Month: January 2015

An important message sent by Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime 
A lottery scam takes place when criminals pretend that you have won a prize, often a lottery. The people most likely to fall victim to this tend to be over the age of 60 (although younger people do fall victim too) – but we know that it is often close family members of victims who spot the tell-tale signs of the fraud.

Criminals will normally get in touch by letter or email and will try to engage you into dialogue with them. Once they have convinced you that they are “genuine”, they will ask for a fee to be paid to release your winnings. This fee could be to pay taxes or duty, or for a solicitor, banker or judge to authorise the transaction. NO GENUINE LOTTERY WILL EVER ASK FOR ANY SORT OF FEE TO BE PAID.

Often this first fee will be small, but once they know you are willing to pay it they will ask for more and more money, with ever-changing excuses as to why they need it. Victims can end up losing tens of thousands of pounds over the course of months or even years.

Many of you reading will be surprised that this type of crime takes place. After all, why would anyone fall prey to scam like this when they never entered any such lottery in the first place? Why would they have to pay money when they are supposed to have won millions of pounds? The sad truth is that these criminals are incredibly persuasive and prey on people who are very trusting. Therefore, even if you know that you would not get defrauded like this, please spread this message widely to friends, family and to people within your community.

Prevention:

• If you have not entered a lottery or a prize draw, you have not won it.
• Delete any emails which detail you winning money or being in a position to make a fortune
• Spread the message amongst people you come into contact with, especially older people in your family, and look out for any unusual behaviour, for instance someone paying money via money service bureaux, like Western Union or MoneyGram, or buying Ukash vouchers.

[Victims of crime sought for Independent Justice Panel]

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner and Jonathan Mortimer, the independent Chairman of the Out of Court Disposal Scrutiny Panel, are today asking for victims of crime to come forward to help scrutinise the use of police cautions and other non-court penalties.

The Panel was set up last year in response to public concern about the use of Out of Court Disposals in North Yorkshire. The Panel has identified that its objectives are to ensure that such penalties are used appropriately, consistently across the county and to make recommendations to North Yorkshire Police.

The Panel already has an independent chairman, as well as representatives from various criminal justice partners such as Magistrates, but members of the public are now being encouraged to sit on the Panel.

Jonathan Mortimer, independent Chairman of the Out of Court Disposal Panel said: “Victim representation is vital since we must engender victim trust and satisfaction in the varying methods of criminal justice disposal and give victims a voice”.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said: “I want victims’ needs to be at the heard of everything we do. Having members of the public and victims of crime on the Panel will also increase transparency and understanding. I would ask members of the public who are interested in holding the police to account and have the relevant experience, to send us an email and apply.”

If you would like to put your name forward please email [email protected] with your experience and why you think you are the right person to sit on the Panel. You will need to have experience of being the victim of crime where an Out of Court Disposal has been used or considered. Further, to have an interest in the criminal justice system and an understanding of the effect of crime on victims would be an advantage. The post will be voluntary but all expenses will be reimbursed.

You can also put your name forward:

Online at:

Write to:

Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

12 Granby Road

Harrogate

North Yorkshire

HG1 4ST

Telephone: 01423 569 562