Cowboy builders cashing in- P4-5
Insure your tools from thieves -P13
Stay alert to the loan sharks - P16
JUNE 2022
Fraud epidemic is worrying- P3
COMMUNITY WATCH MAGAZINE KENT
WARNING: DRUGS THAT LOOK LIKE SWEETS COULD KILL - P2
2 DRUGS WARNING Barclays warns BARCLAYS has issued a warning after a woman fell victim to a scam, costing her a staggering £40,000. They highlight an account involving a 50-yearold woman who was corresponding with a man she had met on a dating website. He told her he was an officer in the armed forces serving overseas, with his profile showing a man in uniform. At first, the dating website was their only method of communication, but personal email and phone followed. Over time, the suspect built a rapport with the victim and said he wanted to discharge himself from the army so they could be together but needed £40,000 for discharge. The victim sent over £40,000, and continued to provide him with funds when he asked. Her lover eventually disappeared. Barclays stressed how important it is for people to only give out personal details when necessary. Individuals may also wish to ask friends or family for a valuable second opinion. Published by Community Watch Publishing 110 Clifton Avenue Benfleet, Essex SS7 5QU Tel: 01268 566743 07958 475392 Email
peterfau67@ gmail.com Editor Peter Faulkner Website communitywatchpublishing.co.uk
Sweets that could kill
Drugs that look like innocent sweets are being sold openly warns drug-testing charity A DRUG testing charity is warning dangerous synthetic cannabis, sold as marijuana sweets, could be putting buyers at risk of death. It comes after a 23-year-old woman died after eating a synthetic cannabis sweet that she'd ordered on a messaging app. Now The Loop charity, based in Surrey, says it's worried about a rise in the popularity of cannabis sweets known as gummies because without testing, it's impossible to tell what's inside them. “People are taking advantage of this,” said Guy Jones, a senior scientist at The Loop. "With herbal cannabis you can look at it you can smell it to decide whether it's real cannabis or not. “With these highly processed forms, that is completely out of the window." What's the difference? Both cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids commonly referred to as Spice - are illegal to produce possess, distribute or sell in the UK. Some people can be legally prescribed cannabis by healthcare professionals for various medical conditions, however. One is grown, the other is created in a lab designed to latch on the same receptors in the brain as cannabis, but with a completely different chemical structure. So even though some of the effects might seem familiar, the potential for different side effects is very different. Synthetic cannabinoids can cause hallucination, extreme paranoia and in the highest doses even death. "The concern is drug sellers are buying a
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regular supply of cannabis sweets and their supplier has gone out of stock," Guy says. “They find another supplier who says, 'I've got these really good cannabis sweets, they're really strong'. But it turns out this person is just trying to make a profit by using these really cheap synthetic cannabinoids." He says everyone downstream faces a "huge additional risk". Buyers think they're purchasing cannabis which has "essentially a non-existent risk of overdose". In reality they're buying synthetic cannabinoids, which "carry a very very significant potential for death or serious harm by overdose". It's not the first time these synthetic drugs have been in the news. In 2018, a prisoner who died after being found "slumped" in his cell at a Welsh prison, was found to have taken Spice. Two high school pupils in Northern Ireland were given medical treatment last year, after inadvertently consuming synthetic cannabis through an e-cigarette. The latest available data from the Office for National Statistics shows between 2018-2020, 169 deaths were recorded where the cause of death related to "poisoning" from synthetic cannabinoids. That's compared to 60 deaths in the three years before that. But as countries around the world have legalised the recreational use of marijuana, the market has expanded and so too has the way people want to consume it. Everything from vaporisers, oils and creams you can rub on your skin, to edible sugar sweets have become popular - particularly in the US and Canada, where it's legal.
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FRAUD EPIDEMIC 3
Fraud now accounts for 40% of all crimes recorded. The UK was already among the worst countries in Europe in terms of exposure to scams and fraud before the pandemic
Stay alert to the rise in fraud FRAUD has long been the crime you’re most likely to fall victim to, but it has now become an epidemic. A recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report shows that an estimated 5.1 million fraud offences were committed in England and Wales in the year to September 2021 – up 36% in two years. Fraud now accounts for 40% of all crimes recorded.The UK was already among the worst countries in Europe in terms of exposure to scams and fraud before the pandemic compounded the problem. Scammers quickly exploited our fear and confusion, whether by impersonating the government to offer fake Covid-19 grants, setting up fake NHS websites to steal card details, or posing as delivery companies to target online shoppers stuck at home. These tactics aren’t going away and here we reveal the 12 emerging threats we all need to watch out for. Shopping and investment scams From November 2020 to December 2021, individual victims lodged a total of 448,838 fraud reports. Between them, they lost £1.9bn. Online shopping and auction fraud continues to dwarf other types of fraud, accounting for 23% of all reports, but investment fraud victims lose the most money. On average, victims of pyramid or Ponzi schemes lost
£50,400, compared to £650 for victims of online shopping scams. Online shopping and auction fraud You pay for goods on an online marketplace that don’t arrive, or don’t receive payments for goods you’ve sold. Follow our tips to spot a scam. Other advance fee fraud You pay an upfront fee related to fraud not classified elsewhere, for example career opportunities, clairvoyants or bogus officials. Shopping fraud Any other type of shopping fraud eg when buying goods from a newspaper ad in person or a shop on the high street. Excludes online shopping. Computer fixing fraud You pay a fee to a fraudster claiming they will fix a bogus technical issue on your computer. Other investment fraud Financial fraud involves foreign exchange, cryptocurrency or investment seminars. Dating scams Fraudsters create fake profiles on dating sites/apps or target you on social media to establish a connection then ask for money. Boiler room scams You’re cold-called by fake stockbrokers and persuaded to buy shares or bonds in non-existent or near-bankrupt firms. Phone fraud Fraudsters pose as your mobile network to offer non-existent or worth-
less insurance.Also scams involving missed calls/texts that charge premium rates when you reply. Rental fraud You’re tricked into paying upfront fees to secure properties by fake landlords and letting agents. Pyramid/Ponzi schemes Schemes where you have to recruit friends or family (pyramid) or pay returns to early investors to gain credibility (Ponzi). Fraud recovery scams You’re asked to pay a fee to someone who pretends they can recover money you lost to a previous fraud. ‘419’ advance fee fraud Fraudsters pose as foreign officials asking for money to release millions from a fictional inheritance or government fund. Named after a section of the Nigerian criminal code. It’s often assumed that older people are more vulnerable to fraud, yet those aged 20 to 39 accounted for 39% of all reports to Action Fraud. This age group was more likely to report rental fraud, pyramid or Ponzi schemes and online shopping scams than other age groups. Those aged 60 to 79 submitted 20% of all reports (of the 12 fraud types we’ve focused on, the most commonly reported were computer fixing fraud, recovery fraud, and ‘419’ advance fee fraud).
