Police Report - July 2020 - Braeside and Mannofield Community Council

This report covers progress made by our Community Policing Team in dealing with the policing priorities for our Community Council area during June 2020.

COVID 19 – UPDATE

In relation to the COVID 19 restrictions Police Scotland follow an ENGAGE, EXPLAIN, ENCOURAGE and ENFORCE approach. What this means practically is that when breaches are reported to us we will follow each step in order to resolve the breach with any enforcement action being the last resort. We continue to receive calls in relation to this and adopt the above approach.

A Route Map has been published setting out our plans for easing Scotland's coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions in four phases.

Scotland moved to Phase 3 of moving out of lockdown on 10 July, with changes being introduced in stages.

Community Policing Priorities

Antisocial behaviour, Violence and Disorder:

Police continue to actively patrol area’s know for anti-social behaviour and will deal with any offences detected. On the 11th July Police were called the Morningside area regarding a large group of youths causing issues, however on Police attendance there was no trace of the group.

Officers are making enquiries into a minor assault that occurred in the Airyhall area on the 18th July when one man punched another. This appears an isolated incident where alcohol has been involved.

Officers are investigating a smashed window at Braeside primary School during the hours on darkness on the 24th July. On the same night, the vandalism to a vehicle that was scratched in several places was made and is being investigated.

Officers attended reports of a noisy party in the small hours of 26th July in the Countesswells Road area and dispersed same, providing suitable advice to all - particularly the occupants.

Acquisitive Crime:

Only one incident of acquisitive crime has been reported this month. On the 24th July, a man in his 60’s entered a garden/yard area of a business near the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel and carried off a bucket containing planks of wood. Enquiries are ongoing.

We would encourage all members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police on 101 or 999 if an emergency, remembering to provide as much detail/descriptions of persons as possible.

Road Safety & Road Crime:

There were no incidents of note during the period in relation to this. We continue to work with partners in response to specific complaints in terms of road traffic offences and to make use of antisocial behaviour legislation. Residents in the areas affected by antisocial driving are encouraged to contact Police on 101 at the time to report incidents in order for us to take positive action.

Community Engagement & Reassurance

We mentioned Scam prevention in previous reports.

Following our roll out of free call blocking devices, we received an unprecedented volume of applications and all units have now been allocated. We're sorry if you missed your chance to apply - any updates will be posted on Trading Standards website and social media accounts.

It's more important than ever to make sure that you stay Scam Aware and that you share information about scams with vulnerable relatives or friends. Stay safe while online at home and report all scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. Report scam emails to the National Cyber Security Centre.

Travel Compensation Scams

Fraud prevention service Cifas are warning travellers to be wary of fraudsters posing as staff from travel companies, tour operators or insurers and offering to refund or rebook cancelled holidays. Scammers are also setting up fake websites offering refunds and compensation to holidaymakers. This follows warnings of fake caravan listings, refund offers and travel deals from banking industry body UK Finance earlier this month.

As Scottish consumers continue to report issues related to holiday/travel refunds and cancellations, fraudsters are taking advantage of their uncertainty. There may be an increase in companies offering to obtain refunds or compensation for cancelled trips during the Covid-19 pandemic.

One claims management firm is now facing prosecution after offering a "no win no fee" service and eligibility checks to passengers seeking compensation - after filling in their details, passengers would often be pursued for fees despite not choosing to engage the firm or receiving any refund.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently reviewing how airlines have handled cancellations and refunds during the pandemic, due to the volume of consumer complaints received.

Be wary of:

 Cold calls, unsolicited emails or fake posts on social media advertising holiday refunds. You may be asked to pay an upfront fee as payment for handling a refund claim;

 Fake websites advertising cheap holiday deals. These can look similar to genuine websites, with similar URLs and ask for deposits for holidays which often don't exist.

What to Do

 Never give any personal or financial details to a cold caller and don't click on links in unexpected emails;

 If in doubt about an unexpected message which appears to be from your holiday provider, contact the provider via their official phone number or website.

 Remember that your consumer rights have not changed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have been affected by any travel/accommodation cancellations and are unsure about your consumer rights, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or check their regularly updated COVID-19 consumer website for advice and guidance.

Doorstep Scams

This week, rogue traders have been targeting elderly and vulnerable people in the Central Belt of Scotand. In one case, a scammer offered to replace the stones in an elderly consumer's driveway at a cost of £200. The scammer simply moved stones from the back garden to the front of the house.

Another woman in the same area was charged £100 to trim a tree in her garden. Rogue traders have also been knocking on doors and charging £300 to pressure wash and seal driveways. They are willing to drop the price as long as consumers will pay in cash on the spot.

What to Do

 Sign up to the Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alert system to receive timely alerts about local crime prevention and safety issues from partners such as Police Scotland. If there are known rogue traders in your area, you will be alerted.

 Report doorstep scammers or anyone acting suspiciously in your local area to Police Scotland on 101 or call 999 in an emergency.

 If you have concerns about goods or services you have purchased, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 for advice on your consumer rights.

Find more information about avoiding doorstep scams on the Trading Standards website, where you can download their No Cold Calling leaflet and Doorstep Signposts factsheet.

Netflix Email Scam

We have seen a new scam email saying that you can win a year's premium subscription to Netflix. Clicking on the link leads to a genuine-looking login page which is designed to steal your account and payment details.

Action Fraud reported that, last month alone, they received over 1,400 reports about fake Netflix emails. In previous bulletins we have covered these scams, some of which ask the recipient to click on a link to update their billing details following a failed payment. Others say that your account has been temporarily suspended and ask you to confirm your details and payment method in order to have it reactivated.

Netflix state on their website that they will NEVER email or text customers to ask for personal details, including passwords or bank details.

