Thames Valley Community Watch August 2022

Find out if your home is safe- P7

Energy crooks on the prowl - P19

159 call line is a big success - P20

TIME TO ROPE IN THE COWBOY builders - P2-3

AUGUST 2022

Old people are so easy to con - P4-5

COMMUNITY WATCH THAMES VALLEY

POLICE BOMBARDED BY CRAZY CALLERS - P6

2 COWBOY BUILDERS 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.

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Time to rope in...

COWBOY builders and organised criminals are exploiting the post-pandemic building boom to target homeowners 'desperate' for home offices and extensions.

The number of complaints about building crooks and rogue traders rose by more than a quarter last year, new figures reveal.

The Citizens Advice helpline received close to 60,000 reports of shoddy work, with social media sites a magnet for unscrupulous firms.

Victims told Money Mail they had been fleeced of tens of thousands of pounds and left to live in building sites, unable to afford remedial work.

Experts say in the worst cases, some have even been conned into signing over their homes to criminals.

The head of doorstep crime at National Trading Standards also warns that aggressive cold-calling is making a comeback.

She adds that prison sentences are a 'hotel break' for organised building criminals, who simply used their time inside to recruit more members.

Lockdowns spurred scores of families to improve their living space, with many extending kitchens and lofts or building home offices. But the demand also sparked a chronic shortage of quality builders and a spike in the price of materials.

Builders' groups raised concerns that families are so desperate to get work done they are taking risks and are vulnerable to cowboys.

The courts have also seen a flurry of cases. Last year, Gerald Johnston, from Goole, East Yorkshire, was jailed for two years after he conned a blind man out of hundreds of pounds for roof repairs that were not necessary.

The victim told the court he felt 'ashamed and betrayed'.

James Lee Knight, 44, from Cornwall, was also jailed for fleecing victims out of a total of £100,000 and leaving their homes uninhabitable, damp or with leaking sewage.

Another cowboy builder, Jamie Thompson, was jailed after 'crippling' a family by spending their £46,000 on drink and drugs instead of building their extension.

The home of Julie and Kelvin Briggs, near Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, was left looking like a building site for four years and they were told it will cost £63,000 to rectify.

In November, ministers were lambasted for failing to back a statutory licensing scheme, which would bring the building trade in line with gas installers and electricians.

Current weak regulations leave victims of cowboy builders with no way of getting their cash back.

Anyone can call themselves a builder without any qualifications, experience or evidence of training.

This means that the only protection available to homeowners is contract law — the legally binding agreement between them and the builder. continued page 5

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COWBOY BUILDERS 3 There is a huge demand for builders coming out of lockdown, with people wanting to extend their homes, material prices going up and a skills shortages.

BRIAN BERRY, chief executive FMB

...the cowboy tradesmen from page 4 For simple claims of up to £10,000 against a firm or individual in England and Wales, homeowners can take action in the small claims court, after paying fees of between £35 and £455.

In Scotland you can pursue a 'Simple Procedure' claim for up to £5,000; and the limit is £3,000 in Northern Ireland.

Larger claims are considerably more expensive. Fees are charged at 5 pc of the claim — for example, £1,500 for a £30,000 claim — and it is likely you would need to instruct lawyers, which could cost tens of thousands of pounds.

Even if you win, the builder can claim they do not have the money to pay, or victims may find the firm has gone into administration. Insurers are also unlikely to cover the cost of any damage caused by rogue builders.

An Association of British Insurers spokesman says: “While you should always check your policy for the scope of cover provided, damage caused by faulty workmanship, faulty design or use of faulty materials is not commonly covered by home insurance.”

Katherine Hart, doorstep crime lead at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, says: “The number of cowboy builder incidents has gone up significantly.

“People can get scammed up to and beyond £50,000. The criminals will exploit for as much as they can get. I've heard of people who have ended up signing over their home.

“People are so desperate to get work done. These are criminal organisations that see a weakness in society and they're quite quick to exploit it.”

Brian Berry, chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, says: “Even when you've done all your homework you can still fall victim to an unscrupulous building company.

“There is a huge demand for builders coming out of lockdown, with people wanting to extend their homes, material prices going up and a skills shortages.

It's difficult to get a good builder at the moment.”

Now there have been renewed calls for the Government to regulate the industry and protect vulnerable homeowners.

Mark Garnier

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Tory MP Mark Garnier, who fell victim to a rogue builder himself and campaigns on the issue, says: “This is a massive problem. It is such a completely bust system. The Government have got their head in the sand over this.

“We need a licensing regime with an ombudsman — then we can crack on and regain confidence to get building work done.”

Industry figures reveal that one in three homeowners has been put off starting work because they are worried about taking on a rogue builder.

In 2021, the Citizens Advice consumer service had more than 58,800 reports of issues related to home improvement, glazing products and installations. This compared with 50,000 reports in 2019, and 46,000 in 2020.

Until regulation is introduced, there are ways you can protect yourself. ! Only use a builder who has been recommended or one you find on a trusted directory, such as the Federation of Master Builders' Find A Builder online service. ! Always make sure you have a written contract with your builder, detailing the price, what is included and the timescale for each stage. ! Pay for work only once the job, or each stage, has been completed satisfactorily. ! And beware builders who are not VAT-registered, offer a dirt-cheap quote or insist on cash payment.

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4 SCAMMER SPEAKS OUT

Call centre boss bragged it’s easy to con old people out of their money

Call centre conman boasts: ‘It is easy to trick the old and disabled’ AN Indian call centre is at the centre of a nationwide storm after staff were filmed laughing and joking at victims of scams.

