To find out the latest news on what is being planned in your local area, check out our latest Planning Report with up-to-date information on Planning Applications including developments in:
Also, take a look at the MORA Planning App, which gives you an easy way to track all the current and recent planning applications within the MORA area. It’s simple to use and free for you to access.
Scams in all forms are becoming ever more sophisticated and devious but my very recent experience was so blatant and challenging that I feel compelled to relay it to our local residents in order to be even more on their guard, particularly as this was very much on our home ground.
A telephone call was made to us by an individual claiming to be a local police officer from Croydon Police Station saying that my husband’s and my credit/debit cards had been targeted/cloned. My husband, who took the call initially, suspected a possible scam but nevertheless checked to see if his cards were still in his possession, as the call was so convincing.
With the caller still on the line I took over and asked exactly who he was. With no hesitation he said he was DC Gilbert from Croydon Police and when I asked for his number he gave it as 7296 PP. He came over as a young man with no accent, confident and authoritative, even to the extent that he immediately corrected me when I thought he said he was a PC!
His manner was aggressive in that I was disbelieving in him as a police officer. He then said to press a number, I think no. 9, on my telephone and then to call 999. (This is an old trick whereby the call is not cut off and the scammer’s associates come into play to confirm that the nature of the call is genuine). At this juncture I confronted the caller by saying I was sure he was a scammer and replaced the ‘phone. I must stress that this was the most blatant and convincing scammer that I have come across.
I did follow up by calling the police 101 number and relayed all this to an officer there in the chance that there was an actual officer with that name and number in existence and that he may have been cloned. This was fully checked out but there was no such police officer within the Met.Police, confirming that it was indeed a scam. I must add that the 101 officer was most grateful for the information as well as being very courteous and reassuring.
These villains don’t care who they target or how it leaves their victims, either by losing often an extortionate amount of money or by being subsequently badly affected emotionally.
Please take care and, I’m afraid, be very much on your guard.
– Joan Pring
(Police Liaison)
REMEMBER:
Report fraud and cyber crime to Action Fraud
Online – actionfraud.police.uk
By phone – 0300 123 2040
Come and plant trees with us and share our tree planting day with your community!
Trees for Cities is pleased to be working with Croydon Council to plant new trees in Ashburton Playing Fields. These trees will complement the existing habitat features on site, provide additional shade and visual amenity, and enhance biodiversity.
Please join us on Saturday 30th November 2024, 10am-3pm at Ashburton Playing Fields, Croydon CR0 7RA for a free community tree planting day!
This will be a family-friendly day, as we celebrate 30 years of impact with food, activities, and entertainment, and plant thousands of urban trees for future generations to enjoy.
We would like to include as many people from the local community as possible!
Tree planting is suitable for all ages. No experience is required. Trees for Cities will provide all the tools and equipment you need as well as guidance on tree planting from our team. There will also be a free lunch and refreshments provided.
To find out more and sign up to the event, please visit: www.treesforcities.org/ashburton-playing-fields
Authorised push payment (APP) fraud happens when you are tricked by a criminal into sending money by bank payment to an account that they control and which you do not.
Rules have been set by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), the body that regulates payment systems in the UK – and apply to payments made on, or after 7 October 2024.
Every year thousands of people and businesses are victims of APP fraud. Common types of APP fraud include:
There are separate rules for reimbursing unauthorised fraud, including credit and debit card fraud, and you should seek advice in this instance.
Contact your bank or building society immediately if you spot any transactions that you do not recognise or where you believe you have been a victim of APP fraud to enquire about being reimbursed via the APP Reimbursement Rules.
For more information please use the specific link below:
Authorised Push Payment Fraud Reimbursement | UK Finance
UK Finance website: www.ukfinance.org.uk
If you have been scammed or duped into contracting with a business or a trader and parted with money, and require advice, please report to Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or go to the following website to report online:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/