4 DEMENTIA VICTIMS Rise in drug arrests ESSEX saw the third-highest increase in drug arrests in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, a report has revealed. The number of drug-related arrests made by Essex Police officers jumped from 4,111 pre-pandemic to 7,261 in 2020/21, according to government statistics. In percentage terms, the drug arrests in Essex rose by 76.6% during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving the county only behind Cleveland (83.4%) and Leicestershire (83.6%) across the whole of the UK.
Buying vaccine online A SURVEY by Scamadvisor.com has found that 28 per cent of consumers could consider sourcing a COVID-19 vaccine online, particularly if they were able to buy it from an official source. The poll of more than 1,100 consumers indicated that the respondents would only buy a shot online if they believed it was genuine. However that could still leave them vulnerable to fraudsters who might try to sell fake vaccines through sites mocked up to look like legitimate sources, according to Scamadvisor.com, which compiled the study.
Misled into buying fakes ON average. nearly one in 10 Europeans (9 per cent) have said that they were misled into buying counterfeits, in a new report from the EU Intellectual Property Office. The report found that a third of Europeans (33 per cent) wondered whether a product they had bought was original, amid estimates that €121bn ($144bn) of fake goods are making their way into the EU every year – accounting for 6.8 per cent of total imports into the bloc. The counterfeits impacted every sector – from cosmetics and toys, wine and beverages, electronics, to clothing, and even pesticides– and can pose serious health and safety risks to consumers.
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Dementia could...
ANYONE can fall for a scam.You don't have to be old or vulnerable to become a victim of scammers and fraudsters. Even well educated, titled people have lost their life savings to smooth talking crooks. But there are some members of our community who can be more at risk – those living with dementia. They can be more at risk because they can find managing money and assessing risk harder.This can make them more vulnerable to scammers. What do we mean by scams? Scams are when criminals trick you into giving them access to your money. As well as losing you money, this can also leave you feeling scared and ashamed. Knowing the techniques scammers use can help you protect yourself and your money. Scams take many forms. Scammers can convince you to buy something that doesn’t exist or spend money when you don’t need to. They can pretend to be your bank, the police, or another trusted organisation to try to get your personal information, bank details or move your money.This can be by phone, email, letter, text or social media. Scammers can also pretend to be someone they’re not, such as pretending they’re there to do building work on your house, in order to be let into your home to steal from you. It may seem scary but there are ways to keep yourself safe. Four ways to avoid scams 1. Stay safe when buying online
It is increasingly common to purchase items online.This can be an efficient way of doing your shopping but we have heard of reports where people have purchased items that have then not arrived. There are some fraudulent sellers who set up fake online companies to steal money. It’s important to make sure you’re staying safe and avoiding these scams when shopping online. Tip: Check you’re buying from a real company. You can search for a company's details on GOV.UK.This will tell you if they're a registered company or not. If you’re buying something on a site you haven't used before, spend a few minutes checking it – start by finding its terms and conditions. The company’s address should have a street name, not just a post office box. Check to see what people have said about the company. It’s worth looking for reviews on different websites such as Which? – don’t rely on reviews the company has put on its own website. Sign up to Which?’s free scam alert email service that gives anyone who signs up the information to know how to spot, avoid and report a scam as well as information about the latest scams. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase and the item costs more than £100, use a credit card if you have one, as you might have a legal claim for credit card purchases above that amount if things go wrong. continued page 5
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DEMENTIA VICTIMS 5
...put you at risk from crooks From page 4 If you have paid by debit card or paid a lower amount, talk to your bank anyway. Don’t rely on seeing a padlock in the address bar of your browser - this doesn’t guarantee you’re buying from a real company. 2. Learn how to spot a phishing scam Scammers can send out emails that appear to be from a legitimate company, government department, utility provider, or financial service. They attempt to trick you into clicking on a malicious link in the email then ask you to provide sensitive information such as personal and financial details.This is known as 'phishing'. One common tactic used by scammers is to contact potential victims by email pretending to be from your bank or utility provider asking you to move money to another account, to make a payment or to provide personal or financial information. Tip: Be careful where you click. If you get an email from a company with a strange email address or one that has never emailed you before asking you for money/payment unexpectedly, don’t click on links or download anything. Doing this could infect your computer with a virus. Make sure your antivirus software is up to date to give you more protection. If you’re not sure an email from a company is genuine, head to their website to find ways to contact them from there (using the telephone number or email address provided). If you receive an email which seems too good to be true or is trying to make you take urgent action, stop and think if it could be a scam.Ask someone you trust for a second opinion. 3. Stay safe from people at your door pretending to be someone they’re not Scammers can also approach your house and pretend to be someone they’re not. This could be someone pretending they’re there to do building work on your house but really they want to be let into your home so they can steal from you.
Tip: Remember it's okay to keep the door closed to strangers. ! If you have an unexpected visitor at your door, always ask to see their ID. ! If someone claims to be from a recognised organisation, then don’t be afraid to ask to see proof or check with the organisation itself. ! If possible, call a friend or family member to let them know that someone has come to the house you don’t recognise and discuss why they have called. ! Don’t be afraid to shut the front door while you check they are who they say they are. If visitors are genuine, they will understand. ! Consider putting a ‘no cold callers’ sign on your front door.You may be able to get one from your local council.They are also available online. 4. Protect yourself on the phone Scammers can also call you claiming to be someone they’re not.This is often your
bank or utility provider, to try and get you to tell them your personal details, such as your PIN or password.You should never give personal information to someone you don’t know. It’s important to keep yourself safe and know when you should just end the conversation. Don’t be afraid to hang up if you are unsure. Tip: Contact your provider to ask how they might contact you. ! If you receive a letter, email, text or phone call you’re unsure about, which seems too good to be true, or needs urgent action, ask someone you trust for a second opinion. ! A real bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue asking for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. Check your bank or utility provider’s website or call them to see how they will and won’t communicate with you. For example, find out what type of security questions they’ll ask if they phone you. ! Don’t feel pressured to act straight away.Take your time and seek advice if you receive a call asking you to do something you’re not sure about. ! Unwanted sales and marketing calls can be stopped for free by signing up to the Telephone Preference Service. Most junk mail can also be stopped by opting out at the Mailing Preference Service. ! Never let somebody talk you into downloading software, or to log on to your computer or other devices, such as your mobile phone or a tablet, remotely during or after a cold call. Getting support with scams Scammers use clever, high-pressure tactics so you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you have been scammed.There is help available. If you're worried you’ve been scammed or given your details to the wrong people, tell someone close to you, and report it to your bank and the police straight away.Alzheimer’s Society is here to support you. Dementia Connect Support hotline – 0333 150 3456
6 OFGEM SCAM
Crooks cash in on energy CYBER criminals claiming to represent Ofgem are targeting householders offering them fake energy rebates so they can access their bank accounts and steal the contents. Action Fraud is warning customers not to be duped by emails saying they are due a rebate on their energy and council tax bills. The watchdog has been bombarded with more than 750 complaints in just four days about the official looking emails promising hard-up households money off. Households across the UK will be given a £200 'reduction' in their energy bills in October, which is paid back over five years. The Energy Bills Support Scheme will be introduced to assist households with rising energy bills during the cost of living crisis. Households will receive the £200 repayable discount automatically and will not have to apply for it, GOV.UK confirms But fraudsters are taking the opportunity to exploit the scheme to try and con households into giving away their bank details. The scam asked people to claim before June 1 and to follow a link so the money will be paid into their bank accounts.However it leads to websites designed to steal personal and financial details. Action Fraud said Ofgem or other bonafide organisations would never ask for details over text or email and they are asking anyone who spots the fishy emails to contact them. As of Friday May 20,Action Fraud - which is run by the police - said it received 752 reports of fake emails pretending to be from Ofgem.
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Passwords to avoid Which? has devised this simple quiz to show how your passwords and security questions are a passport to crime.
The emails say the recipient is "eligible to apply for Energy Bill Rebate" and must do so before June 1. Action Fraud says: "The emails state that the recipient is eligible for a rebate as a result of a newly announced government scheme. “The links in the emails lead to genuine-looking websites that are designed to steal your personal and financial information. "Your bank, or any official organisation, won’t ask you to share personal information over email or text. If you need to check that it’s a genuine message, contact them directly. "The email tells customers that they are eligible to apply for an energy bill rebate.They must apply June 1. “If they do they will receive a £200 discount on their energy bills this Autumn for domestic electricity customers and a £250 non-repayable Council Tax rebate payment for all households that are liable."
Favourite colour STOP Street you grew up on GIVING Eldest child's middle name OUT Favourite sports team ****** Favourite teacher's name YOUR First car PASSWORD Favourite food ****** Mum's maiden name AND First job SECURITY Favourite book QUESTION Favourite band ANSWERS
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CYBER CRIME STATS 7
Cyber crime league table
London has topped the league for the hardest hit by cyber-crimes ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity, has conducted a study into the state of cybercrime in the United Kingdom, looking at which areas have seen the highest number of cybercrimes committed as well as the most common cybercrimes committed. The UK has seen a slight decrease of 2.97% in the number of cybercrimes committed in 2021. London was the area that saw the highest number of cybercrimes committed. Areas with the highest rates of cybercrime per 100,000 people London - 5,258 Surrey - 644 Kent - 999 Northamptonshire - 399 Hertfordshire - 607 When looking at total cybercrime reports in 2021, it is no surprise to see London out in front with over 5,000 reports. The capital was followed by the West Midlands (1,242) and Thames Valley (1,142). Cumbria was the area that saw the smallest amount of cybercrimes committed with 174 reported in 2021, it was followed by Cleveland (194) and Dyfed-Powys (213). Looking at the data from the report, we can see clearly that the country’s wealthiest areas of the country are the most heavily targeted for cybercrime.
The top 7 most targeted areas fall within the top 10 wealthiest counties by Gross Value Added per capita, and the 5 of the top 10 most targeted areas rank within the top 10 wealthiest counties by GRP per capita. While this is not unexpected, it shows clearly that the cyber criminals are taking aim at the bigger fish in the pond. Areas with the biggest decrease in cybercrime - Gloucestershire, Northumbria and Wiltshire. There were only three areas in the research that saw an increase in cybercrime reports, Norfolk saw the biggest increase by 19.83%, Nottinghamshire (0.52%) and Northamptonshire (0.25%) followed. Jake Moore, a Cybersecurity Specialist for ESET, commented on the findings:“Knowledge is the key to reducing cybercrime and with this noticeable shift in offences reported year on year, it is starting to suggest that people are becoming more savvy at spotting scams and keeping their wits about them. “Social media and email hacking, however, remains the biggest threat across the country so people need to remember to implement basic security measures to combat hacking with password managers and turning on multi factor authentication for all online accounts.”
Covid fraud may go above £49b BILLIONS of pounds of taxpayers’ money will be “lost to fraud and error” after the Government dropped basic safeguards and missed warning signs in the rush to deal out Covid support loans, an influential committee of MPs has said. Officials at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said it offered an “open goal to fraudstersand they have cashed in” according to the Commons Public Accounts Committee. Its report warns that the latest figure of £4.9bn lost could prove to be an underestimate, as the true extent will only be gradually revealed as official assessments “catch up with payments made”.
Fraud could ruin your holidays ACTION Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, is warning the public to remain vigilant against holiday fraud when booking flights or accommodation online. In the last financial year, Action Fraud received 4,244 reports of holiday fraud – a substantial increase of over 120% compared to the previous financial year. Victims lost a total of £7,388,353 – an average loss of £1,868 per victim. Action Fraud is urging the public to think twice before handing over money and personal information.