The call centre - which was raided by police after the programme - featured in a BBC expose showing scammers at work in the centre.

It was recorded by an activist who hacked into the company's security cameras. Staff were seen laughing at their victims in the US and the UK. But who are these scammers, and how do they justify their actions?

Piyush told BBC reporters how he made a quarter of a million dollars.

"It was easy money," he says, detailing

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how he bought fancy cars and wore designer clothes.

From a modest background, Piyush made a fortune by defrauding innocent victims at the other end of a phone.

"To become a rock star we have to do something," he says. "Become a thief?" asked the journalist.

"Right," he replies coolly.

Piyush met the BBC journalist in a friend's apartment, in one of Delhi's richest neighbourhoods. The group of young men I've come to talk to all have one thing in common - they've worked in India's scam call-centre industry. contnued on page 5

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SCAMMER SPEAKS OUT 5

We used to target old people, there are so many in the US who don’t have families, are alone and disabled. It’s very easy to trick them.

PIYUSH, call centre conman

from page 4 The country is well-known for outsourcing jobs from Western countries to legitimate call centres, but there's also a thriving dark side.

For nine years after leaving college, Piyush was part of it. "I wasn't getting a job anywhere else and the money and the incentives were good," he says.

The company Piyush worked for ran what is known as a "tech support scam".

It would send a pop-up to people's screens, telling them their computer had been infected by a "pornographic virus" or other malware, and giving them a helpline number to call.

As panicking customers rang in, Piyush and his colleagues would milk them for

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money, to fix a problem that didn't actually exist. Piyush tells me that tricking people is an "art".

"We used to target the old people," he says. "There are many old people in the US who don't have families, are alone and are disabled, so it's very easy to trick them."

Piyish sat in his baggy jeans and hipster T-shirt and the reporter wondere how he could be so cold-hearted. How would he feel if his own grandparents were victims of scamming, I ask?

“Yeah, I will feel bad,” he says. “I did it because I needed money and that's it.”

Piyush said how once he forced a woman to hand over her last $100, just so he could meet a target.

For her, on the other side of the world, it was Christmas. “I took that $100 and she cried a lot while making the payment.Yeah, this was the worst call I ever had,” he says.

Piyush went on to set up his own call centre. He tells me it was easy. He rented office space and told the landlord he was starting a marketing firm.

His staff worked late hours due to the time difference with the US, so there were few other people around to ask questions about what they were up to.

As the boss, Piyush was constantly thinking of new ways to con customers out of cash.

He drew up a script for another fraudulent scheme, known as the IRS scam, which involved cold-calling people in the US and telling them they'd get a tax refund of thousands if they first handed over $184.

“We used to tell them that the police will go to their house and arrest them if they didn't pay!” he says.

When he started out, Piyush was paid one rupee for every dollar he made in sales.

So for a $100 dollar scam, he'd only get $1.25 (£1).

Once he became the boss the money flooded in. Some "lucky months" he took

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6 BIZARRE 999 CALLS

999- my takeaway hasn’t arrived

THE 999 emergency service in Great Britain is sending out a simple message to the public: “Don’t waste our time with unnecessary calls.”

The 999 service is vital for saving lives and reporting serious incidents so action can be taken quickly.

But it seems the public are abusing the system and we have collated some of the most stupid calls to highlight how emergency resources get stretched by the most bizarre calls..

A man phoned to complain about being kicked out of a pub and repeatedly called 999 asking for pizza, before hanging up.

And another man contacted officers to ask for a lift home, after missing the bus.

In a separate call, a girl asked for help as she was stuck in stinging nettles.

One man called police on the non-emergency 101 number - after his daughter got stuck in her new coat.

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Another woman who had managed to get her sofa jammed in her hallway and asked if an officer could come around to help.

A man phoned 999 to report that sheep were going to ‘eat his kids’.The responder said:“Why would sheep eat your kids?” “I was making cottage pie earlier, the sheep must have smelt it.”

Another member of the public, who’d had a little bit too much to drink, phoned an ambulance saying: “I’m having hiccups, I can’t stop having the hiccups.”

“I was walking my dog this morning and this woman just let her staffie out, onto the common ground. No collar.“It’s been chasing my dog trying to hump it.”

A panicked resident rang Cambridgeshire Police after eating a chicken korma. He said: “I’ve had a chicken korma...and now I have diarrhoea.”

Someone who had eaten a mouldy tomato and a person with a paper cut are among the most ridiculous 999 calls made to the emergency services last year.

10 WORST TIME-WASTING CALLS 1. A woman calling to say she had bought a cold kebab and the shop would not replace it 2. Callers who missed their alarm and were going to be late for a flight wanting officers to take them to the airport.

3. A woman who had seen a clown in London selling balloons for £5 each, which was much more than other clowns were charging.

4. Callers in distress because their lowfuel indicator light had come on.

5. A man calling to say his 50p coin was stuck in a washing machine at his local launderette.

6. A man who did not have change for a parking machine claiming staff at a car park had kidnapped him and were refusing to let him out for free.

7. A caller who dialled 999 at 4am on a Saturday morning and asked: "Where is the best place to get a bacon sandwich right now?"

8. A man who called 999 as he was advised to call 111 but did not know the number.

9. A woman complained noisy foxes outside her home were preventing her from sleeping.

10. A woman dialled 999 to say there were men trying to take her away.They were police officers who had come to arrest her.

Think carefully before calling 999. And if you need to contact the police in a non-emergency, you can call 101

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FIRE SAFETY 7

Not only will this tool help the fire service give vital fire safety advice to those we can’t visit, but the information will highlight any vulnerable people that we might have struggled to reach.

