News

Do you know or care for someone with dementia?

We’ve launched a new scheme with Alzheimer’s Society to help find people with dementia if they go missing.

It’s called The Herbert Protocol and it’s part of our commitment to support Dementia Action Week (21-27 May)

It involves carers or loved ones filling in a simple form which they can give to Police Officers to assist the search process should the person with dementia go missing.

Amongst other things, the form details places they are known to visit, medication required and a recent photograph.

Full details of the initiative can be found on our website lancashire.police.uk/herbertprotocol. 

If you’d like general advice or information about dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society can help – alzheimers.org.uk.

If you know anyone else who may be interested in this, please use the buttons at the bottom of this alert to either forward it on or share it on social media.

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 The fraudsters are using the following telephone numbers: “08447111444”, “02035190197” and “08001514141”. The fraudster’s voices are reported to sound feminine and have an Asian accent.

 Later victims make enquiries and then discover that their TV service provider did not call them and that the fraudster has made transactions using the victim’s bank account details. 

 This type of fraud is nationwide. Since the beginning of this year (2018), there have been 300 Action Fraud Reports relating to this fraud. From the reports received, victims aged over 66 seem to be the most targeted.

 What you need to do

 • Don’t assume a phone call or email is authentic: Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and address or even your mother’s maiden name), it doesn’t mean they are genuine. Criminals can exploit the names of well-known companies in order to make their scams appear genuine.

• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision: a genuine company won’t force you to make a financial decisions on the spot. Always be wary if you’re pressured to purchase a product or service quickly, and don’t hesitate to question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam.

• Stay in control: Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information. Always contact the company yourself using a known email or phone number, such as the one written on a bank statement or bill.

 Visit Take Five (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/) and Cyber Aware (cyberaware.gov.uk) for more information about how to protect yourself online.

We are warning people to be aware of a scam where fraudsters pretend to be police officers.

We received a number of reports overnight from people in the Blackpool area saying they had been called by a man purporting to be a Detective Sgt Turner or Detective Sgt Farmer from New Scotland Yard who told the member of the public there had been fraudulent activity on their bank account.

The ‘police officer’ asked the members of the public to call 161. This number was answered by a woman also claiming to be a police officer.

Fortunately, none of the members of the public gave any personal or bank account details. They have been advised to contact Action Fraud to report the scam, which follows a similar pattern to frauds elsewhere in the country.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Holmes, of Blackpool Police, said: “Luckily none of the members of the public contacted last night fell for this scam but it serves as a timely warning to others to be aware that there are people out there who will prey on others and who can come across as very professional. There are examples in other parts of the country where people have lost large amounts of money by falling foul of similar scams.”

If you think you have been a victim of fraud please contact police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

For more information, help and advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud please visit https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

Finally, please use the share icon at the bottom of this alert to share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or forward an e-mail to them. Thanks very much.