8 KENT CRIME & COMMUNITY NEWS CRIME AND COMMUNITY NEWS L-tutor’s love fixation A DRIVING instructor who became obsessed with a teenage student has admitted stalking her. Graham Mansie, 52, bought gifts and made a dedicated TikTok account for the 17-year-old, after becoming fixated with her between July and October 2021 as he taught her how to drive in Bromley. Mansie was convicted of one count of stalking after pleading guilty to the offence at Bexley Magistrates’ Court. The instructor asked the teenager out for drinks and told her she was his “favourite”. In the gift bag he bought the teen, it contained £65 in restaurant vouchers, a keyring with eight personalised charms and a card where he described the victim as “kind” and “amazing”. He was due to be sentenced at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on May 18.
Violent assault A YOUNG woman subjected to a violent and unprovoked assault as she walked home from Maidstone town centre has seen her attacker jailed. Gabriel Calin was sentenced to more than six years in prison after fleeing the country to avoid arrest.. The victim was walking down Lower Styone Street when Calin spoke to her then appeared to become very angry and grabbed her hand, before punching the victim’s face. She fell to the floor where he punched her face with significant force two further times. The victim fought against her attacker, screaming and kicking him until he ran off. She then raised the alarm and was taken to a local hospital for treatment to serious facial injuries. Calin was extradited from Romania and at Maidstone Crown Court was given a six year one month sentence.
Costly scrap theft SCRAP metal thieves involved in a burglary in which a hole was smashed through the wall of a Canterbury warehouse have been jailed. An estimated £25,000 worth of damage was caused to the business premises
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Stephen Kelly (second from left), Kent Police's Prevent and Protect Fraud Officer, with members of the Tenterden Probus Club. in Island Road, Hersden, after lights, CCTV cameras, a window and other items were damaged on the evening of Saturday 5 February 2022. But three of those involved in the raid were quickly tracked down and arrested by Kent Police officers with assistance from a helicopter. Marih Ilihca, 39, Costel Coscodaru, 25, and Mihai Florin, 19, have now each been sentenced to two years and seven months' imprisonment. Full story
month, Callum Wheeler, 22, was found responsible by a jury and now awaits his prison sentence. Officers reviewed 6,700 hours of CCTV and dashcam footage and put in place numerous road checks where they stopped around 500 vehicles to seek information from occupants. Detectives made several public appeals for witnesses to come forward along with a reconstruction of Julia’s last known movements on the day she died, in the hope it would jog people’s memories. FULL STORY
Residents advice FRAUD advice was given to residents in the Headcorn, Tenterden and Biddenden areas at the latest community protection event attended by Kent Police. During the event at Chart Hills Golf Club last month, members of the Tenterden Probus Club were given tips on how to avoid being scammed. Stephen Kelly, Kent Police's Prevent and Protect Fraud Officer, visited the club as part of ongoing work to reduce fraud offences against older people. .
PCSO killer faces jail
A KILLER who carried out the fatal attack on Police Community Support Officer Julia James as she walked her dog in Aylesham has been found guilty of her murder. Following a trial at Canterbury Crown Court that concluded last
Hole in the wall gang SCRAP metal thieves involved in a burglary in which a hole was smashed through the wall of a Canterbury warehouse have been jailed. An estimated £25,000 worth of damage was caused to the business premises in Island Road, Hersden, after lights, CCTV cameras, a window and other items were damaged in February 2022. But three of those involved in the raid were quickly tracked down and arrested by Kent Police officers with the aid of the helicopter service. Marih Ilihca, 39, Costel Coscodaru, 25, and Mihai Florin, 19, have now each been sentenced to two years and seven months' imprisonment.
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KENT CRIME & COMMUNITY NEWS 9 CRIME AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Lyn being shown how to use the smoke alarm so she can keep her and her dog safe
Ensuring deaf people are safe THE shrill sound of a smoke alarm is very effective at alerting people when there’s a fire, but what if you’re deaf or have hearing difficulties? That was the concern of 62-year-old Lyn, who lives alone with her assistance dog, Clay, in New Romney. While Clay is excellent at helping out and alerting her when something is wrong, she was concerned about their safety if he was ever poorly and unable to let her know the smoke alarm was sounding. She booked a home fire safety visit to get some advice, and Shuna from Kent Fire and Rescue Service popped round. After hearing Lyn’s concerns, Shuna installed specialist smoke alarms designed for people with hearing difficulties - a strobe light plugs into the wall and a vibrating pad is placed under the pillow, and both activate if smoke is detected. Lyn was so happy with her visit that she now encourages others to book. She said: “I tell everyone in my deaf community groups about the service, because it can be really frightening to
think you might not hear your smoke alarm – some deaf people even feel they need to wear their hearing aid while they sleep at night. “Deaf people are at a disadvantage, so it’s really important for people to access services like this, so everyone can receive professional advice and appropriate smoke alarm devices to help them to stay safe.” Lyn also referred her parents for a visit, who are in their 80s.Shuna went to
see them in their Littlestone home and fitted three additional smoke alarms to help keep them safe. “I want to do all I can to help keep them safe when I’m not there” Lyn said. “Because they are older, mum has dementia, and my dad has Parkinson’s and struggles with mobility. “Shuna was fantastic and gave them advice about what to do if a fire started at night - she said if they hear the smoke alarm they should call 999, and stay in the bedroom and put a towel or clothing at the bottom of the door to stop smoke coming in, because my dad can't escape quickly. Tips like that are really reassuring. “No one ever thinks they are in danger until something happens, so I think just booking a visit and making sure you have everything in place to stay safe, is a good idea." Call Kent Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 923 7000 to find out more about specialist smoke alarms and free home fire safety visits across Kent and Medway.
