FIFA World Cup 2018 Ticket Alert – eCops Action Fraud

 

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from 14th June – 15th July 2018.  The worldwide demand for match tickets is expected to be significant. Action Fraud have been alerted to several websites which are offering World Cup Tickets for sale, some at highly inflated prices. A FIFA spokesperson said:

 

“FIFA regards the illicit sale and distribution of tickets as a very serious issue and it has been reminding all football fans that FIFA.com/tickets is the only official and legitimate website on which to buy 2018 FIFA World Cup tickets.”

 

“FIFA has received various complaints and enquiries by customers of non-authorised ticket sales platforms, and has consistently confirmed that these companies cannot guarantee access to the stadiums as the respective tickets may be cancelled. Insofar customers are at risk of investing a high amount of money (also for travelling and accommodation) without having the certainty to actually be able to attend the matches.”

 

FIFA have also warned that “any tickets obtained from any other source, such as ticket brokers, internet auctions or unofficial ticket exchange platforms, will be automatically rendered void and invalid”.

 

Action Fraud received over six hundred reports and intelligence submissions in relation to the previous World Cup so it’s vital that football fans exercise caution when considering a purchase or making a transaction.

 

Protect yourself:

• Don’t take the risk. Tickets for the World Cup 2018 can only be purchased directly from FIFA. For more information, please visit www.FIFA.com/tickets. 

• A FAN ID is required for fans to be able to enter the 2018 FIFA World Cup stadiums. Exercise caution if using a third party to obtain your FAN ID for you. You may be charged inflated costs for the service and your personal details may be compromised. For more information, please visit www.fan-id.ru.

• Visit the Take Five website for the latest guidance on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud.

• For useful advice and information on the World Cup please visit the Government Guidance Pages; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/be-on-the-ball-world-cup-2018

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Weekly Policing Update – Somersham District – 6th to 12th April

Here is our weekly summary of offences and incidents affecting your community, reported to police during the period 6^th to 12th April:

Warner’s Drove, Somersham – Police received a report of a black four-by-four vehicle seen on land off Warner’s Drove, Somersham, at 6:45 pm on Friday 6^th April, believed to be involved in hare-coursing. It was last seen heading off towards Chatteris, and the incident was passed to Fenland police to deal with. However, no trace was found when a police patrol searched the area. (Ref CC-06042018-0426)

Warboys Road, Pidley – There was a break-in and burglary at a house on Warboys Road, Pidley, during the night of Sunday 8^th / Monday 9^th April. Intruders appear to have climbed a fence to get into the back garden from adjacent fields, then entered the house by smashing a glass pane in the back door. They were able to open the door using a key left in the lock on the inside. The thieves took a set of car keys left on a kitchen surface, then went around to the front of the house where the owner’s high-performance car was parked on the drive. This was stolen and driven away using the keys taken from the house. Police are carrying out house-to-house enquiries and the investigation is continuing. (Ref CF0184830418)

Holme Fen Drove, Colne – Police received a report of door-step sellers calling at houses in the Holme Fen Drove area of Colne on Monday afternoon, 9^th April. Although no offences were committed, police advice is never to buy from cold-callers or other door-to-door salesmen as the technique may be used by distraction burglars and other fraudsters. (Ref CC-09042018-0229)

Earith Road, Colne – Police received a report of suspicious behaviour by two men with a Transit van, knocking on doors on Earith Road, Colne, on Tuesday morning, 10^th April. The men said they were working for a water company, but initial checks by the home-owners did not confirm this, and the police were called. However, when officers arrived and carried out more checks it was found that all was in order and the men were working for a company on behalf of Anglian Water.

Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Investments and Fake Endorsements

Fraudulent websites alleging to offer cryptocurrency investments are dishonestly using the image of Martin Lewis, the founder and editor for moneysavingexpert.com, as an endorsement for their companies.
The adverts using Martin Lewis to promote illicit schemes can be found on social media and other websites. Clicking on the advert takes you to the full article where Martin Lewis image is presented along with fake quotes recommending investments in bitcoin and other digital currencies with the fraudulent “company”. Alternatively clicking on the advert will take you to a page where you are required to input your contact details, the suspect company then phones you and encourages you to invest.

Martin Lewis has published a warning to the public saying “I don’t do adverts. If you ever see one with my face or name on it, it is without my permission, and usually a scam”. The full article can be found here; https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2018/03/13/martin-lewis-spread-word-dont-believe-scam-bitcoin-code-bitcoin-trading-ads/?_.

Similarly these fraudulent websites are also misusing images and fabricating recommendations from the investors on Dragons Den. These adverts also claim the investors on the panel trade in cryptocurrencies using their services to try and legitimise their company.

What you need to do

• Don’t assume it’s authentic: Professional-looking websites, adverts or social media posts don’t indicate that an investment opportunity is genuine. Criminals can exploit the names of well-known brands or individuals to make their scams appear legitimate.
• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision: A genuine bank or financial organisation won’t force you to make a financial transaction on the spot. Always be wary if you’re pressured to invest quickly or promised returns that sound too good to be true.
• Stay in control: Avoid unsolicited investment offers, especially those over cold calls. If you’re thinking about making an investment, get impartial advice from an independent financial adviser – never use an adviser from the company that contacted you, as this may be part of the scam.
• Visit Take Five (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/) and Cyber Aware (cyberaware.gov.uk) for more information about how to protect yourself online.

Police Commissioner marks National Stalking Awareness Week

Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite is today (16^th April) marking National Stalking Awareness Week 2018 by reminding members of the public that victims of stalking and harassment in Cambridgeshire are set to get an enhanced offer of support following an innovative partnership with national stalking charity Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

The move, announced on 21^st March, will see the charity, who run the National Stalking Helpline, provide specialist training for a new post holder in Cambridgeshire’s Victim and Witness Hub who will provide dedicated support to victims of stalking and harassment.

The new support worker, known as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) will get hands on experience working alongside staff at the London-based National Stalking Helpline before providing the service locally. The knowledge and experience they gain will enable them to better support and keep safe any Cambridgeshire victims seeking emotional and practical support.  The post is being recruited on the Commissioner’s behalf by Cambridgeshire County Council and will also be supported by the existing team of experienced IDVAs. The initiative will also help officers and staff understand the complexities of stalking and harassment, the experience of a victim and how to address risk and create effective safety planning. This will be delivered through a series of events for officers and local victim support service providers.

Under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, stalking and harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil action. It is illegal for a person to pursue a course of conduct which they know, or ought to know amounts to stalking. A course of conduct means two or more incidents which cause alarm, distress or fear of violence.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust was founded by Diana and Paul Lamplugh in 1986 following the disappearance and later presumed murder of their daughter Suzy.

Suzy Lamplugh Trust receives calls nationwide from victims of stalking and harassment. To date, the National Stalking Helpline has responded to over 23,000 calls and emails. Through advice and advocacy, their stalking specialists make a real difference to the lives of victims.

This initiative is all part of Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite’s commitment to enable victims of crime to access appropriate support.

“Stalking is a very serious problem which can have a devastating effect on victims. Long term effects can include depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, paranoia and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“By working in partnership with the national experts in stalking and harassment, I can ensure that support is in place for local victims when and where they need it. Any learning gathered from this will be shared with colleagues involved in providing relevant support services.” Rachel Griffin, Chief Executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust said “The collaboration between our charity and the Police and Crime Commissioner is an exciting development that going forward will enable victims to receive improved support from police. It is encouraging that the Constabulary see the invaluable insight that our service can deliver to improve police response to stalking and harassment. We hope that more police forces follow their lead and work with us.”

The charity will also be sharing their knowledge and expertise on stalking and harassment at an event being held at police headquarters in July. Details will be posted on the Police Commissioner’s website in due course.

The advert for the new post in the Victim and Witness Hub, based at Copse Court in Peterborough, will be advertised on the Cambridgeshire County Council website over the coming weeks: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/jobs-&-volunteering/. The IDVA will be part of the wider Domestic Abuse Team employed and managed by the County Council.

