Editorial

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Willingdon Neighbourhood Watch was formed 40 years ago this month by Joan Barras and Police Crime prevention officer Dave Smith , unfortunately neither Dave or Joan are with us today. WNW was one of the very first watches formed of the now 170,000 Neighbourhood watches in the UK making it the largest voluntary movement in this country, and all of us at WNW are proud to carry on their legacy for the benefit of all Willingdon residents.

We would also like to thank “Fountain Digital” of Eastbourne the designers and sponsors of this amazing website for all they have done for WNW...Thank you all.

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Ray Ingram,

Chairman WNW

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Our July newsletter is out. READ IT HERE

This edition offers expert Cyberhood Watch advice on keeping your digital lives safe and secure, impersonation scams, 999 British Sign Language app, measuring impact, addressing fly-tipping and discounts on products.

We hope you find the newsletter valuable.

Best wishes

Central Support Team | NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK

Courier fraud

This May, all forces are working together on a national campaign to target criminals committing courier fraud, a crime which has continued to increase. This newsletter tells you what courier fraud is, how to spot the signs and what you can do to prevent it.

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What is courier and impersonator fraud?

Courier or impersonator fraud is where a fraudster calls a victim impersonating the police or a bank. The fraudster claims to need the victim to partake in a fraud investigation by withdrawing or transferring funds. In some cases, victims have been persuaded to buy Rolex watches or gold bars - although in most cases, victims are persuaded to transfer money into another bank account or hand over cash and bank cards after disclosing their PIN.

After persuading the victim to part with funds, fraudsters will often send a 'courier' to the victims address to collect cash or cards.

Fraudsters often give varying stories as to why they need the victims help. They may claim that the victim's bank is committing fraud, that they have arrested a fraudster who they need evidence against, or that they have spotted fraudulent activity associated with the victims accounts. They can be very convincing and will often discourage victims from speaking with anyone else about the situation.

In Surrey and Sussex, courier and impersonator fraud is one of the highest recorded fraud types affecting our residents. In 2021, Surrey and Sussex received 1063 reports of courier and impersonator fraud in relation to vulnerable and elderly victims.

• 57% of victims lived alone; the majority of victims were over the age of 75
• 37% of victims were male, 63% of victims were female

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Protect yourself from courier fraud

• Act with care if you get an unsolicited call
• The police or your bank will never ask you to withdraw money or hand over your bank cards
• Never transfer funds into a new account on the instruction of an unexpected caller - even if they tell you the account is in your name
• Never share your PIN number or enter your PIN number into a telephone
• Never withdraw money or give your bank cards to anyone who comes to your door, no matter who they say they are

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Please pass this advice onto your loved ones, particularly those who are elderly or vulnerable.

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Case Study

An 85-year-old woman from East Sussex was called by someone claiming to be from the police. The caller claimed to be 'DI Evans' from the 'fraud team'. The caller explained to the victim that they had arrested a suspect who was claiming to be the victim's niece. The victim was then passed to a different 'officer' who claimed the arrested female worked at a bank and the victims bank account was under suspicion of fraud.

The victim was asked to support the investigation by attending her local bank branch and withdrawing £5000, which was to be later collected by a 'courier' and 'analysed'.

The victim attended her local branch to make a withdrawal. Once in the branch, the victim indicated to staff that she was secretly on the phone to someone which raised suspicions. Staff at the bank refused the withdrawal and raised banking protocol. Thankfully, due to the quick actions of the bank, the victim did not suffer any loss             and was safeguarded by the bank and genuine police officers who attended.

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Spot warning signs of courier fraud

• Have you had a phone call out of the blue by someone claiming to be from your bank or the police?
• Did you receive a text message asking for your personal and/or banking information?
• Are you being asked to withdraw or transfer funds to a 'safe account' due to an urgent investigation?
• Has the caller suggested cash or bank cards be collected from your home address?
• Have you been asked to post your bank cards or a sum of cash?

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How to check if a caller is genuine

• Stop! If the caller has introduced themselves as someone who works for the police, wait five minutes, and then call us on 101 to check their identity.
• Has the caller given their details? Have they explained why they are calling you?
• If in person, ask to see the persons warrant card.
• Always question and follow your gut instinct - never be afraid to ask an officer to show they are genuine. A genuine police officer will always provide their details and allow you time to check their identity with 101.

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Have you been a victim of fraud?

If you or someone you know is vulnerable and has been a victim of fraud please report online.

Report fraud or attempted fraud on the Action Fraud website or call 0300 123 2040.

March OUR NEWS Neighbourhood Watch newsletter

This month’s newsletter includes articles on:

• our THINK WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign
• launch of our 40 YEARS, 40 ACTIONS pack
• Neighbourhood Watch Community Grants Fund
• International Women’s Day
• Neighbour of the Year Awards 2021 regional winners

You can read about all this and more in our newsletter here.

Ukrainian Crisis Warning – We have begun to hear about scams using the Ukrainian Crisis to extort or scam money. Please be mindful of this and check the origins of requests to support the crisis. If you come across scams please report them. Visit our REPORTING SCAMS webpage for more information.

We hope you enjoy this edition and welcome your feedback via enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk.