Spanish Lottery - Scam Letter

It seems some people in the area are recieving letters from the Spanish Lottery claiming they have won millions of euros and all they need to do is provide thier bank details etc.

BE AWARE. Dont provide these details to anyone, destroy the letters etc. and advise your familiy members of this current scam doing the rounds.

If you receive a letter claiming you have won the Australian lottery, beware before replying: it’s probably a scam.

A number of people have received such letters and emails but the Royal Gibraltar Police believe it is a fraud.

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Security experts last week also warned that millions were at risk from chip and Pin fraudsters because of the technology used by many banks on credit and debit card transactions, known as static data authentication (SDA).

About a fifth of the 6.2bn credit and debit card transactions carried out in the UK every year are done 'offline', which means that the chip and Pin terminal does not connect to the cardholder's bank.

But offline terminals cannot detect cloned SDA cards. Owen Roberts of CPP, which provides insurance against identity theft, says: 'One problem is that as soon as technology is put in place, fraudsters find a way to get around it.

'Now that we are four months down the line, it is time there was a review of chip and Pin.

On Friday, a spokesman for Apacs said: 'We are happy with chip and Pin, which has been a success and has cut fraud.'

• CARD users can do their bit to fight mounting card fraud. Graham Mott, head of development at Link, which oversees 58,000 cash machines in Britain, says consumers can protect themselves by looking out for anything suspicious when using an ATM. 'We advise everyone to hold a hand over the keypad so no one else can see the numbers being punched in at a cash machine or a Pin terminal in a shop,' he says.

'Cloning devices are more commonly attached to cash machines than in retail outlets, partly because they are unmanned. Be aware of anything different on machines. For example, if a device is attached, the ATM may work slowly.'

Consumers should also check their bank statements regularly. Criminals often steal small amounts initially to avoid detection, before taking larger sums.

Link monitors transactions and has automatic triggers set up to identify those that seem suspicious. For example, if several high-value transactions take place in quick succession, it may contact the bank to highlight a potential problem.

I am sending you this message to inform you that there was another incident
in Severn Beach.

Shaft Road - Entry gained to unlocked garden shed, A motorcycle and a mini
moto were stolen.

Please can all members ensure there sheds and garages are secure and that
valuables kept in them are property marked.

message about the national knife amnesty running from 24th May to 30th June. There are special bins in 37 police reception areas in Avon and Somerset.

ACC Mortimore said: "This is a chance for people to dispose of knives and other weapons to make our streets safer. Ensure that the knife is safe to carry by either wrapping it in cardboard and securing it with tape or if the knife has a sheath, use it.

People surrendering knives should not make unnecessary detours, for example they should not go to the shops first. They should go straight to the police station, not leaving the item unattended in a vehicle and for safety, keep it out of sight, preferably in the boot.

There is no need to surrender the knife to a member of staff at a police station. The red disposal bins are obviously placed and specially designed to enable safe deposit of knives and other bladed items".

Key messages about the national amnesty are:

· Carrying a knife is illegal and won't be tolerated. It can land you with up to four years in prison.
· If you carry a knife out of self-defence, you run the risk of having it turned on you.
· Every weapon handed in during the amnesty will be a weapon that cannot be used in crime
· However, if you bin your knife at a police station during the amnesty, you will not be prosecuted.
· Police enforcement operations will continue as normal during the amnesty.
· The national amnesty is a tactic the Government and police use to prevent knife crime and make our communities safer

In 2005/06 there were 2,500 incidents in the Avon and Somerset force area in which knives were mentioned. ACC Mortimore said: "This number is too high, and initiatives such as this 5 week amnesty can help make our streets safer."

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