The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reviewed reports submitted to Action Fraud and has seen considerable proportions relating to cold calling bogus solicitors.

In all the reports analysed the bogus solicitors asked their victims to pay an advance fee for their “services” ranging from inheritance collection to Payment Protection Insurance. The bogus solicitors are not who they say they are and will take your money and disappear.

The fraudsters used these methods:

•  Debt: Victims were cold called by individuals purporting to be from a law firm, […]

You should always be alert when you receive a cold caller at your door. Not all doorstep callers are bogus. Some will be genuine sales people, but watch out for aggressive or misleading sales practices and rogue callers. Rogue traders are criminals who use the appearance of a legitimate business to commit crime and deprive you of your hard earned cash.

Never invite an unknown caller into your home and always use your door chain! Look out for some of the following types of phrases which may […]

You can reduce the number of spam/sales calls by registering with the Telephone Preference Service by phone on 0345 070 0707 or online at www.tpsonline.org.uk.

Any UK company that continues to call you can be reported via the TPS website and if they still continue to call you can report them to the Information Commissioners Office which has the power to prosecute any company that continues to make unwanted calls.

Silent calls come from an automated calling system used by many sales companies where there […]

Need help? 112 is your life-saving number!

112 is the European emergency phone number, available everywhere in the EU, free of charge.

It is possible to call 112 from fixed and mobile phones to contact any emergency service: an ambulance, the fire brigade or the police.

When a person dials 112, a specially trained operator will answer the call. Depending on the national organisation of emergency services, the operator will either deal with the request directly or transfer the call […]

1 in 10 home owners are at risk of ID crime by leaving financial information on their doorstep

Royal Mail have conducted one of the largest studies of home movers in the UK which reveals people are putting themselves at risk of ID crime by not redirecting their mail when they move home. Click on this link to read more.

Householders are being warned to be especially careful when it comes to disposing of papers containing personal details. There have been reports, borough-wide, of people rifling through domestic waste and recycling bins – some in private gardens.

Recent burglaries in the area have been at the rear of properties. Beware!

•  Mark or etch your property with your postcode, house or flat number or the first three letters of your house name.
•  Register items with a serial number at www.immobilise.com
•  Do not leave your car keys, valuables or ID documents near a door, letterbox or window.
•  Always check who’s at the door and don’t open it if you feel anxious.

Keyless vehicle ignition systems and key fob jammers

The Daily Mail are currently running a campaign to highlight the issues of increased car crime, in particular relating to ‘keyless’ vehicles. Most of these vehicles are ‘high end’ cars but it also applies to other manufacturers like Volkswagen and Ford. They are trying to put pressure on car manufacturers to improve security on their vehicles.

Some criminals are using ‘relays’ by standing near your front door and relaying the signal from the ‘keys’ in the […]

Police are urging bicycle owners to take simple crime prevention measures to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of bicycle theft after a pan-London operation to pro-actively target thieves.

Bicycle owners are asked to:

• Make it difficult for thieves, it only takes a few seconds to cut poor quality locks, use gold Sold Secure standard locks when securing your bicycle
• Park your bicycle at secure cycle parking, which should be well lit and covered by CCTV – locking the frame and both […]