Action Fraud is warning people selling items online to be on the lookout for criminals sending fake PayPal emails.

• Between January 2020 and September 2020, 21,349 crime reports were made to Action Fraud about fake PayPal emails.
• Victims reported losing a total of £7,891,077.44 during this time.
• Those targeted included people selling jewellery, furniture and electronics via online marketplaces.
• Reports of fake PayPal emails to Action Fraud made up a third of all reports of online shopping and auction fraud during this period.

How does it happen?

Criminals have been targeting people selling items online, by sending them emails purporting to be from PayPal. The emails trick victims into believing they have received payment for the items they're selling on the platform.

Typically, after receiving these emails, victims will ship the item to the criminal. This leaves them at a further disadvantage having not received any payment for the item and also no longer being in possession of it.

How can you protect yourself?

• Sellers beware: If you're selling items on an online marketplace, be aware of the warning signs that your buyer is a scammer. Scammers may have negative feedback history, or may have recently set up a new account to avoid getting poor feedback. Don't be persuaded into sending anything until you can verify you've received the payment.

• Scam messages: Don't click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial details.

• How to spot the difference: A PayPal email will address you by your first and last name, or your business name, and will never ask you for your full password, bank account, or credit card details in a message.

If you think you've been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

There have been 6 separate cases of the theft of farm gates, (2x12' galvanised steel), in South (5) and North Rutland (1) in the last 10 days. There is every reason to think they will continue.
Can you help the Oakham Police and local farmers by being alert and spreading this message to neighbours and friends living and working in Rutland.
They appear to occur midweek during darkness on small country lanes. It is likely at least 2 men and a small lorry or open backed truck will be required.
If you see anyone apparently working on farm gates do not approach but if possible note the index number and report to Police on 101 for info of PC 2113 Icke. If you believe crime in progress diall 999.

Message Sent By
Ruthven Horne (NWN, Chairman Rutland Neighbourhood Watch Association, Rutland)

Communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being asked to pledge to help end hate crime by sending messages of support during a national awareness week.

During Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW), which started Saturday 10 October, Leicestershire Police is asking for people to send in personal pledges on what they will do to help eradicate hate crime of any sort.

Anyone can make a pledge by downloading a virtual pledge board, available from the force website. People can then write or type their messages of support and take a photo or selfie of them which will then be used to form a montage representing the level of support for NHCAW within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The force is asking for people to share these on social media using @LPStaySafe and also send them on email to NHCAWLeics@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk. There are some quote examples within the "how to" guide on our website.

As well as seeking pledges, there will be a Facebook video on Wednesday 14 October. It will be available to watch on the force Facebook page.

This is an opportunity for the public to hear from the force's Hate Crime Officer and Chief Constable on the issue.

Isla Dixon, Hate Crime Officer said: "I am really looking forward to recording a video for Facebook. We usually plan so many engagement events during National Hate Crime Awareness Week (NHCAW) however even with the COVID restrictions this still gives us an opportunity to connect with our communities.

"NHCAW is an opportunity to continue to raise awareness around the subject of hate crime and for us to highlight the work we do throughout the year to make our communities safer places for all.

"We do this alongside several partner agencies in developing strong relationships that will empower our communities to work with us in eradicating hate crime."

Assistant Chief Constable Julia Debenham said "Hate crime is not tolerated in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and we are committed to tackling it.

"Being targeted for who you are is totally unacceptable and we would urge anyone affected by hate or discrimination, or anyone who witnesses this unacceptable behaviour taking place, to report incidents to us so that together we can Stamp It Out.

"NHCAW enables us to highlight the work we already do within our diverse communities and to put a spotlight onto hate crime in order to provide greater awareness and to provide confidence to our communities to report incidents to us."

Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Lord Willy Bach, also supports NHCAW and added: "Hatred in any form is destructive. It divides, isolates and damages our communities and the people who live in them. It's something that I know we will continue to tackle robustly.

"Every hate incident is one too many and I applaud those brave enough to come forward to seek support and help prevent other people from being victimised. The more we can do to build trust in the way hate crime is handled, the more we can stop vulnerable people suffering the injustice of separation and exclusion.

"It is the diversity of culture and tradition within our county and city that makes it so special and home to a multitude of faiths, customs and traditions. We must all lead by example."

Hate incidents or hate crimes can be reported to Leicestershire Police on 101 or in an emergency please call 999. You can also report to your local council or anonymously via the Stamp it Out website: www.stamp-it-out.co.uk

You can follow the events of National Hate Crime Awareness week on Twitter using hashtag #NationalHCAW or follow @LPStaySafe.

Message Sent By
Corporate Communications (Communications, Public Engagement, Force HQ)

As the evenings start to draw in, officers are reminding people to ensure their homes look occupied during the darker nights.

The force traditionally sees a seasonal rise in burglaries around the time the clocks go back, with offences often rising through December and January.

The winter months can make it easier for burglars to go unnoticed and also makes unoccupied homes easier to spot. The force is encouraging residents to review their home security and take a few simple and inexpensive precautions to protect their homes.

One of the easiest things you can do is to leave a light on when you go out, you can use an automatic light timer to switch lamps on in your home when you go out for the evening or when you go away to give the appearance you are home.

There are lots of other things you can do to make your home more secure including:

• Keep doors and windows locked at all times and remove keys from the lock
• Keep valuables, bags, cash and keys out of sight and keep them in a safe place
• Don't keep large quantities of cash and jewellery in your home
• Avoid leaving packaging from expensive items outside your house – take it to be recycled or put it in the bin
• If you have a house alarm make sure you remember to set it before leaving the house
• Check your outdoor security lighting is in full working order
• Prevent easy access to the back and sides of your home with locked gates and fencing
• If you're going away, don't advertise this on social media
• Ask a neighbour or relative to collect post and open and close curtains while you're away

For more information on how to protect your home, please visit https://www.leics.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/

If you do spot anyone acting suspiciously, report this to us online via https://www.leics.police.uk/report-online or by calling 101.

Always call 999 if you witness a crime in progress.

Message Sent By
Corporate Communications (Communications, Public Engagement, Force HQ)

Fraudsters are targeting job-seekers with a recruitment scam that has already claimed 35 victims with losses totalling over £51,000. All of the victims have so far been from London.
The fraudsters use recruitment websites and apps to identify potential targets. The victim is then cold-called by someone claiming to be an employee of a mobile phone network. The caller explains to the victim that they will need to take part in a "mystery shopper" test in order to pass the recruitment process.
The victim is instructed to visit one of the mobile network's high street stores and take out a phone contract using the victim's own personal and financial details. They are assured that the contract will be cancelled after the recruitment process is completed.
Once the victim has successfully taken out the contract, they are directed to drop-off points to deliver the phone and SIM card to a 'colleague' of the caller. The victim is reassured that the contract will be terminated.
In reality, the victims will never hear from the suspects again, and are left liable for the mobile phone contract they were convinced to purchase. Some victims are also asked to move the "employer's" money through their own bank accounts, putting them at risk of committing money laundering offences. Others find out that their personal details have been used to take out loans, for which they are also now liable.

What you need to do

1. Personal information such as your full address, DOB, or NI Number should not be included on your CV or public profiles on a recruitment sites.

2.To protect yourself against identity theft, always verify that the employer/recruiter you're speaking with is who they say they are. Contact the employer via a telephone number or email address on their official website, or via the company's verified social media accounts.

3. Never allow an employer to move their money through your personal bank account. Legitimate employers won't ask you to do this.

For more information about how to protect yourself online, visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk and takefive-stopfraud.org.uk

If you have been a victim of fraud or cyber crime, report it to Actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040

Please do not report crime or Incidents via 'Neighbourhood Link' as the messages are not always monitored.

Rebecca Spilane
Fraud Vulnerability Officer
Leicestershire Police

Message Sent By
Rebecca Spilane (Leicestershire Police, Economic Crime Unit,Fraud Vulnerability Officer,Leicestershire)