What to do

 If you receive a similar email or text, do not click on any links or open any attachments. If you do, your details could be harvested by scammers

 Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or through their website

 You can also report scam emails to the National Cyber Security Centre’s Suspicious Email Reporting Service.

 If you have been the victim of fraud, report this to Police Scotland on 101.

Pop-up Energy Adverts

Since warning about misleading energy marketing scams linked to the UK Government's "Green Homes" grant scheme, we have seen several examples of pop-up adverts on social media which imply that funding or grants for energy saving products are available to Scottish consumers.

One example says that all Scottish homeowners are eligible for over £2,000 of funding and asks you to enter your personal details in order to apply.

These adverts are designed to collect data and generate leads for companies who engage in misleading marketing. Clicking on these adverts leads to a form where you are asked to fill in personal details in order to determine whether you qualify for a grant. We are aware of Scottish consumers who have responded to these adverts and have then been called and visited by companies who pressured them into signing expensive contracts for energy saving products that they did not want or need.

Police Scotland have also warned this week that if you receive an email or text regarding "Green Home" grants, it is very likely to be a scam. They advise that you should delete the message and do not click on any links or reply with any personal details.

Top 10 Scottish Phone Scams

Scottish consumers continue to be hassled by a variety of nuisance calls. The most commonly reported phone scams in Scotland between April-June 2020 were:

1. Misleading sales of insurance for white goods, appliances or SKY equipment

2. Misleading sales of boiler, plumbing or drainage cover

3. Offers to reduce nuisance calls for a fee by signing you up to the Telephone Preference Service

4. Bank fraud - e.g. recorded messages saying that there has been a potential fraudulent transaction on your account and asking you to press 1 to discuss with an advisor

5. Attempts to gain remote access to your computer

6. HMRC frauds - e.g. saying that HMRC are filing a lawsuit against you and asking you to press 1

7. Amazon Prime scams

8. Claims management calls - e.g. offering services in relation to claiming backdated Marriage Tax Allowance or claiming tax owed on recent PPI payments

9. Misleading calls related to Green Deal funding (see above for more information about energy marketing scams)

10. Offers of "free" lottery tickets or calls advising that you have won a competition and asking for personal and bank details

General Advice for Avoiding Phone Scams

 Do not press 1 or follow any other instructions given in an automated message

 If you are speaking to a person, don’t give them any personal information,don’t agree to make any payments and never allow them to access yourcomputer remotely

 Contact your bank immediately if you think you may have made a payment to a scammer or if you are worried that a fraudulent transaction has been made from your account. Use the phone number on your bank statement or a publicly listed number (don’t use a number given to you by a cold caller).

To ensure that you are disconnected from the cold caller, phone another number such as 123 before phoning your bank or call them from another phone.

 Never agree to make a payment for goods or services on the spot – get at least two other quotes from trusted companies.

 Report scam calls to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or through their website. If you have been the victim of fraud, report it to Police Scotland on 101

Bank Email Scam

A recipient of Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts has this week reported a scam email purportedly from the "National Crime Investigation Centre" in the USA. The email addresses them as a "scam victim" and says that there has been an investigation into their bank, who may have delayed a payment in order to divert funds to another account. The recipient is advised to contact an officer using a Gmail account in order to receive a compensation payment.

Report scams to Advice Direct Scotland and if you have been the victim of fraud, report this to Police Scotland on 101.

Arrest - Tax Refund Scams

A man has been arrested this week for sending over 1,000 fake texts offering Government tax

refunds during the Covid-19 lockdown. He obtained personal details from 191 victims and defrauded 49 of them out of £10,000 in total.

One of the texts appeared to have been sent by UKGOV and read: "You are eligible for a Tax Refund as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please fill out the following form so that we can process your refund" The link in the message led to a legitimate-looking HMRC website which asked for personal and banking details.

Local Scams

Aberdeen City Council this week received a report of a scam targeting local businesses. Businesses

were cold called and then received a follow up email with a seemingly simple request for them to

confirm their address for local listings. However, the terms and conditions actually stated that the

business would be liable for monthly payments if they responded to the email and signed the form.

Businesses should be wary of similar scams and should ensure that anything they agree to sign not only comes from a trusted source, but that the details/terms are fully understood before they commit.

A Scottish car dealer was also recently targeted by a scammer who applied for a UK Government Bounce Back Loan in their name and then tried to pay for a car using the funds.

What to Do

 Question unexpected emails which request private business information or payments, even if they appear to come from someone within your company

 Think about what you are being asked to do – if in doubt about financial transactions or changes to Direct Debits get a second opinion from a colleague or manager

 Confirm requests for payment or sensitive information with the person or company who has supposedly sent them, using contact information that you know to be correct

 Remember that scam emails and texts can look genuine and can appear to come from Government agencies, people within your organisation and trusted companies

 Report scam business emails to the National Cyber Security Centre

The Scottish Business Resilience Centre (SBRC) have a variety of resources to

support and protect Scottish businesses. Business Gateway also have online

tutorials about keeping your business safe online and cyber resilience.

Find more information about business scams and links to official guidance on our

website.

Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit

Loans from Personal Lenders

Be wary if you get a message offering a loan from a personal lender similar to the one shown. If you

request a loan, you may be asked to pay an up-front fee and may not receive any money in return. Find out whether a lender is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority on their register.

Loans from illegal money lenders end up costing on average three times as much as a legal loan, with some charging interest rates of as much as 120,000%. Loan sharks continue to target the most vulnerable people, particularly those who have been financially affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. If you feel that you have nowhere to turn, please remember that you are not alone.

The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit's free and confidential 24-hour hotline is open 7 days a week - call 0800 074 0878 or fill out an online reporting form.