STATION COMMANDER JAMES BALL

Keep your home fire safe RESIDENTS nationwide can now make sure they and their families are safe from fire hazards - thanks to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), Fire Kills and Safelincs Anyone can now access home fire safety information, with a personalised action plan, online in their own time, because of a simple home safety check tool.

The NFCC and safelincs launched the new check tool and it is available via their website (see details at the end of the article).

It will enable people to carry out their own home fire risk assessment for free.

The online tool takes the answers given and creates an action plan that can be saved and printed, giving basic, simple tips to help keep their home fire safe.

The tool can be used on any internet-enabled device and has a userfriendly interface.

Those using the tool are prompted for information about each part of their property, with the answers then generating easy to follow advice that can be kept and referred to at any time.

The tool can be used by anyone across Britain to make sure they have the right fire safety protocols in place.

A spokesman for the NFCC and Safelincs said: “This new resource really is a game changer for us and for people

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across the United Kingdom.

“It will allow anyone to get free access to fire safety advice in their own time.

“They can also use the tool on behalf of a vulnerable member of their family or friend, particularly if they struggle with using technology.

“Families can also sit and do it together to help educate their younger family members.”

The online home safety check tool does not replace the in-person visits the Fire Service carries out to vulnerable residents.

“We currently prioritise visiting those most vulnerable people in the communities, for example those with mobility issues, disabilities and the elderly.

“Not only will this tool help the fire service give vital fire safety advice to those we can’t visit, but the information

provided will highlight any vulnerable people that we might have struggled to reach or not been aware of from our data.

“It will also give them the initial advice that will help until we can arrange a visit for them.

“The online home safety check is such an easy way for people anywhere to risk assess their homes at the touch of a button, which will help keep them and their families safe.

“I would really encourage people to log onto our website and give it a go.

Hopefully everyone will find it straightforward and encourage their friends and family to use it too.”

The online home safety check tool is available in the home safety section of the Safelincs website at https://www.safelincs.co.uk/hfsc/ Just click on Start Your Home Safety check and you are halfway to making sure you and your family are protected in the event of a fire.

The tool has been developed following a successful pilot study in collaboration with Fire Kills and Safelincs under the National Fire Chief Council’s Prevention programme.

There are around 35,000 house fires and over 300 fire related deaths in Great Britain each year.

By following the tips and advice you can reduce the risk of a fire in your home.

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8 THAMES VALLEY NEWS CRIME AND COMMUNITY NEWS with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, namely cocaine and cannabis, in a further hearing at the same court.

Woolford was subsequently fined a total of £393 and ordered to pay costs of £620. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months.

Child cruelty

Fraudster Joanne Wills

£161,000 fraudster £161,000 fraudster

A 47 year old woman has been sentenced for fraud in Chinnor and Towersey in Oxfordshire.

Joanne Wills, of Crowell Hill, Chinnor, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court to four years’ imprisonment.

At a previous hearing in May, Wills pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation.

The offences against Towersey Parish Council happened between 2009 and 2021 for Chinnor Parish Council between 2019 and 2021 whilst Wills was working for them.

Wills fraudulently transferred money to her own accounts from both parish councils, before then creating and filing fake invoices.

Additionally, money was transferred from Chinnor Parish Council to Towersey Parish Council. In total, more than £161,000 was stolen by Wills.

Drug driving charge FOLLOWING a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been sentenced after he was found guilty of drug and driving offences in Witney.

Sam Woolford, 28, of Cotswold Dene, Standlake, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a controlled drug of class B (cannabis) at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

Last month, Woolford was found guilty of two counts of driving a motor vehicle

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A MAN and a woman have been sentenced for child cruelty offences in Abingdon.

Dwayne Gordon, 34, of Kingsland Gardens, Northampton, and Katie Lake, 30, of Thames View, Abingdon, were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.

Gordon pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to a person under 16 years, one count of section 20 inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 30 May this year.

The court accepted Gordon’s not guilty plea to grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced thim o three years and four months’ imprisonment.

Lake pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to a person under 16 years on 26 May last year and was sentenced to a nine month suspended sentence with a 30-day rehabilitation requirement.

Between June 2018 and January 2019 Gordon inflicted a number of non-accidental injuries including bruising and fractures to his son’s arms.

Boy racers blitz A PUBLIC Spaces Protection Order is in place in Milton Keynes prohibiting anti-social driving associated with car cruise events.

As the evenings have been getting brighter and warmer, more of these events have been returning to Milton Keynes.

Local officers and dedicated roads policing teams have been targeting patrols over recent weeks to tackle antisocial or dangerous behaviour.

In addition to these patrols, a mobile camera obtained in partnership with Milton Keynes Council allows officers to identify those committing offences.

Police in...

THAMES Valley Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner have launched a tough new approach to tackling knife crime, focussing initially in the city of Milton Keynes.

The initiative, driven by Police & Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, will be known as Operation Deter, and will focus on prosecution, intervention and prevention.

It launched in Milton Keynes, where there is particular community concern about knife crime after a number of tragic incidents earlier this year.

Although year on year, knife-enabled crime is down in Milton Keynes and across the Thames Valley Police area, Operation Deter’s main objective is to make better use of charging and remanding offenders aged over 18 to court, ensuring that a robust message is sent to anyone found in possession of a knife.

Commenting on the launch, Matthew Barber said: “Too many young people have become victims of knife crime, and the prevalence of knife carrying is a concern for many residents.

“This comprehensive approach to tackling not just knife crime but the wider culture of knife carrying will be a template not just for the whole of the Thames Valley but a model for other forces to follow.

“Our communities want an end to knife crime. Operation Deter will see Thames Valley Police arrest, detain and prosecute people who carry a knife.”

Assistant Chief Constable Tim De Meyer added: “Milton Keynes is a very safe place to live and work, but we remain absolutely committed to stamping out knife crime, and this operation will deal firmly and swiftly with those who carry a knife.

“Despite knife crime showing a decrease year on year in Milton Keynes, we have still seen some tragic knife-related incidents.

“Carrying a knife makes you more likely to end up a victim yourself.

“This zero-tolerance approach to those found in possession of a knife will see faster and tougher enforcement, making it more likely that those carrying weapons will be stopped, arrested, charged and prosecuted. continued page 9

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THAMES VALLEY NEWS 9 CRIME AND COMMUNITY NEWS

...blitz to stop rising knife crime

Thames Valley Police have launched a new knife crime initiative in Milton Keynes

from page 8 “Thames Valley Police will use all the tactics available to us to make Milton Keynes safer.”

The unlawful possession of a knife is covered by Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act (1988), which is the offence of having an article with a blade or point in a public place.

This is an ‘either way’ offence which carries a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment or a fine in the Magistrates’ Court, or up to four years’ imprisonment in the Crown Court.

Although the operation is initially to be conducted in Milton Keynes, this is with a view to roll-out across the entire force area over the coming year.

The operation will adopt a zero tolerance approach to knife possession offences in Milton Keynes for offenders aged over 18, with the aim being that any knife possession offences are proactively charged and remanded to court by Thames Valley Police while the suspect is still in custody.

Following the charge, the custody sergeant will then take a more robust ap-

proach to bail. This will set a clear message to those routinely carrying a knife in Milton Keynes, that this will simply not be tolerated.

Intensive and speedy intervention will help children who become involved in offending, get their lives back on track.

A new pilot scheme, funded by the PCC, aimed at those under 18s, will commence as part of Operation Deter later in the year.

This scheme will adopt earlier intervention to young people, providing an opportunity for them to avoid the criminal justice system.

The pilot will see the Youth Offending Team (YOT) immediately notified when a child under 18 is arrested.

A YOT representative will attend custody and meet with that child within 90 minutes to commence the intervention process.

This will take place within custody while criminal justice options are still being pursued.

The pilot will give the child maximum incentive to engage.

If they leave custody, a further meeting

will take place with the child’s parents within 48 hours.

Currently, the process can take weeks or months to put plans into place.

Even if a child is prosecuted, the involvement of the YOT will continue, looking to address the root cause of the problem to reduce the risk of reoffending.

The child will be given every opportunity to engage, but should they fail to do so, or their offending is particularly dangerous, the criminal justice route will remain the proper course of action.

Preventing further offending by creating a strong deterrent and ensuring that everyone understands the serious consequences of carrying a knife is the primary objective of this operation.

Matthew Barber concluded: “Be in no doubt. If you chose to carry a knife, you are going to be more likely to be stopped and you will be facing tough consequences for your actions.

“Carrying a weapon endangers you and those around you and we all want to see those responsible held to account and taken off our streets.”

10 THAMES VALLEY NEWS CRIME AND COMMUNITY NEWS OFFICERS and staff from Thames Valley Police have been honoured at the National Op Talla Awards, which commends the outstanding contributions to the national pandemic response for policing.

During a ceremony in London, seven awards were given to teams and individuals from Thames Valley Police for their work during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Home Secretary and Policing Minister joined guests to thank the winners for their valuable contribution with recipients acknowledged in the categories of Governance and Coordination, Health and Wellbeing, and Innovation.

Amongst the individuals who were recognised during the ceremony was Chief Inspector Matt Sulley. He devised an electronic inventory system to track all orders and certification of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) items, as well as developing a digital National PPE Dashboard to help staff stay safe whilst at work.

His leadership and commitment enabled officers to coordinate the storage and distribution of over 300 million items of PPE to police forces.

Superintendent Emma Baillie has been recognised for developing a comprehensive partnership plan with multiple stakeholders as Chair of the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum.

She demonstrated determination, drive and focus to achieve agreed goals, as

Chief Inspector Sulley awardnurse, was acknowledged for her well as playing a keyMatt part in settingwith up his health the PPE arrangement that led to the support to colleagues throughout the national police PPE process. pandemic with her empathy and

Officers step up to get their national awards Thames Valley local resilience forum manager Ben Axelsen, was awarded for his role in the implementation of the multi-agency response to the pandemic for the Thames Valley.

This included overseeing the first emergency repatriation flight for British citizens into RAF Brize Norton, as well as having responsibility for one of the few isolation centres in Milton Keynes.

His leadership and coordination resulted in a strong, joined up approach across all agencies.

Tara McGuinness, an occupational

The award winning PPE Logistics team

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warmth, ensuring officers had practical support and advice when needed.

Three teams were also awarded for their outstanding contributions.

The PPE Logistics Team worked tirelessly to source, procure and quality assure Personal Protective Equipment from across the world and made it readily available to all police forces in England and Wales, as well as our Overseas Territories.

The team devised a new system to record and track each piece of PPE and distributed in excess of 300 million items, weighing over 3,000 tonnes.

The Contact Management Team were awarded for successfully implementing a remote call handling solution for 101 calls. This provided a reliable method for answering calls, utilising existing technology, to enhance business continuity.

Contact Management staff could work safely and reduce the spread of infection, whilst maintaining an essential public service and reducing demand on 999 calls.

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ACG AWARDS 11 The honours were made to Trading Standards, Border Force, and Police, who have provided an outstanding response to the growing global threat to business and consumers, from an escalating fake market, PHIL LEWIS, director general ACG

Fighting the counterfeiters THE fight against counterfeiters was the main subject at the annual Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) Awards for Excellence in enforcement.

Hosted by ACG director general Phil Lewis, he told the audience:“The honours were made toTrading Standards, Border Force, and Police, who have provided an outstanding response to the growing global threat to business and consumers, from an escalating fake market, which includes medicines, toys, electrical goods and foodstuffs, and is now worth $464 billion worldwide.”

The event, sponsored byWRi, Snapdragon Monitoring Ltd andTreasury Wines, saw winners from Salford, Manchester;Tilbury. Essex; Milton Keynes; and London.

The Dave Hankinson Memorial Award for Individual Excellence in Anti-Counter-

Greater Manchester Centre of Excellence winner

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feiting Enforcement was awarded to Marsha Bell from SalfordTrading Standards, while theTrading Standards Department award was also awarded to SalfordTrading Standards.

The Special Commendation Award for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement for individual achievement were presented toTony Cregan at the Police in Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) Northwest branch.The Special Commendation Award for departmental achievement went to Border Force International Trade ExaminationsTeam atTilbury, Essex.

Four ACG Special Awards went to:Trading Standards Scotland with special mention to Belinda Norton for their work in Operation Haugh; Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Intelligence Hub; Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN); and CENTSA Regional Investiga-

Winner of the Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards award

tionsTeam with special mention to MohammedTariq.

The OECD has calculated that the UK market for fake goods is worth £16 billion and is roughly equivalent to the national drugs market, according to Dame Carol Black’s independent review in 2020.

Moreover, the organised transnational gangs involved are draining the UK economy of essential revenue, which could be used for vital public services, but instead, it is falling into criminal hands and is driving insidious crimes including the trade of people, drugs and weapons.

The Annual ACG awards recognise the response made by precious enforcement services, which are combating the growing threats from counterfeiting on a day-today basis, despite competing priorities and constrained resources.”

Highly Commended awards were given to Mohammed Tariq of Ealing Trading Standards in London and for the enforcement team at Ealing Trading Standards.

Additionally, Special Highly Commended awards were announced for Geoffrey Oulton at Gatwick Airport Border Force and the team at Milton Keynes Border Force.

Natalie Ryan, ACG Events Manager said: “it was important for the ACG to organise a ceremony and drinks reception for the winners after all their hard work over the past year.

“Their dedication to protecting IP rights does not go unnoticed and this is a way for the ACG on behalf of their members and enforcement colleagues to say thank you.”

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12 COMMUNITY NEWS

Businessman tells how he fell for the classic cryptocurrency scam A RETIRED businessman who lost thousands after being approached on LinkedIn by a glamorous fraudster wants to warn others about the dangers of crypto currency scams.

Stephen* (not his real name), 68, is married. Until he retired, he ran his own successful building company. Financially, he said: “I’m not desperate for money, let’s put it that way.”

But earlier this year, Stephen was sent a message on LinkedIn by a woman called Alice who claimed to be a finance director in Washington DC. In reality, she was a fraudster who used her good looks and apparent business acumen to lure in victims.

As a long-time LinkedIn user, Stephen was used to being approached on the platform, usually by people making sales pitches. After some polite chat, Stephen said Alice asked him to move onto WhatsApp. On there, the conversation turned to crypto currencies.

Stephen said: “I had an interest Bitcoin, but I didn’t understand how the system works. We started chatting along those lines and I went along with it. I thought I might learn something.”

Alice said that her uncle worked in banking in Hong Kong and that she’d

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successfully made money with his help.

She encouraged Stephen to get involved.

Stephen downloaded trading apps and a virtual wallet to keep his crypto cash in. He set himself a limit of how much he was willing to lose.

After some early successes, Alice told Stephen to log into another trading app and talked him through a series of trades her uncle had apparently recommended.

“All of sudden there were three transactions on the screen,” Stephen said. “She was telling me, ‘Quick, buy long. Buy short!’ And by the end of it I’d made $600. I went along with it on several occasions. I was saying to myself this is too good to be true – and it was.”

Stephen transferred another £2,300 into the trading account. By then Alice was sending Stephen photos of her “looking glamorous” behind the wheel of expensive cars and telling him that he's wonderful and she’d never felt like anyone like him in her life.

Stephen said: “She was also telling me she can help me make lots of money.

She asked me to buy $50,000 (for the trading account), then this went down

to $20,000. Then she offered to loan me $12,000. I told her that I didn’t need the money and thought, why is she doing this?”

With Stephen’s attitude hardening, Alice bizarrely started asking him why he didn’t love her anymore and then asked him for $5,000 for a first-class ticket to come a visit him - the classic tactics of a romance fraudster.

When Stephen point-blank refused her demands, Alice’s tone changed. He told her he was in hospital to see what her reaction would be. She told him, “Do you think I care if you’re ill or dying?”

Using an IT expert friend, Stephen tried the recover the $11,000 he thought he had sitting in his trading account. The account was inaccessible. It was a fake trading site.

“I realised I’d been had, good and proper,” Stephen said.

Incredibly, he then found a story on the Washington Post about a retired police detective and how he’d been one victim of a $66m crypto currency scam fronted by Alice. He recognised the tactics the detective described.

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WATER SAFETY 13

As well as the dangers associated with swimming at unsupervised and often remote places, jumping from the rocks also puts people in danger. Swimming at disused quarries is also very dangerous

Hot weather alert for kids DISUSED quarries and lakes across the country are a big atttraction of kids especially in the hot weather – but as we go into the school summer holidays there is a price to pay.

Since the beginning of July, 12 people have died in heat related incidents and it has prompted police and the RNLI charity to issue a warning about the dangers lurking in the water.

And if you are a parent make sure you educate your children before it’s too late and they take the plunge.

The warning comes as schools close for the summer and concerns surrounding children and young people trespassing and jumping off cliffs into the water as the warm weather continues.

A police spokesman told Community Watch magazine: “Unfortunately tragic events over the last month in areas of the UK have highlighted the dangers and our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of all those involved.

“Sadly, over the years, tragedies where people have got into difficulty after entering quarry pools, rivers and lakes have become too familiar.

“We are once again highlighting that although it can be very tempting to jump into the nearest pool or lake to cool down on a hot day, or to swim in the water at disused quarries, the water depths are huge – up to 60 metres – and it can be very difficult to get out due to the steep sides.

“The water is extremely cold and the

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shock can cause sudden cramp and can affect your breathing, causing people to panic. This can impair even strong, fit swimmers.

“As well as the dangers associated with swimming at unsupervised and often remote places, jumping from the rocks also puts people in danger.

“Swimming at disused quarries is a very dangerous practice and we would appeal to all youngsters and anyone else to please stay away.

“We urge you to look out for your friends, avoid swimming or jumping into quarries, rivers and lakes. Plan how else you can cool off safely.”

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is urging the public to stay safe at the coast as people flock to the beach.

The RNLI, with the support of HM Coastguard, is urging everyone to remember to Float to Live if they get into trouble in the water. As well as taking other precautionary steps Before you go Going for a swim in cold, open water can be exhilarating, but it’s not without risk. When at the coast, it’s best to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.

If there is no lifeguard cover, make sure you know: ! where to enter and exit the water ! your location – are there any hazards you need to be aware of? ! what the tide and currents are doing - check the tide times before entering the water

How to spot rip currents what to do if you get caught in a rip current. Don’t try to swim against it. If you can stand, try to wade rather than swim. Next, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip and then head for shore. Raise your hand and shout for help.

Have the right equipment Wear a wetsuit. It’ll help you stay warm and can increase your buoyancy, so you can stay in the water for longer.

Wear a brightly coloured swimming hat and take a tow float with you when swimming or dipping. These will help you to be seen in the water and a tow float can act as extra buoyancy if you need it.

Always take a means of calling for help with you, such as a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and a whistle to attract attention.

Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes and a warm drink for after your swim. It is important to warm yourself up carefully.

Float to live Entering water under 15°C can seriously impact your ability to breathe and move. If you get into the water too quickly or fall in unexpectedly, you may experience cold water shock.

If this happens, fight your instinct to swim. Relax and float on your back until you can control your breathing and the shock passes. Then you can call for help.

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14 ANTI COWBOY SOFTWARE COMMUNITY NEWS

Tim declares war...

WHEN Terry Dainty won her county court judgement against the rogue trader who ruined her garden, she was delighted and thought she would get back all of the £9,215 she had paid him in good faith.

Unfortunately she was wrong. The landscaper from Preston did such a bad job that her children have not been able to play in the 'dangerous and unusable' rear garden since before the first lockdown. On top of that the rogue has disappeared with the Chorley. housewife's savings. continued on page 15

! Kiistone is the online app that safeguards your money meaning it can't be moved without your

consent. ! Your tradesperson has to mutually agree all tasks for each project stage with you. Only when you agree that these tasks have been successfully completed can a payment be released. ! All extras, changes and messages are recorded for future reference to avoid misunderstandings later. ! All tradespeople will be vetted through financial checks to confirm they are a legitimate business. ! We only charge 1% on the monies that we protect. Our project management software is FREE, to reflect our commitment to rebuilding the trust between customers and honest British Tradespeople. communitywatchpublishing@gmail.com

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ANTI COWBOY SOFTWARE 15 COMMUNITY NEWS

...on the cowboy traders from page 14 It's a familiar story and one that has forced former housing developer Tim Mullock to launch a new online app - Kiistone, which aims to protect consumers from rogue traders, provide peace of mind to honest tradespeople and restore faith and improve the image of the building industry.

Cameron Crook, the tradesman who helped Terri through the court process, introduced her to his former colleague, Tim, knowing that he was on a mission to highlight the increasing problem of rogue trader activity.

A recent survey published in the Daily Express stated that a third (37%) of all households having home improvement work done had been affected by rogue traders leading to at least £1000 in remedial costs.

Tim explained: “Cameron helped Terri push the legal proceedings through, however, due to their lack of success in recouping her lost savings, he was disgusted at the time it took (nearly 12 months) and the ineffectiveness of the judgement to hold the perpetrator accountable.

With Terri’s blessing and Cameron’s help we are now trying to use her experience to illustrate how Kiistone works to stop it happening to other people.

All too often we are hearing these stories after the heartache - when people are left saying we wished we’d known we could protect our money in a system like Kiistone."

Built to reflect Tim's 23 years experience as a tradesperson, Kiistone safeguards all parties interests in a project by holding monies safely in escrow (a neutral bank account).

It offsets project stages (that include tasks mutually agreed by the customer and tradesperson) against money milestones - where funds can only be drawn down after a stage has been completed to the customers satisfaction.

The tradesperson also benefits because they know the money is ‘ringfenced’ allowing them to purchase materials and invest time in a job - leading to immediate payment on completion.

All messages, extras and job changes are recorded on the spot to avoid misunderstandings and reflect both parties' conduct should a dispute arise.

“This is critical,” states Cameron, “as just gathering evidence against Terri’s rogue tradesman took months of trawling through texts and emails.”

Tim adds that the skills crisis is leading to a shortage of construction workers, meaning that the demand for home improvements is massively outstripping the number of good tradespeople available to carry them out.

People aren’t willing to wait more than a year and fraudsters are taking full advantage of this by taking substantial deposits then disappearing without a trace. With better financial protection both a tradesperson’s stress and a customer’s risk are dramatically reduced..

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InTerri’s case, if she had used Kiistone, she would never have parted with any money unless she was happy with the job at each point.

Tim added:“Terri and her mum have been brave enough to let us use her story to make people aware of what we're doing, but by the same token, rogue tradesmen like him have got to be stopped because he can't be allowed to continue abusing people's trust.

“Removing the bad element is important for everyone as good tradespeople feel their reputation is being tarnished.

“Often when entering a person’s home you feel like you're guilty until proven innocent and that makes for an uneasy working environment, not conducive to solving problems that inevitably arise when working on older houses.

Terri added:“Tim’s been amazing. He’s helped us move forward because I feel like I’ve just come to a standstill with the court, constantly asking them for updates.

“I know it can take time because they have to try and find him, but to get recognition and make sure this fellow doesn't do it again by using my story makes me feel better after a year of feeling helpless.

“I wouldn't have been able to do this without Tim’s help and I urge others to use Kiistone for your protection.”

If you're struggling to verify a trader, at least Kiistone makes sure that if the project goes awry, you can stop it and know where you stand with your money.”

TIM MULLOCK, founder of Kiistone T: 01268 566743 M: 0795875392

16 TRADING STANDARDS ESSEX TRADING STANDARDS CAN HELP YOU AVOID SCAMMERS ESSEX Trading Standards can help you avoid scammers and rogue traders. Don’t be a victim, follow our advice and stay safe at home. ! Choose a ‘Buy With Confidence’ accredited

trader ! Obtain several quotes ! Get a written quote detailing exactly what work will be carried out, how much it will cost and what the terms of payment are. ! Take your time to make sure you’re happy with what you’re undertaking ! Ask a trusted friend/relative for advice ! Ask to see identity

A genuine trader will not: ! Call without an appointment ! Ask you or offer to take you to

the bank to withdraw cash or make a money transfer ! Ask you to pay in full before the work is complete ! Insist that you decide about the work they're offering to do on the spot ! Ask what your cancellation rights are? ! Bully or scare you into doing work Never be pressurised into buying anything or having any work carried out. Rogue traders and doorstep callers may do unnecessary work, or to a poor standard, and the price may rapidly increase.

To find a reputable trader approved and vetted by Trading Standards visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk For general help and advice or to report a problem with a trader telephone the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 11

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for useful leaflets to share with your friends and family.

Don’t take chances, follow our advice and stay safe. communitywatchpublishing@gmail.com

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HOLIDAY HORRORS 17

We know that as demand for holidays soar, so does the number of scams and criminals are always finding new ways to make people part with their hard earned cash PAULINE SMITH, Action Fraud

Holiday crooks getting busy AIRLINES are getting busier again.

Travel firms are getting busier again.

Car hire companies are getting busier again.

But that also means the criminakls are getting busier again.

It has forced Action Fraud to launch a national awareness campaign urging the public to think twice before handing over money and personal information when booking holidays.

As travel restrictions become more relaxed, 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 financial year 2021/22, Action Fraud received 4,244 reports of holiday and travel related fraud – a substantial increase of over 120% when compared to the previous financial year.

Victims reported losing a total of £7,388,353 – an average loss of £1,868 per victim.

Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said: “As the world begins to open up and travel restrictions relax further, it’s no surprise that more people are eager to get away after two years of lockdowns and restrictions.

“Unfortunately, we know that as demand for holidays soar, so does the number of scams and criminals are always finding new ways to make people part with their hard earned cash.”

Whilst many accommodation providers who make use of online

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booking platforms are legitimate, some criminals will use these platforms to defraud victims by advertising counterfeit accommodation.

Over 7% of victims reported falling victim to suspects impersonating legitimate travel companies, including clone comparison websites, airline websites and holiday accommodation websites.

In some cases, victims have searched for flight tickets online and have found a website they believe to be the company’s genuine website.

In other cases, victims reported responding to an approach or advertisement on social media or using what they believed to be legitimate flight comparison websites to search for flights.

In both instances, victims reported being contacted by someone purporting to be from the airline, or flight comparison website, to take them through the booking procedure and take payment.

The fraudster may completely end contact after receiving payment or provide the victim with fake booking information.

Sadly, some victims have only become aware that they have been the victim of fraud when they arrive at the airport and are unable to check-in.

Our tops tip to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud: Stay safe online: check the web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name – such as going from .co.uk to

.org.

Do your research: don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible. If a company is defrauding people, there is a good chance that consumers will post details of their experience, and warnings about the company.

Look for the logo: check whether the company is an ABTA member. Look for the ABTA logo on the company's website. If you have any doubts, you can verify membership of ABTA online on their website. If you're booking a flight as part of a package holiday and want more information about ATOL protection, or would like to check whether a company is an ATOL holder, visit the CAA website.

Pay safe: wherever possible, pay by credit card. Avoid paying directly into a private individual’s bank account.

Check the paperwork: you should study receipts, invoices and terms and conditions, and be very wary of any companies that don’t provide any at all.

Use your instincts: if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For a full list of tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, visit https://www.abta. com/tips-andadvice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.