10 CRIMESTOPPERS NEWS
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CRIMESTOPPERS NEWS 11
Crimestoppers is working with its partners to stamp out sexual harrassment on the railway
Changing attitides to sexual harrassment in public places AT Crimestoppers, we believe everyone has a right to feel safe, whether that’s on your street, in your home, at work or whilst out enjoying leisure time. However, sexual harassment can ruin that safe feeling and the historic attitude to accepting everything from wolf whistling and staring to unwanted touching is finally being challenged. A shocking 71% of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public places, according to aYouGov survey in 2021. This probably won’t surprise many of you – indeed, some people may not even realise that they’ve been a victim. Who can be a victim? Sexual harassment in all its forms, whether experienced in person or online, can have serious and lasting effects on its victims. Regardless of your age, gender or sexual orientation, sexual harassment can happen to anyone and it’s neither your
fault nor acceptable. Not all incidents or acts of harassment are technically a crime. However, they’re all unacceptable and need to be called out and stopped. The murder of Londoner Sarah Everard by a then serving police officer shone a light on how, what was often thought of as low-level incidents such as flashing, when left unchecked can escalate. Wayne Cousins’ behaviour was left unchecked. He was a prime example of how some perpetrators move on to more extreme and dangerous types of harassment, abuse and sadly in this case murder. Sexual harassment on the railways It’s not just on our streets and in leisure venues where unwanted sexual attention or harassment happens. Now that commuting is back on the cards, Crimestoppers is proud to be working with, Rail Delivery group, National Rail and British Transport Police to
ensure everyone’s safety as we get back on board. When it comes to crime on the railway and other forms of public transport, it's been identified that sexual harassment is under-reported, which makes it hard for law enforcement to intervene. Do you know someone who upskirts/cat calls/touches/exposes/cyber-flashes/ intentionally presses up to or stares intrusively at other passengers on the train? These are all examples of sexual harassment. Bystanders can help As bystanders, we all have the power to challenge sexual entitlement whenever and wherever it happens by reporting it. You can contact police, or to stay anonymous, tell Crimestoppers. We are here to help and can take your information and pass it on for you. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. If sexual harassment or abuse is happening right now, in an emergency, always call 999.
12 A-PLAN INSURANCE ADVICE
Traders targeted by thieves so... ALL too often we’re hearing that a tradesperson has had either their van or tools – or both – stolen. A quick Google search later and you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a daily story about this crime, whether new national statistics, to another petition calling for Government action. Many of the big players have chimed in. Professional Builder magazine stated that ‘more than £100 million of tools have been stolen in the UK since 2020’, with more than a third of these stolen in London. However, West Yorkshire Police has seen the greatest value of stolen tools, peaking at £50,242,427 during 2020 and 2021. In 2021 Screwfix reported that 66% of tradespeople have had their tools stolen or their van broken into, also highlighting that those 66% lost at least a day’s work. Ring carried out their own research, finding that 63% had their tools stolen at least once, estimating that, that since 2016, over 43,000 vans have been
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stolen and a further 117,000 have been broken into, costing businesses over £60m. Only half of tradespeople remove tools from a van overnight. Opinium also found that roofers were the hardest hit group, followed by electricians, plumbers and carpenters. It also found that one in three in the trade lost one to two working days due to theft, while 16% lost two to five days, and 7% lost five days or more. Herts Tools found that the average overall cost of tool theft in the industry, per month, in 2021 equated to £1.46m! We know that this type of crime can cause immense financial and emotional strain on the victim, with some never recovering professionally or personally. We want to help push for change. Tool insurance experts, A-Plan Insurance, spoke to Builders Talk Group, who provide strength in numbers and a supportive community for the trade. Both A-Plan and Builders Talk Group are pushing for change in how the police and the UK government deal with these types of crimes.
A-Plan spoke directly with Liz Gribbin of Builders Talk Group, who has been conducting polls on their Facebook page to feed back to the Home Office as part of some research they are carrying out. The most voted for statement remains ‘Police don’t take the crime seriously enough’, followed closely by ‘Vans are not secure enough from manufacturers’. Voters also felt that there should be tougher penalties for tool theft, and that tool sellers should be spotchecked. “We’re working with the Home Office to provide more accurate data“, confirms Liz.“The two-stage Home Office report is currently in ‘part one’ phase, focussing on the types of tools that are stolen. “Unfortunately, we all know that thieves will generally take whatever is in the van, including radios and hand drills so this can be difficult to quantify. We’ve even seen instances of skips being stolen from outside sites.” continued on page 13
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A-PLAN INSURANCE ADVICE 13
...make sure you are protected from page 12 “The second part is looking at how people’s lives are affected; the number of individuals leaving the trade – some even contemplating suicide following tool theft and having nowhere to turn – is unacceptable. “The industry is already struggling with a national skills shortage, and mental health for many in construction is at crisis point already.” “We’re really pleased that the Home Office has picked this issue up again after the last two years of the pandemic, and all work being paused for the General Election in 2019 before that. “It’s easy to see why tradespeople have become disillusioned with the whole situation.” Liz also offers advice when it comes to setting up or signing one of the many online petitions: “Online petitions can dilute the message, and because there are so many, they often don’t reach the capacity they need to be read in parliament,” she added. “A quick internet search will bring up a whole host of past ‘Tool Theft’ petitions, unsuccessful because they didn’t get enough signatures, or because the time limit has ended on them. “And even when they are relatively successful, they get a 10-minute airing and little changes, because they don’t focus on the right issues, or the wording isn’t accurate enough. “That’s why it is important to push the message through your local MP. They can make sure the right questions
are being asked – and that there is a follow up to keep the conversation alive. Momentum is clearly picking up.The Home Office report follows the bill regarding serial numbers for resold tools, read by Greg Smith, Conservative MP of Buckingham, last year. “While that may still progress, and making tools less attractive to resell is a positive move, it is still not addressing the actual theft itself, nor how the police record the theft. With tool theft at crisis point, and the police only reporting it as vehicle theft, and viewing it as less damaging than a home burglary, A-Plan Insurance is encouraging the trade community to write directly to their MP, as well as their local Police and Crime Commissioner as opposed to individual, diluted and seemingly ignorable petitions. Contact your MP about tool theft The A-Plan team recently provided a letter that can be printed or emailed to representatives, however you can do this yourself by listing the concerns you have about tool theft in the industry. Many MP’s also offer ‘surgeries’ where you are able to pop in to talk about your concerns, but we recommend calling their office to set up an appointment first to save time waiting. You can find your local MP’s details online - and you can also opt to write to the Police and Crime Commissioner. Many MP’s also offer‘surgeries’ where you are able to pop in to talk about your concerns, but we recommend call-
ing their office to set up an appointment first to save time waiting. TOOL INSURANCE Another critical factor is to ensure that you have tool insurance. It is worth checking your van insurance policy wording to understand exactly what is, and isn’t, covered.You may find that you are not covered, and need to consider purchasing separate tool cover if you haven’t already. Speak to your broker about the insurers on the market, to make sure that your insurer is proactive in replenishing tools quickly so that you don’t need to lose more sleep, or income while you wait. VAN THEFT AT CRISIS POINT A-Plan Insurance Whether you haven’t yet opted for tool insurance, or purchased new tools you need to include in existing cover, or even upgraded your van, get in touch with your local A-Plan business branch. A-Plan is happy to advise you on all aspects of van and tool insurance, with 60 years’ experience under their belt to point you in the right direction. They also support you in the event of a claim, so that you can focus on your job with fewer interruptions. Work in the trade? Find Builders Talk Group on Facebook! The group is ‘run by builders, for builders’ and offers a range of support from advice, information on topics such as ‘designing out crime’ when it comes to your van, and of course, banter.
