PCSO Paul Hancock ~ Distraction Burglary in Hospital Rd, Moreton in Marsh
On the afternoon of Monday 7^th August two males, dressed in what appeared to be a company uniform (blue trousers and blue polo shirts with a logo on the left of the chest) driving a white combi style van visited a lady on Hospital Rd, Morton in Marsh. Whilst one of them engaged the lady in a discussion about doing gardening work for her, the other went to the rear of the property, entering it through an unlocked door and stole her handbag.

Subject: PCSO Mel Oliveira ~ Beware of telephone scam offering free supermarket vouchers

There have been a number of reports from the community of people receiving phone calls offering free grocery and petrol voucher from Tesco and Morrisons. The scam caller will often know the name and address of the person they are calling; there are many ways they could have obtained this i.e. electoral rolls, phone directories, etc.

At about 3am on 25^th July 2017, person, or persons unknown attempted to break in to a garage adjacent to a property in Parsons Lane, Western Subedge. The owner’s dog woke him, and looking outside he saw the outside lights on and a figure by the garage. Once disturbed, the offenders made off in a red Peugeot/Citroen type van with “two static straps hanging down from the rear”.

This case has been allocated Incident number 32 of 25/07/2017.

If you have any information regarding this incident please report the matter to the police by ringing 101 or by email to 101@gloucestershire.police.uk and quote

Alternatively you may report any information you have anonymously to Crimestoppers by ringing 0800 555111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

Please highlight to your communities that dog ownership and the use of security lights does reduce the potential for becoming a victim.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) and Action Fraud have recently noticed a rise in the reporting of pets, and in particular puppies and kittens, being advertised for sale via popular online auction websites. The fraudsters will place an advert of the pet for sale, often claiming that the pet is currently held somewhere less accessible or overseas. Upon agreement of a sale, the suspect will usually request an advance payment by money transfer or bank transfer. However, the pet does not materialise and the fraudster will subsequently ask for further advanced payments for courier charges, shipping fees and additional transportation costs. Even if further payments are made, the pet will still not materialise as it is likely to not exist.
 

Tips to staying safe when purchasing pets:
 

• Stay within auction guidelines.
• Be cautious if the seller initially requests payment via one method, but later claims that due to ‘issues with their account’ they will need to take the payment via an alternative method such as a bank transfer.
• Consider conducting research on other information provided by the seller, for example a mobile phone number or email address used by the seller could alert you to any negative information associated with the number/email address online. 
• Request details of the courier company being used and consider researching it.
• Agree a suitable time to meet face-to-face to agree the purchase and to collect the pet. If the seller is reluctant to meet then it could be an indication that the pet does not exist.
• A genuine seller should be keen to ensure that the pet is going to a caring and loving new home. If the seller does not express any interest in you and the pet’s new home, be wary.
• If you think the purchase price is too good to be true then it probably is, especially if the pet is advertised as a pure-breed.
• Do not be afraid to request copies of the pet’s inoculation history, breed paperwork and certification prior to agreeing a sale. If the seller is reluctant or unable to provide this information it could be an indication that either the pet does not exist or the pet has been illegally bred e.g. it originates from a ‘puppy farm’. A ‘puppy farm’ is a commercial dog breeding enterprise where the sole aim is to maximise profit for the least investment. Commercial dog breeders must be registered with their local authority and undergo regular inspections to ensure that the puppies are bred responsibly and are in turn fit and healthy. Illegally farmed puppies will often be kept in inadequate conditions and are more likely to suffer from ailments and illnesses associated with irresponsible breeding.
• When thinking of buying a pet, consider buying them in person from rescue centres or from reputable breeders.
• 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.

Fraudsters have been advertising vehicles and machinery for sale on various selling platforms online. The victims, after communicating via email with the fraudster, will receive a bogus email which purports to be from an established escrow provider (a third party who will keep the payment until the buying and selling parties are both happy with the deal).

These emails are designed to persuade victims to pay upfront, via bank transfer, before visiting the seller to collect the goods. The emails also claim that the buyer (victim) has a cooling off period to reclaim the payment if they change their mind. This gives victims the false sense of security that their money is being looked after by this trustworthy third party, when in fact it is not and the money has gone straight to the fraudster.

Protect yourself:

• When making a large purchase such as a new car or machinery, always meet the seller face to face first and ask to see the goods before transferring any money.
• If you receive a suspicious email asking for payment, check for spelling, grammar, or any other errors, and check who sent the email. If in doubt, check feedback online by searching the associated phone numbers or email addresses of the seller.
• Contact the third party the fraudsters are purporting to be using to make the transaction. They should be able to confirm whether the email you have received is legitimate or not.
• False adverts often offer vehicles or machinery for sale well below market value to entice potential victims; always be cautious. If it looks too good to be true then it probably is.

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.