Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest
frauds
GIFT CARDS
As the name suggests, Gift Cards are a handy way to send a gift to a friend or relative. However, they
are an equally handy way for Fraudster to extract money from an unsuspecting victim, and there is
very little chance for a victim to get any reimbursement of the money lost.
Some retailers are now placing warning notices at Gift Card sales points, or restricted the value of
Gift Cards made in a single purchase, but the reports of losses through Gift Card scams continue to
come in.
What are the commonest types of Gift Card Frauds?
1. Emails claiming to be from Government Agencies such as HMRC, DVLA, or a Utility company
demanding overdue payments with immediate reimbursement of the sums due by Gift
Cards – would such an organisation really accept payment by Gift Card?
2. Urgent email or text from a person claiming to be a family member or friend by cloning their
identity. They may spin out a hard luck excuse for a reason they cannot get out and buy the
Gift Card themselves so ask you to purchase the card, then pass on the code off the back of
the card. Always double check with that person by contacting them on a trusted number to
make sure they had actually made that request.
3. Romance Fraud victims are often asked to send money via Gift Cards after the Fraudster has
spun out some hard luck story to gain the victims sympathy, and once again asks them to
then pass on the code off the back of the card.
4. Fake Prize Draws/ Competitions – you have won a major prize! You are then asked for a
payment by Gift Card to cover the delivery costs of this fake prize, and once again your
money is lost.
Always remember.
The criminal does not need the actual card to redeem the money, just the code
scratched off the back of the card.
Never make payments by Gift Card to someone you have never met.
Always check that the Card has not been tampered with when you purchase and
always ask for a receipt for the value of that card. Unscrupulous retailers may also
switch the card at point of payment and hand over a valueless card.
You can always report the fraud to the Gift Card company, but you are only likely to
have any chance of reimbursement if the fraudsters have not used the card details
and drawn down the funds using the code sent to them.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours —————————————————————————————————–
If you’ve fallen for fraud:
Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk
Fake Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block
numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by
texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.
Forward Fake Emails received to
If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the
short phone number – 159 – to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest frauds
GIFT CARDS
As the name suggests, Gift Cards are a handy way to send a gift to a friend or relative. However, they are an equally handy way for Fraudster to extract money from an unsuspecting victim, and there is very little chance for a victim to get any reimbursement of the money lost.
Some retailers are now placing warning notices at Gift Card sales points, or restricted the value of Gift Cards made in a single purchase, but the reports of losses through Gift Card scams continue to come in.
What are the commonest types of Gift Card Frauds?
Emails claiming to be from Government Agencies such as HMRC, DVLA, or a Utility company demanding overdue payments with immediate reimbursement of the sums due by Gift Cards – would such an organisation really accept payment by Gift Card?
Urgent email or text from a person claiming to be a family member or friend by cloning their identity. They may spin out a hard luck excuse for a reason they cannot get out and buy the Gift Card themselves so ask you to purchase the card, then pass on the code off the back of the card. Always double check with that person by contacting them on a trusted number to make sure they had actually made that request.
Romance Fraud victims are often asked to send money via Gift Cards after the Fraudster has spun out some hard luck story to gain the victims sympathy, and once again asks them to then pass on the code off the back of the card.
Fake Prize Draws/ Competitions – you have won a major prize! You are then asked for a payment by Gift Card to cover the delivery costs of this fake prize, and once again your money is lost.
Always remember.
The criminal does not need the actual card to redeem the money, just the code scratched off the back of the card.
Never make payments by Gift Card to someone you have never met.
Always check that the Card has not been tampered with when you purchase and always ask for a receipt for the value of that card. Unscrupulous retailers may also switch the card at point of payment and hand over a valueless card.
You can always report the fraud to the Gift Card company, but you are only likely to have any chance of reimbursement if the fraudsters have not used the card details and drawn down the funds using the code sent to them.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
—————————————————————————————————–
If you’ve fallen for fraud
Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk
Fake Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.
Forward Fake Emails received to
If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number – 159 – to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
—————————————————————————————–
If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. Scam mobile calls can also be forwarded to 7726, followed by the word “CALL”, then the scam phone number
https://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpg00Beckyhttps://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpgBecky2025-05-07 09:21:432025-05-07 09:21:43Monthly Fraud Bulletin from West Mercia Police - Economic Crime Unit
North Worcestershire Diverse Community Forum Wednesday 30 April 2025 starting at 6pm Heart of Worcestershire College (Redditch Campus) Peakman Street, Redditch, B98 8DW
Join West Mercia Police and Victim Support at Heart of Worcestershire College
(Redditch Campus) for an open and honest conversation about policing. Senior police
officers will open the event and an overview will be provided on what we are currently
doing around hate crime and engagement. This will include a guest speaker, open
discussion and an opportunity to ask us about topics that are important to you (you are
welcome to send us questions ahead of the event).
