Police warning over letter scam

Jun 25 2008 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

PEOPLE in Monklands have still been receiving unsolicited mail/e-mail promising large amounts of cash simply for contacting the phone number contained within the letter that was sent to them.

The scam, in this instance, was that a supposed inheritance from a long lost relative was sitting collecting interest in a bank in the Far East or Africa and that you were the last known relative. This is just one example of this type of fraud. There are many variations.

Now most mail you receive is probably genuine, but some however, is not.

Confidence tricksters and thieves are always thinking up new ideas on how to separate you from your hard-earned cash.

So please, always be on your guard when some opportunity appears out of the blue.

Do not be tempted to contact them.

Do not supply any further unsolicited personal details.

Under no circumstances give out any credit or account numbers.

And in another scam police have been made aware of a Spanish Lottery scam whereby residents receive a letter posted from Malaga in Spain informing them that they have won many thousands of pounds in prize money.

The letter purports to come from “Loteria Primitiva”, an agent acting in partnership with the Spanish National Lottery. The letter appears on the surface to be official, however is completely bogus. The second part of the letter asks for the recipient’s bank details, personal details and details of family members. These details are then to be posted to Madrid in Spain.

PC Kirsteen Salen, community safety officer for Monklands said: “Although this particular scam letter appears genuine, it is not. The unscrupulous people behind this type of con are only after your personal and bank details in order that they can take out loans or apply for credit cards in your name. You could then be left with the resultant bills and heartache. Please do not respond to letters of this type. If you do receive one, please inform your local police office.

IN the Coatbridge and Airdrie area homes have been targeted by thieves who are simply trying doors and windows in to see if any have been left open by householders.

Please remember to close and secure your windows and doors especially when you go to work in the morning or when you retire to bed in the evening.

A lot of housebreakings are on the spur of the moment as a thief may see an opened window or other point of entry and take their chance.

Please remember even small windows need closing. A lot of break-ins can be prevented. Most as we have already said are committed by opportunist thieves and in many instances a thief does not even have to force his way in simply because a door or window has been left open.

Thieves like easy opportunities. They don’t like locked windows because breaking glass can attract attention. They don’t like security deadlocks on doors because they cannot open them even from inside and they have to get out through a window.

Protect your property by marking it with an ultraviolet pen (where appropriate) or engraving it with your postcode and house number.

Install security lighting to illuminate your garden. Passive infra red sensors can switch lights on when and if movement is detected.

Finally never leave tools or ladders lying around the garden. They may be used by a thief to break into your property.