14 FIRE SAFETY Jailed for deadly fentanyl import A 34-year old man from Kent has been jailed for three years, after pleading guilty to importing the highly toxic and potentially deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. Daniel Farrier, from Ramsgate in Kent, was arrested in May 2018 after officers from the National Crime Agency linked him to a package which had been intercepted in November 2017. Border Force detected a parcel from China containing 107g of fentanyl at the Coventry International Postal hub. Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent street heroin. As little as 0.002g of fentanyl (within a typical 0.1g heroin deal) is potentially fatal. Dealers believe they can generate more deals from their supply of heroin if they add greater amounts of cutting agent to the mixture. By adding in a relatively small amount of fentanyl, the supplier can restore its opioid potency despite it still only having a low percentage of heroin present. But they are playing Russian roulette with the drug users, who may or may not know how potent their heroin is. Investigators were also able to link Farrier to the supply of class A drug MDMA, as well as class B and C drugs diazepam, alprazolem, steroids and cannabis resin. Farrier pleaded guilty to six offences at Canterbury Crown Court and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Fire safety dangers facing hard-of-hearing residents No-one ever thinks they are in danger until something happens so I think booking a visit and making sure you have everything in place to stay safe, is a good idea Lyn, hard-of-hearing resident
THE shrill sound of a smoke alarm is very effective at alerting people when there’s a fire, but what if you’re deaf or have hearing difficulties? That was the concern of 62-year-old Lyn, who lives alone with her assistance dog, Clay, in New Romney. While Clay is excellent at helping out and alerting her when something is wrong, she was concerned about their safety if he was ever poorly and unable to let her know the smoke alarm was sounding. She booked a home fire safety visit to get some advice, and Shuna from Kent Fire and Rescue Service popped round. After hearing Lyn’s concerns, Shuna installed specialist smoke alarms designed for people with hearing difficulties - a strobe light plugs into the wall and a vibrating pad is placed under the pillow, and both activate if smoke is detected. Lyn was so happy with her visit that she now encourages others to book. She said: “I tell everyone in my deaf community groups about the service, because it can be really frightening to think you might not hear your smoke alarm. “Some deaf people even feel they need to wear their hearing aid while they sleep at night. “Deaf people are at a disadvantage, so it’s really important for people to access services like this, so everyone can receive professional advice and appropriate smoke alarm devices to help them to stay safe.” Lyn also referred her parents for a visit, who are in their 80s.
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Shuna went to see them in their Littlestone home and fitted three additional smoke alarms to help keep them safe. “I want to do all I can to help keep them safe when I’m not there” Lyn said. “Because they are older, mum has dementia, and my dad has Parkinson’s and struggles with mobility. “Shuna was fantastic and gave them advice about what to do if a fire started at night she said if they hear the smoke alarm they should call 999, and stay in the bedroom and put a towel or clothing at the bottom of the door to stop smoke coming in, because my dad can't escape quickly. Tips like that are really reassuring. “No one ever thinks they are in danger until something happens, so I think just booking a visit and making sure you have everything in place to stay safe, is a good idea." Call Kent Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 923 7000 to find out more about specialist smoke alarms and free home fire safety visits across Kent and Medway.
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CROOKED BUILDER 15
Rogue builder’s £707 offer
Rogue builder Abey Smith told a court he could only pay back £707 to resident he fleeced for £113,000 A ‘CYNICAL and cruel’ rogue builder who left his victim unable to pay for his dental treatment won’t have to pay thousands in compensation. Abey Smith, 51, conned a 70-year-old pensioner out of £113,000 over the course of almost a year. Smith, of Orpington in Kent, denied fraud between April 2016 and March 2017 but was convicted by a jury and jailed for four-and-a-half years in June 2021. He appeared yesterday at Maidstone Crown Court holding a copy of the bible, for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. There his assets were said to total just £707, so that is all he was ordered to pay back to the victim. The court was previously told how Smith – who has a criminal record of 30 previous offences including two similar frauds – had at first ‘perfectly properly’ cleared guttering for the pensioner at a cost of £45. But then he started lying to the man, telling him the property in the village of Teynham, Kent, needed other repairs and hugely increased his prices. He even painted over roof tiles to make it look like they had been replaced. “You persuaded him to part with his money when he felt he had little choice but to pay because he wanted to know
that his house would be in good shape to give him satisfaction in retirement,” said Judge David Griffith-Jones QC (pictured below). ”That retirement has been, on any view, substantially damaged.” An expert had concluded the limited work Smith carried out was shoddy, and if completed to a satisfactory standard would have cost little more than £3,000. The victim was left living in ‘straitened circumstances’, and was unable to afford dental treatment or car repairs. In mitigation, the builder’s lawyer said his client had ‘a genuine religious revelation’ and had ‘seen the light’. During sentencing, a testimonial from a pastor at Smith’s local church spoke ‘very highly’ of him and his ‘efforts to help others’. But judge Griffith-Jones said it had a ‘lack of insight’ into the implications of the offence and called Smith’s offending ‘cynical, heartless and calculated’. “While it is possible for someone to see the light, you failed to accept responsibility for your actions in the face of compelling evidence,” he added.“You have shown no remorse whatsoever.” Smith must pay the £707 compensation to the victim within a month, or spend two months in prison.
