller.
Message sent by Chris Meade (Dorset Police, PC 2688, Dorchester North & South Town, Dorchester East & West Rural)
There are persistent calls being made from what appears to be this number, by people seeking personal data. It is a known scam. The number does not exist. If you have caller display, please do not answer. If you can block calls, please add this number to the list. DO NOT GIVE AWAY ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION WHATSOEVER for any reason - Just hang up!.
More details area available if you Google the phone number.
Police are warning the public after a spate of telephone money scams targeting the Weymouth and Dorchester areas yesterday (30 March 2015).
In one incident that happened today at around 10.30am a pensioner from Dorchester was targeted. During the incident the offender, calling himself Derek, claimed the woman's bank account had been compromised in some way. She was then encouraged to call the number on the back of her bank card and provide her bank details.
The offender, unbeknown to the victim, had remained on the line and pretended to be her bank.
Inspector Pete Browning, of Dorchester police, said: "Offenders are highly convincing and have conned many victims into handing over thousands of pounds in recent months. I ask people to remain vigilant and report any such incidents to the police."
Do not reveal your bank details including PIN to anyone - banks will already have these details and will never ask for your card back.
If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be from your bank, do not give them any details, hang up and call your bank on their regular contact telephone number and the police - wait at least 2 minutes after hanging up to make the calls to ensure that the line is clear, or use a different telephone.
Do not give your bank cards to strangers whatever reason they may give you to part with them.
Do not allow any unknown or unexpected callers inside your home. If you are suspicious, call 999 immediately.
Do not hand over any cash to people unknown to you.
Anyone with information about such scams should call us on 101 quoting incident number 30:181. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.
- A fraudster phones claiming to be from your bank or the police, to say your band card has been used fraudulently.
- They may tell you to hang up the call back to ensure the call is genuine. But, they stay on the line so your call goes straight back to the fraudster.
- The fraudster then asks you for your PIN or tells you to withdraw cash from your account.
- They arrange to send a courier/taxi to collect your bank card or your cash.
- They now have the ability to access your account and spend your money.
What to do if you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up - dial 1471 and note the number used.
- Report to the Police by email or different phone, quoting Op Luna.
- If you need to use the same phone, WAIT 5 minutes, as the fraudster could still be on the line.
Remember:
NEVER give your PIN or bank details out over the phone.
NEVER withdraw cash and send it anywhere via courier or taxi.
NEVER send bank cards anywhere via courier or taxi.
NEITHER the Police nor your bank will EVER ask for you to do any of the above.
For help and advice, to report an incident or if you have been a victim of telephone fraud contact Dorset Police on: Telephone: 101 Non-emergency, Email: 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or Online: www.dorset.police.uk.
The telephone preference service (TPS) is a valuable resource and is supported by the Dorset Police but recent instances have occurred where members of the public have registered on the TPS website and have later received a telephone call from a person who stated they are responding to the TPS registration and asking for a fee of £39 to complete the registration.
THIS IS A SCAM AND YOU SHOULD NOT PASS YOUR BANK OR CREDIT CARD DETAILS.
If you have been contacted by a person stating they are from the Telephone Preference Service and have paid money for this free service it is strongly advised that you report the incident to ACTION FRAUD on 0300 123 2040 as well as contacting your bank as soon as practical.