Everyone is welcome and we are particularly keen for those from our diverse
communities to attend. This is your opportunity to tell us how you feel your relationship
with police and policing in general can be improved across North Worcestershire.
• The venue has easy access to the town centre, with good bus and rail links.
• There is also plenty of free parking (please provide vehicle registration at reception).
• Hot food and drinks will be provided.
• There is no charge to attend this event.
Please click on the attachment for more information;
https://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpg00Beckyhttps://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpgBecky2025-03-11 12:49:132025-03-11 12:49:13North Worcestershire Diverse Community Forum
Whilst the world of the Internet offers great opportunities for young and old alike, it also presents
many risks. The use of the Internet by children has increased greatly in the last 2 years for social,
entertainment and educational reasons.
So, with extra time being spent online, how can you protect the younger family members from the
potential issues they may face, and make them aware?
First of all, make sure all the safety settings are set up and in place including:
Parental controls on all devices, browsers, and Apps to filter out inappropriate material.
Set strong privacy settings to make sure personal information is only visible to trusted
individuals i.e. “Friends only”.
Make use of Safe search filters such as Google SafeSearch to block out harmful content
Set daily usage time limits for Apps and overall daily screen time.
Explain and encourage safe searching, websites, and apps. Check what they are watching and
sharing on streaming sites such as YouTube and TikTok
Always remember that anything you share online, such as images, videos and comments may hang
around for much longer than you think.
You could also consider some of the following ideas to protect your children further:
Know about the online risks such as grooming, bullying and sexting (never share
inappropriate images you would not want your family and friends to see.
Make sure your child understands what personal information they should never share
including location, passwords. Phone numbers, schools, date of birth.
Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on accounts for a second layer of protection.
Make them aware that most apps may collect data even when privacy settings are in place.
Not everything online will be true so teach them how to spot misinformation, fake profiles and most
important of all – never be rushed into making any decisions.
If there is anything you are not sure about, never cover it up, but do talk to an adult, or a trusted
friend or relative.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action
and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. Scam mobile calls can also be
forwarded to 7726, followed by the word “CALL”, then the scam phone number
Forward Fake Emails received to
For further information visit: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk
https://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpg00Beckyhttps://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpgBecky2025-03-07 09:59:152025-03-07 09:59:15The Fraud Bulletin MARCH 2025 - Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest frauds
This month’s edition includes the results of the latest perception survey into the confidence of West Mercia Police, the projects I am funding as part of my Road Safety Fund and my latest meeting with the Chief Constable around Child Sexual Exploitation.
PCC thanks communities for support
As an election is on the horizon, with the pre-election period starting on Tuesday 19 March, this will be the last newsletter in my 2021-2024 term.
It has been invaluable to meet as many of you as possible at community events and to have conversations about your views and concerns on local policing.
The newsletters from the Police and Crime Commissioner will resume in early-May following the result of the elections.
Tackling crime in West Mercia
I am encouraged to see that crime overall is reducing across West Mercia, with a 15% decrease in the number of reports between January 2022 and January 2023.
A decrease in reports has been seen across the majority of crime types, with vehicle offences, theft from a person (-28%) and anti-social behaviour (-20%) some of the biggest reductions recorded over the same time period.
A number of different factors have contributed to this, including the presence of the Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams I have funded.
These bespoke units have been working at the heart of communities to tackle crime.
As part of my budget for the coming year, I am also funding Town Centre Policing Teams to further increase the visibility of officers in crime hotspots to ensure crime continues to decrease across West Mercia.
Government announces additional money to boost PCC’s work to tackle anti-social behaviour
Committed to building a safer West Mercia, last month I welcomed additional Government funding to continue my focus on tackling anti-social behaviour.
The latest Government announcement, following a successful pilot in ten other force areas, will see West Mercia Police receive £1 million to increase uniformed patrolling in ASB hotspots.
I fully support this announcement by the Government as I regularly speak to communities across West Mercia who tell me about the impact anti-social behaviour is having on their feelings of safety.
I am clear, ASB is not a low-level crime, and it needs a strong police response. That’s why I remain focused on ensuring West Mercia Police has the resources it needs to drive change.