16 LOAN SHARK MISERY
Loan sharks will make your life hell by adding huge amounts of interest
Mum-of-three warns: Loan shark ordeal wrecked my family’s life A MUM-of-three has spoken to Community Watch magazine about her terrifying ordeal of being trapped by a loan shark who drove her to the brink of suicide and made her family homeless at Christmas. Michelle, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, had recently moved to a new area in the North East after escaping an abusive relationship. When her hours were cut at work, money became tight and with her son’s birthday approaching, she needed emergency cash to get through the month. Michelle accepted help from a mum
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she had befriended at her son's school. The woman offered to help Michelle out with a loan, said she knew what it was like to need a few extra quid, and that she could pay her back next month. Michelle thought her new friend was just helping her out. She didn’t realise she was about to fall into a dangerous trap with a ruthless, intimidating lender who would put her family through a horrific ordeal. In a video describing her experiences, Michelle said: "I got to the point of wanting to end everything. I was very suicidal and didn’t know who to go to. continued on page 17
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LOAN SHARK MISERY 17 I got to the point of wanting to end everything. I was very suicidal and didn’t know who to go to after threats on my life MUM-OF-THREE MICHELLE
from page 16 “There were threats on my life and on my home. I had windows smashed and I would get messages off people bullying me because she had sent them to my door, she even used local youths in the area as a campaign of terror." It all started with a small loan for £50, but then the loan shark offered to lend Michelle larger sums of money with interest.The most she borrowed at one time was £350, and she repaid nearly £2,500. The debt quickly spiralled out of control with double interest piled on.When Michelle struggled to keep up with the repayments, the loan shark resorted to intimidation and violence, making her life a misery. Watch Michelle’s Story on YouTube She was sent threatening messages, people threw things at her house, left unwanted items on her doorstep, and smashed the windows at night. Michelle was petrified to leave the house in case something bad happened to her family. She was worried about their safety, so made the decision to leave in a hurry. She fled the family home with her three children and left all her possessions behind. The ordeal didn’t end there for Michelle and she continued
to receive abuse online and cruel comments were posted on social media by the loan shark and the loan shark’s associates. The shaming post went viral and many of her close friends and family also saw it. Michelle's family became homeless just before Christmas 2019. They were given temporary accommodation by the council, but they had no possessions. Michelle knew something had to be done and searched online for agencies that could help.That’s where she found the helpline number for Stop Loan Sharks and the support changed her life. The Illegal Money Lending Service has teamed up with the Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS), a not-for-profit organisation providing a central, independent register of vulnerable people, helping companies to identify vulnerability and keep people safe. It is free to use, entirely voluntary, and users can remove themselves from it whenever their circumstances have sufficiently improved. By giving vulnerable consumers a single place to register their status, the VRS helps them avoid having to repeat the same difficult conversations every time they engage with organisations like lenders and creditors. This database is a central, independent register that helps organisations to identify vulnerability and treat their customers fairly. Service providers using the VRS database will be alerted if their customers are victims of loan sharks through a ‘risk of coercion’ flag. Not easily available to service providers anywhere else, this information will give them the ability to adjust their approach and take more appropriate steps with those customers. It will enable them to focus their resources effectively, such as assigning a trained advisor, adjusting their collections strategy or applying a fairer lending criteria. https://www.vulnerabilityregistrationservice.co.uk/
18 SANTANDER WARNING Fraudsters are clever and manipulative. If anyone claims to be from your bank, HMRC or any trusted organisation, even the police, and calls to tell you to move your money, stop.
Be alert to the online fraudsters SANTANDER is writing to all its customers to make sure they do not fall for scams and frauds at a time when fraudsters are looking for vulnerable and gullible victim. The bank is asking: If you received a call from someone you'd never spoken to before, telling you to transfer the entire contents of your account to them straightaway, you probably wouldn't do it. And you'd almost certainly hang up. But what if you receive a text message about a current event, for example, COVID-19? It warns you that you’ve been in close contact with someone who has been isolating and includes a link to order a free test kit.What if you click on the link, put in your details to order one and add your card details to pay a small delivery fee? In a couple of almost unnoticeable steps, you would have become a victim of fraud. Criminals would have your card details and personal information to use again or sell. Other examples could be text messages supposedly from Royal Mail, a parcel delivery company or any trusted organisation, encouraging you to click a link. Once they've got your details, fraudsters can go a step further and sometime later you might receive a call from someone claiming to be your bank. 1. They tell you, you've been a victim of
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fraud, and you need to move your money out of your account quickly before it's stolen. 2. They seem convincing because they already know some of your information. That's the information you shared when you clicked the link in the text message. 3. You’re scared, stressed, and confused about the situation but pressured to act quickly. 4. What if, acting in fear, you transferred your money to new account details? The account wasn't in your name, but the fraudsters, posing as your bank, gave you convincing reasons to do so. You would now have become a victim of impersonation fraud. Fraudsters are clever and manipulative. If anyone claims to be from your bank, HMRC or any trusted organisation, even the police, and calls to tell you to move your money, stop. End the call straight away and call your bank using the number on the back of your card. While fraud and scams are not new, advances in technology give criminals more ways to attempt to access your money. Knowing the techniques they use can help you protect yourself and your money. Tips for spotting fraud and scams ! Always think carefully before making a payment, especially if it’s a lot of money for you. Speak to someone you trust
first, like a friend or family member, before making payments. ! Pay extra attention to the warnings we provide when making a payment. They’re in place to help you bank safely and avoid being scammed. ! Anyone can be easily impersonated, and criminals can make the caller ID, email address or name look exactly like the genuine caller. So, if you receive an email, text or call, verify it’s genuine by phoning them back on a known and trusted number. ! When making a payment, always take the time to complete extra checks to make sure the payee and the payment is genuine.This includes reading reviews, researching companies or websites, and verifying the person or company are who they say they are. ! Don’t allow anyone to access your computer or devices remotely.This is because criminals can ask you to click on a link or download an app. Remember, your bank, the police or any trusted organisation will never ask you to withdraw, transfer or send back money from your account. If you’re asked to do this, it’s a scam. If you're concerned or think you've responded to a scam email or text or given your details out to the wrong people, you should contact your bank first on 0800 9 123 123 and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
