Scams

  Latest Scam info - click here

  Card Skimming (pdf) 

  Essex Police Crime Reduction Advice (supplied by Uttlesford district)  (pdf)

  New information about International Lottery Scams (pdf)

Lottery Scams

Received by post or email, often from Spain or Canada informing the recipient that they have won many hundreds of thousands of pounds on a lottery. They ask that the information is kept confidential and that the recipient supply them with personal and bank details. Having lured the unsuspecting but jubilant person into the net the demands start to arrive - just a few thousand pounds to pay for tax or admin fees and so it goes on. People in Tendring have lost thousands of pounds as a result of these scams.  

Identity Theft

There has been a spate of unsolicited telephone calls across the district when the caller has stated they are calling on behalf of a credit card company and asking for full credit card or bank details. The strong advice is never disclose any personal details to unsolicited callers.

Bank Fraud

A very  large number of people have received emails that appear to have emanated from a Bank or Building Society and on the surface they appear to be genuine. They are false and eventually they will request Bank details which your Bank will know anyway. Once again these are unsolicited calls and should not be replied to. They are a scam intended to acquire your Bank details. Beware!

Cheque Fraud

Anyone selling privately, valuable items such as cars and boats should beware of this scam. A person will reply to your advertisement and show interest in the vehicle and make arrangements to view it. He/she will agree to buy it and then say they will pay by cheque but the only cheque they have is one for a sum much greater than the value of the vehicle, usually many thousands of pounds. They request that you bank the cheque and then pay the difference in cash. The cheque will normally 'clear' - you hand over the cash and the vehicle. A few days later you receive a call from your Bank telling you the bad news- that the cheque has been stolen and that you will have to forfeit the total sum of its' value and of course you have also lost your vehicle. Never enter into this kind of arrangement. If a buyer wants your vehicle that desperately they will pay you the cash.