IMPORTANT SECURITY MESSAGE
**NEW**
Unsolicited Emails claiming that you need to click on a link to update your account details or to prevent the suspension of your account are in circulation. The link takes you to a lookalike site asking for your PIN and password details and this latest version also asks you to use your Card-Reader.
REMEMBER - we never ask customers to provide their security details by Email, and we don't ask you to use your Card-Reader to login. If you believe that you have received a phishing Email, you can forward it to phishing@rbs.co.uk
POLICE WARNING – CASHLINE ALERT
Police are warning the public to be vigilant when using ‘hole in the wall’ cash machines after a device was found on a card machine in Dumfries. The device was found by staff at the Santander premises in High Street, Dumfries on Friday 5th November 2010. Police want to trace the following three people who were seen at the machine between 0900 hours and 0940 hours that day. They are described as
(1) Male, very heavy build, wearing blue faded jeans, brown jacket with black stripes, and had short dark hair which was thinning on top.
(2) Male, slim build, wearing dark jeans, a cream jacket and was bald on top.
(3) Female, dark brown hair in a pony tail, wearing dark trousers, a brown waist length jacket and knee length boots.
Police are asking for the public’s help in reporting any suspicious activity near any cash dispensers to get in touch immediately.
Card skimming or cloning is a method used by criminals to obtain your details from your card. A device, created to look like the card entry point on the cash machine is fitted over the genuine slot, to passively skim the information encoded on the magnetic strip of the card. The details are stored and then used fraudulently. Once the cardholder’s details have been obtained the fraudster’s will focus on getting hold of the cardholder’s personal Identification Number. PINs can be obtained in two ways. Firstly by shoulder surfing, whereby the fraudster will tailgate behind the cardholder and look over their shoulder as they enter their number. A second method is by the use of a micro camera which can be installed in the lighting or false trunking on a cash machine to focus on PIN entry. Real-time images are then transmitted to a receiver attached to a hand held camera, typically within 100 metres of the cash machine. The details will then be matched to the corresponding card data.
Any suspicious activity at or near any cash machine should be reported to the police immediately. Any suspicions about cash machines should also be reported, either to the bank or building society, or to the police if out of business hours.
Bogus mail warning
Police are warning members of the pubic to be aware of the dangers associated with bogus mail. The warning comes after a local woman received a letter claiming to be from the Reserve Federal bank of America and advising her that she was entitled to claim a seven figure sum of cash. The letter asked for her personal and banking details.
In a separate incident a local woman was contacted by a friend. Her friend advised her that she had received an email from the local woman’s email address. In this email it stated that the local woman was stuck in Spain and lost her credit cards. It went on to request money be sent to Madrid. The information contained in the email was not true and has been confirmed as a scam.
Police advice is to never give out any personal or banking details to someone you don’t know. Always check that the person or organisation asking for it is genuine. Check and research them. Speak to family and close friends to see if they know anything about it. Remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. If you receive any correspondence that raises suspicion pass it to police.
Bogus caller warning
Police are warning members of the public to be aware of the dangers associated with bogus callers. The warning comes after a local woman received a call from an Asian sounding male who claimed his company are currently cleaning up computer viruses. He told the local woman that her computer is sending warning signals out to other computers and that he could hep her fix the machine if she went to her computer and followed her instructions.
The local woman declined the offer and asked the caller to send out paperwork or an email to validate who he was. He then put the phone down.
Police advice is to never giver out personal or banking details to someone you do not know. Always make sure the person requesting the information is genuine. Ask for any request to be sent in writing. Check up on the person or the company they claim to work for online. Ask family, friends and work colleagues about the person or company to see if they know anything about them. If you receive any bogus calls, take down as much information about the caller as possible, such as name, accent, the company they claim to work for, the time of the call and their telephone number and hand into police.
Alarm Sales Warning
For the second time within a month Police are alerting householders in the Dumfries and Galloway area to a group of salesmen who are cold calling householders selling free burglar alarm systems. A number of complaints have been received by police about the sales pitch of the company and the public are being warned not to be taken in by them. The old adage “if it looks to too good to be true, then it probably is” should be borne in mind. Should you receive such a call contact trading standards with as much detail as possible
Bogus caller warnings – Recent incidents in Dumfries and Moffat June 2010
Police are advising members of the public to be aware of the continuing dangers associated with bogus callers. The warning comes after two incidents yesterday were slick techniques have been used.
- The first incident involved a local Dumfries man who received a call from an Asian sounding male. He told the local man that he was due £1000 from loan overpayments from eight years ago. The caller asked for the man’s banking details and already knew the man’s address, his date of birth, his partners name and date of birth and even his deceased parents’ dates of births.
- The second incident involved a local Moffat man who received an amount of cash into his account from a male based in Canada. The male asked the man to keep part of the cash for payment and forward the remainder to a third party in Greece. However the credit card has since been discovered to be fraudulent.
Police advice is to never give out any personal or banking details to someone you do not know. Officers understand that if someone calls you and they appear to know a lot of personal information you may think they are genuine. Do not fall for these scams. Information can be readily passed between businesses and unfortunately sometimes the wrong people can get a hold of it and try to dupe you. Don’t be conned and cancel the call.
If someone claims to be from a bank, state you will visit your local branch personally and terminate the call immediately. If you have any doubt whatsoever, under no circumstances pass on any detail to them. Only deal with people you fully trust. Always research the company or caller yourself and only consider dealing with them if you are fully satisfied they are genuine.
If you receive any suspicious calls take down as much detail about the caller as possible, such as telephone number, name of the person, accent, the company they claim to work for, hang up and then pass the information to the police.
Police are warning all homeowners to make sure their property is secure and locked at all times. The warning comes after a number of break ins to both private and commercial buildings.
After a lengthy quiet period police have dealt with increased numbers of break ins to properties over the past week. Police enquiries to all these crimes are continuing with one local 23 year old man already been reported to the Procurator Fiscal. However officers are highlighting the current crime trend to make sure that people are protecting their property as best they can.
A spokesperson from the Community Policing Unit said: “The recent spate of house breakings is worrying. “We are confident we will catch the individuals responsible, but we want to stop this trend now. “Householders can do their part as there are a number of steps you can take to deter thieves and protect your home. “Often people leave their back door open, but we have found that this is a favorite entry point for thieves. Do not make it easy for them, lock your property securely. Other advice points are:
• Close the curtains and leave your light on at night. Don’t leave the curtains closed during the day
• Only tell people you trust when you might be away and ask them to look on your house for you.
• Make sure all doors, especially the back door, are locked.
• Check your windows are properly locked and closed, particularly those overlooking flat roofs or balconies
• Check the garage is locked
• Do not leave expensive goods on show
• Consider installing an alarm system. Even the sight of one has been known to deter thieves.
• Fit good quality rim and/or mortice locks to all external doors; use a 'deadlock' on the front door. Use mortice security bolts or key operated door security press bolts on the top and bottom of both solid wood and glazed back doors.
• Light up dark areas around your home. House breakers hate light.
Please contact the Police if you see any suspicious behaviour, people entering a property unlawfully.
“We can be contacted on 0845 600 5701 or through Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