Jobs & volunteering – Residents www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk Jobs & volunteering. Becoming a registered childminder view more; Careers in childcare including childcare job vacancies; Volunteering view more; Meet our volunteers view more; Adult learning & skills view more

Calls to the National Stalking Helpline, 0808 802 0300, are free from all landline telephones and also from mobiles using the O2, Orange, T Mobile, Three (3), Virgin, and Vodafone networks.

 

Home Office announce approval for Police and Crime Commissioner to take over responsibility for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service

 The Home Office have today (26 March 2018) given the go-ahead for Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite, to take on responsibility for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority. He will now become the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The decision made today follows a year long process that involved the production of a business case which underwent a thorough consultation last summer.  The business case was formally submitted to the Home Office in October 2017.  It was then independently assessed by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CiPFA) in December 2017. 

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Nick Hurd said: “It’s great to see Police and Crime Commissioners identifying opportunities to drive greater collaboration between police and fire – there is a real opportunity to improve the services provided to local people. The proposals will encourage joint working, sharing of best practice and innovative thinking.  

“Having a directly accountable leader overseeing both policing and fire will also help maximise available resources and drive transformation across both services. I look forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the local areas.”

Commenting on the announcement, Jason said: “Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service do a vital job saving lives both through their prevention work, tackling fires and through their many other important roles. The changes announced today will focus on how the fire service is governed and I look forward to working with the Fire Authority to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

The exact date for transfer of responsibilities has yet to be agreed.

Weekly Policing Update – Somersham District 9th to 15th March

 

Here is our regular summary of offences and incidents affecting your community, reported to police during the period 9^th to 15^th March:

Earith Road, Colne – Thieves interfered with equipment on a building site on Earith Road, Colne, during the night of Tuesday 13^th / Wednesday 14^th March. The fuel cap on a digger was removed and a small amount of diesel was stolen, and a wheel-barrow was taken, later found abandoned on a footpath half a mile away. (Ref CF0139240318)

Chatteris Road, Somersham – Police received a report of possible hare-coursers seen on land near the B1050 Chatteris Road out of Somersham on Monday afternoon, 12^th March. A man with two dogs was spotted in a field and a white four-by-four was seen going up and down a tarmac drove west of the main road. When police searched the area, tracks were found heading towards Somersham, but there was no sign of the vehicle itself. Police issued an alert to Countryside Watch. (Ref CC-12032018-0303)

To see details of Policing Summaries for neighbouring areas, please click on the following link and scroll down the page to select areas of interest:

https://www.ecops.org.uk/alert_archive

As always, if you have information relating to any offence, or are concerned about any suspicious activities, please contact police by using any of these methods:

• • the ‘101’ non-emergency telephone number;
  • the on-line web-chat tool on the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary web-site – click on the green icon;
  • Alternatively, you can use ‘Crimestoppers’ to make a report anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or by using their on-line contact form.

In an emergency, or if you witness a crime in progress, always use ‘999’.

NFIB Alert – False Telephone Preference Service Calls

False claims of Telephone Preference Service:

Fraudsters are cold-calling victims, falsely stating that they are calling from one of the well-known UK telecommunication service providers. They call victims claiming to provide a ‘Telephone Preference Service’ – an enhanced call-barring service, which includes barring international call centres.

The fraudsters ask victims to confirm/provide their bank account details, informing them that there is a one-off charge for the service. Victims instead see monthly debits deducted from their accounts, which they have not authorised. The fraudsters often target elderly victims.

In all instances, direct debits are set up without following proper procedure. The victim is not sent written confirmation of the direct debit instruction, which is supposed to be sent within three days.

On occasions when victims attempted to call back, the telephone number provided by the fraudster was either unable to be reached or the victim’s direct debit cancellation request was refused.
During 2017, there were 493 Action Fraud Reports relating to this fraud.

 Protect yourself:

• There is only one Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The TPS is the only official UK ‘do-not-call’ register for opting out of live telesales calls. It is FREE to sign-up to the register. TPS never charge for registration. You can register for this service at http://www.tpsonline.org.uk.
• You will receive postal confirmation of genuine direct debits. If you notice unauthorised payments leaving your account, you should contact your bank promptly.
• Always be wary of providing personal information, or confirming that personal information the caller already claims to hold is correct. Always be certain that you know who you talking to. If in doubt hang up immediately.

If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.