Bogus emails, cold callers, stolen wreaths

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Small Pieces of Advice for Residents

Bogus Emails and Cold Callers

Fraudsters use many ruses to cheat members of the public out of their money.  One of the latest are fraudsters posing as Council Tax Officials who send e.mails, cold call, or telephone residents to advise them that they have either paid too much or too little Council Tax.  They will then ask the resident for their bank/bank card details to correct the financial discrepancy.  Never divulge your bank/bank card details to any cold caller requesting this information,   instead   contact   Hounslow   Trading   Standards   Office 020-8583 5555 or dial 999 immediately. 

If you live alone and someone cold calls who you are uncertain about, please ask the caller to make an appointment to return to your home so that the next time they visit you can have someone with you that you know and trust.  A genuine caller would always agree to such a request. 

Any email that you receive advising that you have won a ‘star’ prize in a competition that you have not entered, which then goes on to ask you for your bank or bank card details for administration purposes should be ignored.  

Counterfeit £20 Notes

Hounslow Community Messaging (www.hounslowringmaster.org or telephone 020 8247 6056), are warning residents of the existence of counterfeit £20 notes in the Hounslow Borough.   

The counterfeit notes are of good quality, however the major difference between the

counterfeit and genuine £20 note is that on the counterfeit note there is no watermark of the Queens head on the left hand side of the note in the white strip.  If held up to the light, a good £20 note will clearly show this watermark.   

There are also counterfeit £50 notes known to be existence in the Borough. 

Please take care and check carefully when handling a £20 or £50 note.

Leaflets Offering to Buy Gold

The Brentford Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team are warning residents that there has been a noticeable increase in the theft of gold in the Hounslow Borough. They want to be informed immediately if leaflets or business cards are pushed through letter boxes by individuals/companies requesting to purchase or indeed sell gold. 

Burglary Prevention

In the hours of darkness, if you are away from home for any length of time, try to leave a light on that can be seen from outside.  Burglars are less likely to attack property if the occupant(s) appear to be in. Home security light switches that can be set to come on and off at chosen intervals can also be a distraction to burglars.   

Please be warned that even Christmas wreaths have been stolen from people's front doors so thieves will steal anything if items are not firmly secured.

When dialling 999 if you do see something suspicious remember C.A.S.H, Colour, Age, Sex and Height plus clothing, which will greatly assist the police in their search for offenders. 

 

 

 

January 8, 2010