In line with the public’s priorities, I have targeted significant investment into boosting officer numbers to record levels, introduced first-of-a-kind Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Teams and this year, town centre policing teams.
I am under no illusion that this is job done, and while this progress is welcome it needs to be seen and felt by the public.
PCC focuses on public priorities in performance meeting with police Chief
As the voice of the public in policing, a key part of my role is to support and challenge the Chief Constable to ensure the police is delivering for communities across West Mercia.
I am committed to ensuring local communities have confidence in West Mercia Police, and therefore I raised inconsistencies in confidence levels across the three counties.
I scrutinised the performance of the 101 non-emergency line as part of this meeting. With 54% of calls being answered in 30 seconds, this falls 6% short of the force’s target.
While I recognise the improvements that have been made in this area with longer term plans for sustainable improvement, I have sought reassurance on the longer-term plans to deliver greater efficiencies.
While it’s reassuring that crime is falling across the three counties, it’s important that all victims receive a service they expect and deserve. It’s clear that more needs to be done, and quickly.
I held a formal Assurance and Accountability meeting with the Temporary Chief Constable on its progress to safeguard children.
The meeting was recorded and is now able to watch.
All 13 of West Mercia Police’s recommendations set out in a judge-led independent inquiry, published in 2022, into child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Telford were covered in the session.
To ensure the voices of those most impacted by CSE were at the heart of the meeting, feedback from those with lived experience helped inform my lines of enquiry.
While I am reassured significant progress has been made, there’s still more work that needs to be done.
More than 8 in 10 have confidence in West Mercia Police
Results from a survey I run every three months to gain a greater understanding of the public’s views on policing have been gathered.
More than 8 in 10 have confidence in West Mercia Police, but the force is yet to hit its 88% target.
Support and trust remains high, hitting 93% and 88% respectively, and there’s been a 4% rise (83%) in the number of people who feel they would receive a good service.
PCC addresses tensions in communities following recent national protests
Democracy forms the foundation of our communities in West Mercia, giving us all the power to act, speak or think freely.
But these freedoms are fragile and need continuous attention. The recent protests we have seen play out across the country have seen a small but vocal minority overstepping the line of peaceful expression and instead resorting to acts of violence, intimidation and hate.
I have seen this first-hand, where my office and I have received messages from anonymous accounts filled with threats of violence, false accusations and toxicity. I know these hate messages are not unique to me. This is happening across the political spectrum and MPs are fearing for their safety, with Preet Gill MP’s recent interview on Politics Midlands highlighting the daily abuse she faces.
It’s therefore on all of us to drive discourse in a way that respects differing opinions and firmly shuts the door on non-peaceful protest.
PCC believes latest inquiry will address police behaviour
The heinous actions of Wayne Couzens in March 2021, which led to the tragic death of Sarah Everard, have forever altered the public’s trust in police forces across the country.
The Angiolini Inquiry, published last month, has outlined a number of recommendations for police forces including the need to improve the investigation of indecent exposure and the vetting process for police officers.
These recommendations further support actions taken by the Home Office, to address vetting, to ensure all police officers are held accountable for their conduct in line with public expectations.
In West Mercia, trust has remained high towards local police officers, and it is my duty to help protect that trust. However, it is right that this inquiry has shone a light on the improvements that need to be made in police forces across the country, particularly around vetting.
I am clear, I will do all in my power to build public confidence in the police by challenging and supporting West Mercia Police to ensure their officers are adequately trained, equipped and motivated to respond to reports.
PCC backs initiatives to tackle road safety concerns by £280k across West Mercia
Over a quarter of a million pounds will fund projects to make roads safer across West Mercia, as part of my Road Safety Fund.
With the original fund boosted by £30k after more than 80 applications were submitted by local communities, I will be funding a wide range of schemes across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
I speak regularly to residents and road safety is often a top priority. It’s a concern I share, and I am committed to playing my part to reduce the number of people seriously injured or killed on our roads.
This is only possible with the support of local communities, so I welcome the number of applications and the creative ideas that were submitted.
Some of the projects all communities across West Mercia will benefit from include:
West Mercia Police’s ‘Car Safety Campaign’ to offer safety advice to parents to reduce harm to young passengers.
A 17–24-year-old pre-licence driver education programme to make young drivers more aware of road safety.
I look forward to seeing the schemes from cameras to education programmes being rolled out in the county, helping to drive change in West Mercia.