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18 CRIMESTOPPERS NEWS

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SCAMS ROUNDUP 19 More than 188,000 customers nationwide have been affected by the energy scam and customers of all the leading energy companies – including British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE - have been affected.

How fraudsters target your cash RESIDENTS are always advised to be alert to scammers and fraudsters as one false step could end up costing you thousands of pounds.

Criminals always try to exploit current situations like the war in Ukraine, the oil crisis or the cost of living crisis.

So we have put together a round-up of current scams so that you do not get tricked into parting with your cash.

ENERGY SCAM Energy companies have warned those using pre-payment electricity meters of doorstep scammers offering to top them up at a cut price fee.

Trading Standards said they were aware of recent reports of doorstep scammers and have urged people to not engage with cold callers who may be attempting to take advantage as the cost of living crisis.

Action Fraud say that criminals use cloned keys to top up energy credit illegally. People are offered a cut price deal on their doorstep, for example £50 of electricity meter top-up for a cash payment of just £25.

However, energy companies detect that they have not received payment for energy used, and the customer ends up paying for the energy twice – first to the fraudsters and then to their energy company.

More than 188,000 customers have

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been affected by this crime already across the UK and customers of British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power and SSE have been targeted.

NATIONAL INSURANCE SCAM A National Insurance scam is once again circulating as fraudsters try to get their hands on Britons’ hard-earned cash.

A number of people have reported receiving a phone call, with an automated message informing them about an issue with their National Insurance number.

They are then informed their National Insurance number is set to be terminated in a “final warning”.

In order to resolve the issue, Britons are then prompted to press one on their receiver to obtain further details.

This is all part of an elaborate ruse which has been deployed many times by fraudsters. In some cases, Britons have been threatened with arrest or legal action against them in the message.

LOCAL DEPOT 27 SCAM People have reported receiving Royal Mail scam texts from “local depot 27” claiming that they missed a package and need to reschedule a delivery.

Anyone who receives this message should be aware that this is a phishing scam.

The scammers are hoping to steal personal information or banking details,

which they can gather if you click through the link to a fake Royal Mail website and enter any information.

There is a link containing the words “local depot 27” attached to the text.

The text appears to be coming from various mobile numbers, but the name Jamie, the message, and the link, appear to be the same every time.

LLOYDS LOAN SCAM Lloyds Bank has issued an urgent warning to consumers as the number of ‘advance fee’ loan scams has surged recent months.

Loan scams happen when a victim is asked to pay an upfront fee for a loan.

They will typically reply to an online advert for a ‘fast loan’ from a company they have never heard of before, though sometimes the fraudster will try to impersonate a genuine firm.

They will have their application approved regardless of their credit history.

Before they receive the loan, they are told they must pay an upfront fee by bank transfer.

Eventually, the victim does not hear from the company again and the loan is never received.

Reports of this type of scam have increased by more than 90% already this year, with the number of cases continuing to rise sharply.The average amount lost by victims is £231.

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20 SCAM LINE SUCCESS This is a watershed moment for the project. Not only is 159 being used by growing numbers of people but it now serves an even larger number of banks.

RUTH EVANS Chair, Stop Scams UK

Beat the scammers phone line hits 75,000 calls LESS than a year ago banks and telecommunications providers got together and decided to launch a unique phone line to safeguard people from scammers and fraudsters.

Th 159 line was set up in September last year and has already handled an astonishing 75,00 calls.

Such is the success of the phone line,159 has now been upgraded to enable a major expansion of the service so it can accommodate an even larger number of the UK’s banks.

The Co-operative Bank, the Nationwide Building Society andTSB are the latest big names to join 159.

159 is a collaboration between telecoms providers and banks that connects customers safely and securely to their bank, providing potential scam victims with a route back to safety if they receive an unexpected call on a financial matter.

What 159 does is it enables current account customers to connect with their

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bank safely and securely when they receive an unexpected, suspicious or fraudulent call.

As an easily memorable short-code number, it provides customers with a vital route back to safety when they are at most risk of being manipulated and scammed.

How to use 159?

If you receive an unexpected or suspicious call about a financial matter from someone who claims to be from your bank, the police or any other authority figure: Stop, hang up and then call 159.

Scams cause significant harm and loss to both individuals and businesses.

In the first six months of 2021 alone, reported Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud—where victims are manipulated by criminals into making real-time payments— were 60% above the equivalent level for 2020 with the losses incurred by consumers and businesses 71% higher.

To put this in cash terms, criminal gangs stole over £355m in the first six months of 2021 from individuals and small businesses by pretending to be either a bank or other service provider, and encouraging them to make a payment or transfer money. 159 is an important tool in helping prevent this harm.

Stop Scams UK launched 159 as a pilot.

In the coming months Stop Scams UK will

invest further in 159, including a new IntelligentVoice Response (IVR) system to route calls, and help better understand scam journeys.

This will enable the service not only to serve a wider number of banking destinations, including existing, new and future members, but will help keep even more people stay safe.

If the pilot is successful, Stop Scams UK will ask Ofcom to make 159 a universal number offered by all telephone providers, similar to 101, 111 or 999.

Ruth Evans, Chair of Stop Scams UK, said:“I am delighted to see 159 reach this important milestone.This is a watershed moment for the project.

“Not only is 159 being used by growing numbers of people but it now serves an even larger number of banks.

“It is great news that the Co-operative Bank, the Nationwide Building Society and TSB are joining 159. It demonstrates that when responsible businesses work together, they can make a real difference.

“I am pleased that every call to 159, is a call that is not been had with a scammer.

No bank will mind if you hang up the phone and use 159 instead. It is a vital means of helping keep UK consumers.”

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