Fraud

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Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Fraudsters are sending out virus infected emails that claim a package has been seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom. The official looking scam emails claiming to be from Royal Mail contain a link to a document which will install malicious software on your computer designed to steal credentials like account names, email addresses and passwords. 
 
An example email reads:
 
Title: Your parcel has been seized
Royal Mail is sorry to inform you that a package addressed to you was seized by HM Revenue & Customs upon arrival into the United Kingdom.
A close inspection deemed your items as counterfeit and the manufacturers have been notified. If your items are declared genuine then they will be returned back to you with the appropriate custom charges.
You may have been a victim of counterfeit merchandise and the RM Group UK will notify you on how to get your money back. Please review the attached PDF document for more information. 
Document (RM7002137GB).Zip
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.
 
To help the spread of the virus, the email also says: “you will need to have access to a computer to download and open the Zip file”. If you receive one of these emails, do not click on any links or download any attachments and report it to Action Fraud. 
 
Protect Yourself

• Royal Mail will never send an email asking for credit card numbers or other personal or confidential information.
• Royal Mail will never ask customers to enter information on a page that isn’t part of the Royal Mail website.
• Royal Mail will never include attachments unless the email was solicited by a customer e.g. customer has contacted Royal Mail with an enquiry or has signed up for updates from Royal Mail.
• Royal Mail have also stressed that they do not receive a person’s email address as part of any home shopping experience. 

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online: http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone: 0300 123 2040
 
 

Stolen Fishing Equipment

In early January a large quantity of fishing equipment was stolen from the garage of a property in Bowmans Close, Steyning. The items taken included 5 Carbon Actives rods – all in black, fishing reels, a fishing box, fishing weights and a silver coloured storage trolley. Sussex Police reference 377 07/01/16

Overnight between 6pm on Monday 25 January and 9:45am on Tuesday 26 January fishing equipment was stolen from a garage at a property in Natts Lane, Billingshurst. Make and quantities unknown. Sussex Police reference 310 26/01/16.

Horsham police are carrying our enquiries as to whether this equipment may have been sold on or traded locally.

We appreciate that items such as fishing tackle are hard to property mark but would like to ask residents to take extra steps to boost their security and protect their property from thieves. This includes securing fishing equipment out of sight, in a locked cupboard where possible. You may also consider photographing such equipment and keeping a record of the manufacturers name and any serial numbers. An engraver, etching kit, or a tracer solution can also be used to mark property. This can help to deter criminals and help us to return items to their rightful owners if they are stolen and later recovered.

Kind Regards

Louisa HULL

Public Engagement Officer
Neighbourhood Policing Team, Horsham.

Tel: 101 (Sussex) 

Twitter: @Horsham_police

Roffey Attempt Burglary Alert

Serial 1119 of 22/01 relates to an attempt burglary at a property in Roffey.

Between 2:30pm and 5:30pm on Friday 22 January an unknown suspect attempted to gain entry to a bungalow in Lockwood Close.

Damage was caused to a door frame, window and patio door at the rear of the property but no entry was gained.

Sussex Police are appealing for anyone with information or who may have seen anyone suspicious in the area to e-mail 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or to call 101 quoting serial 1119 of 22/01.

Kind Regards

Louisa HULL

Public Engagement Officer
Neighbourhood Policing Team, Horsham.

Tel: 101 (Sussex) 

Twitter: @Horsham_police

Scam

News summaries, advice and appeals

For the latest news please click on the link below to the Sussex Police news pages:

http://www.sussex.police.uk/whats-happening/latest/news-stories

Housing Insulation Scam

A resident in Pulborough has received a cold call today (Friday 18 December) from a man using the name ‘Liam Phillips’ who claimed to be working with Horsham District Council. He was offering grants from the council for home insulation. A representative from Horsham District Council has contacted Sussex Police to advise that they are not working with any company offering insulation and do not have general grants for this service.

Please do not let anyone claiming they are offering this service in association with Horsham District Council gain entry inside your property and please make friends, neighbours and family members aware.

Fraud against elderly

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Message sent by Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

There has been a recent series of incidents whereby fraudsters either phone or attend the home address of elderly members of the public, claiming to be police officers.

The fake officer/s will claim that they are investigating a fraud which they believe the elderly person to be a victim of. The fake officer/s will then request the bank cards and personal identification numbers (PIN) of the victim and claim these are needed for investigation purposes. If the first contact was made by a phone call, the fake officer/s will tell the victim that someone will be over to collect the evidence. In one case the victim was instructed to attend their local bank and withdraw all of the money from their account. The suspect was left alone in the victim’s house whilst the victim carried out the instructions.
 
Protect Yourself

• Before letting anyone into your home who claims to be from any law enforcement agency, ask to see their identity card and check it by calling 101.
• Ask if they can attend at a pre-arranged time when a family member or friend can also be present.
• If you receive a phone call from a police officer,  ask for their name and force and tell them you will call them back. Wait a few minutes and then use 101 to call them back through their force’s switchboard and verify their identity.
• The Police will never ask for your PIN or passwords. Do not give this information to anyone.
• The Police will never request that you withdraw/transfer any money to them.

Horsham Burglary Alert

Sussex Police

Horsham Neighbourhood Policing Team

Horsham Burglary Alert

At approximately 2:55pm on Thursday 17 September there was a report of a break in where suspects were trying to take items from a shed belonging to a property along Forest Road, Horsham. Fortunately the suspects were disturbed which resulted in nothing being stolen.

Sussex Police are appealing for anyone with information or who may have seen anyone suspicious in the area to e-mail 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or to call 101 quoting serial 0790 of 17/09.

Kind Regards

Louisa HULL

Public Engagement Officer
Neighbourhood Policing Team, Horsham.

Tel: 101 (Sussex)

Horsham Burglary Alert

Sussex Police

Horsham Neighbourhood Policing Team

Horsham Burglary Alert

Serial 773 16/08 relates to a burglary at a property in Horsham.

Sometime between midday on Tuesday 11 August and midday on Sunday 16 August a property in Grebe Close was broken into.

It would appear the offender/s were able to gain entry by forcing open a kitchen door, damaging the lock and handle.

An untidy search was made and a quantity of cash was stolen.

Sussex Police are appealing for anyone with information or who may have seen anyone suspicious in the area to e-mail 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or to call 101 quoting serial 773 of 16/08.

Kind Regards

Louisa HULL

Public Engagement Officer
Neighbourhood Policing Team, Horsham.

Tel: 101 (Sussex) 

Twitter: @Horsham_police