Schools across West Mercia receive mini police officer after winning PCC poster competition
At the heart of my Safer West Mercia Plan is a focus on improving road safety in West Mercia.
Therefore, it was encouraging to see more than 700 creative posters were submitted by 24 primary schools as part of my Mini Police Officer poster competition in December.
In the heart of your communityAs your voice in policing, I really value hearing your experiences and thoughts on policing in your area.
Over the past month, my senior political team and I have been visiting communities across West Mercia.
Worcestershire
Earlier this month, I joined a meeting of the Alvechurch Parish Council in Bromsgrove to hear the communities concerns around road safety.
It was an opportunity for me to reassure the residents that active work is being done by myself and the force to ensure their safety.
Shropshire
I hosted a Community Conversation event in Ludlow this month and it was encouraging to see more than 20 residents turn up to voice their concerns around local policing to me.
I understood the communities’ concerns around rural crime and road safety but alongside the Rural and Business Officers, I was able to reassure the public that action is being taken to tackle such matters.
I also joined a meeting of Cardington Parish Council, where residents and councillors expressed their concerns around police visibility and accessibility.
I am continuing to provide West Mercia Police with the tools and resources it needs to ensure communities feel reassured they are safe.
Telford
I held a Community Conversation event in Oakengates to understand what action residents felt was needed from the police to feel safe in their local area.
Myself and the We Don’t Buy Crime Team reassured residents active work is being done to ensure their safety.
I also concluded my Roads Focus series in Brookside this month. It was once again invaluable to hear from the public.
I am committed to making West Mercia’s road safer and I will continue to take action so no person is seriously injured or killed on our roads.
https://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpg00Beckyhttps://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpgBecky2023-07-10 13:53:092023-07-10 13:54:36The Fraud and Scam Bulletin June 2023
Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds
CHARITY DONATION FRAUD
Most fundraising appeals are genuine, so the risk of fraud should not put you off giving to charities. However, you should be vigilant and make sure you are giving safely to legitimate organisations.
Sadly at times of national and international emergencies and disasters, fraudsters are always ready to take that as an opportunity to set up fraudulent “Charity” websites to prey on the public’s generosity and take their money fraudulently.
They may claim to be raising money for a charity which is actually a fake, or impersonate a well-known charity.
So before donating online, on the phone or in person
Check the charity name and registration number at uk/checkcharity.
Check the Fundraising Regulator’s online Directory to see if a charity has committed to good fundraising practice at org.uk/directory.
If you are still unsure about giving, always ask the organisation for more information. Legitimate causes will be happy to respond and answer your questions.
Fundraising appeals with generic wording, such as ‘to help earthquake victims” should be approached with caution.
An appeal should always be clear on exactly what the money will be used for.
When giving online, make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information:
Type in the charity website address yourself, rather than clicking on a link, and look for the registered charity number on the website.
Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails.
Never respond to unsolicited messages or calls that ask for your personal or financial details.
Beware of any online advertisements that just feature a mobile number.
Ignore requests to donate through a money transfer company as this is a popular scam.
Only donate to online fundraising pages created by a person or organisation you know and trust. If in any doubt, contact the charity directly.
When you meet a fundraiser in-person, check their credentials:
Street collectors should wear an ID badge that is clearly visible.
Any collection buckets should be sealed and undamaged. Most fundraising materials should feature a charity’s name, registration number and a landline phone number.
If in doubt, ask for more information – a genuine fundraiser should be happy to answer your questions.
WhatsApp provides an excellent platform for relatives and friends to communicate freely with each other but is equally used to their own advantage by fraudsters and scammers. We frequently highlight these scams but reports continue to come in, and over half of those involve the victim losing financially.
Current themes used by scammers in their messages claiming to be from a family member with problems include “I have an urgent bill to pay”, “I need the money now”, ” I do not want to impact my credit rating”.
If you receive a message on WhatsApp from an unknown number purporting to be your son, daughter, friend or relative and they are requesting financial assistance to help pay for an urgent bill,
STOP!
Take 5 seconds to think!
Call that person on a known number you have for them, and ask if they have changed numbers and/or have an urgent bill to pay.
They will then be able to confirm if this is genuine.
Please feel free to share this information with any relatives, friends or neighbours you think may be vulnerable.
Take Five To Stop Fraud
Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
https://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpg00Beckyhttps://beoley-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/beoley-logo.jpgBecky2023-02-21 14:24:502023-02-21 14:24:50WEST MERCIA POLICE. Economic Crime Unit - monthly bulletin February 2023
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