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BOOM IN FAKES 19
We see fakes booming when the economy does badly. The cheap lira has made exporting counterfeits even more profitable. ZEYNEP SEDA ALHAS Gun & Partners
Turkey’s fake empire booms THE value of Turkey’s fake goods tripled from 2019 to 2020 as it became main source of counterfeit designer clothes stopped at EU borders Photos of fake Gucci bags, Louis Vuitton sweatpants and Nike sneakers are flaunted on the social media accounts of a Turkish store with more than 155,000 followers on TikTok. Turkey is the third biggest exporter of counterfeit products to the EU after China and Hong Kong, according to data on the value of goods seized. Falls in the value of the Turkish lira and the deterioration of the Turkish economy are further fuelling demand as such items become cheaper to traders buying in euros. A December 2021 report published by the EU’s intellectual property office (EUIPO) also points to the trend. The value of counterfeits from Turkey more than tripled from 2019 to 2020, reaching nearly €134m (£111m), and Turkey became the main source of fake designer clothing and medicine stopped at EU borders, surpassing China in these categories. “We see fakes booming when the economy does badly,” said Zeynep Seda Alhas, who specialises in intellectual property rights at Gün + Partners, a law
firm in Istanbul representing some of the world’s most famous brands.“The cheap lira has made exporting counterfeits even more profitable.” She said the number of court-approved raids by the firm on counterfeit producers doubled in 2021 and the number of items it seized almost tripled. In January, it conducted what Alhas called “the biggest raid in Turkey’s history”, confiscating more than 350,000 pairs of fake designer trainers in three Istanbul workshops, some half-finished and all destined to be eventually sent abroad. “Profits are much higher in counterfeit goods,” Alhas said, explaining that even factories that produce legally for big brands could “turn bad” during times of economic trouble, working extra shifts to produce fakes. Turkey’s legal exports have also surged during the currency crisis, increasing 33% over the year and reaching $225bn (£171bn), according to the government-run Turkish Statistical Institute. Lost sales cost the EU €83bn a year, according to EUIPO and !zmen says working conditions at underground production facilities are less likely to
comply with laws on wages, child labour and health and safety. Law firms such as Alhas’s usually hear about big shipments caught by customs officers – mostly in Germany,Austria and the Netherlands – and then try to find the production site in Turkey. The website of neighbouring Bulgaria’s customs authority is packed with reports of vehicles from Turkey caught with counterfeit goods. In February 2021, hundreds of bottles of counterfeit perfume were found tucked under a passenger seat in a bus, apparently hidden by the driver. But much gets through.A producer of fake Dsquared2 jeans said there were freight companies in Istanbul that focused on counterfeit exports, filling trucks with fakes surrounded by originals. “They charge extra to transport fakes, they know people at customs,” he said.“They have built a spider web of networks all over the border.” A 2020 report by Europol said a criminal group regularly transported large quantities of fake designer clothes from Istanbul to Greece with the help of three customs officers recruited to “facilitate” their activity for years before getting caught.
20 CITY COPS CELEBRATE
Celebrating 10 years of catching the bad boys CRACKING insurance fraud takes a dedicated professional team and an equally professional strategy and is not something that is solved overnight. It takes many man hours trying to prove fraud especially at a time when it cost the country £1.2billion last year alone. The task of bringing fraudsters to justice falls on the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) now celebrating its 10th anniversary. They may be based in London, but criminals in Lancashire,Yorkshire, Kent, Norfolk, ThamesValley, Cheshire, Surrey or even Sussex are their targets. In 2019 there were an astonishing 107,000 fraudulent insurance claims and although this was down a year later, there were still 96,000 bogus claims. The City of London Police, quite rightly, is proud of its record of success right from their first conviction three months after being formed. 2012 IFED secured its first conviction just three months after launching, for a case involving a bogus whiplash claim.A man from Leeds called his insurer to report an accident, claiming that he reversed into a lamppost while he had passengers in his vehicle and that they had suffered whiplash as a result. Stupidly the fraudster’s call was still being recorded when he boasted to friends how his bogus claim was going to make him ‘a rich man’.
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2013 The unit tackled what was believed to be the UK’s biggest fake car insurance scam, which saw 600 drivers lose around £550,000 in just 11 months by buying worthless policies. Two ‘ghost brokers’ were jailed for a combined total of four years as a result of the investigation including the mastermind who created four websites offering cheap car insurance and used paid-for advertising to ensure his enterprises appeared at the top of internet searches. 2014 A husband and wife duo were sentenced after faking the former’s death to collect over £1.1 million from life insurance policies and investments.The wife contacted five insurance companies to inform them of her husband’s death from ‘brain fever’ while abroad. However, the story fell apart when the death certificate was found to be fake. IFED discovered that the husband was in fact alive and well and had flown back to the UK eight months after his alleged death. 2016 An aircraft engineer who claimed that £189,000 worth of luggage was lost on a flight received two years in prison, after images of the scanned cases showed they were empty. Airports and airlines gave detectives access to images of the bags as they were scanned through security.These images clearly showed that the four bags checked in were all empty. 2017 Six men were jailed for a total of 13 and a half years after abusing their professional roles, some as solicitors, to commit insurance fraud, defrauding victims out of £426,000.This was IFED’s first prosecution involving solicitors. 2018 Two unconnected cases shocked the unit, as the team brought two women who shamelessly exploited the Manchester Arena terror attack to justice. In September, an insurance company employee received a two-year custodial sentence for 31
fraudulent medical claims worth over £142,000, using the names of her friends, family and herself. One of the claims saw the woman allege loss of earnings due to her daughter sustaining multiple serious injuries in the terror attack. In reality, the woman did not have any children. 2019 An IFED investigation led to the sentencing of a 16-person strong ‘crash for cash’ ring, which conned insurance companies out of almost £1.2 million.The group received a combined total of nearly 33 years in prison. 2020 An audacious fraudster was jailed for five years and seven months after he impersonated his female partner to try fake his own death for a £1 million life insurance pay out. The initial email correspondence with the insurer stated that the man had died of a heart attack in Pakistan. However, the criminal’s guise was foiled when he attempted to continue impersonating his partner over the phone. 2021 A trio of fraudsters were sentenced for their involvement in a number of insurance fraud plots valued at £245,000, orchestrated by a previous IFED convict. The ringleader cloned a genuine claims management company in order to obtain referral fees from solicitors, as well as being behind more than 60 fraudulent motor insurance claims.
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