Neighbourhood Watch

Subject:- Robbery - Gangs (Romas) have appeared again at the Costa Blanca.
Occurrence:- Scout groups explore potential villas/apartments:-
  1. The villas and apartments are marked with the signs below.
    2. signs
  2. If you see any signs on your villa or garden wall try to photograph and delete them then report it to the Police, your NHW Coordinator or Ray Marsh on 966763258.
Subject:- E Mails with a Monetary Fine.
Occurrence:- Purporting to be from the Policia National:-
  1. - There are E Mails in circulation bearing the letterhead of the Policia National requesting payment for a fine for trumped up charges. The Police never send fines by E-Mail!
Subject:- Fake Iberdrola Personel.
Occurrence:- People who present themselves as Iberdrola employees:-
  1. are asking for cash payment for a Iberdrola bill they present. Iberdrola never asks for cash for their invoices!
Subject:- Another ATM Scam.
Occurrence:- While visiting an ATM for money:-
  1. ATM's - New miniaturised Video gear has been discovered at some ATM'S, attached as sort of a frame. These can record your inputs from either the left or right hand side and are able to detect your codes. Be vigilant whenever you use an ATM
Subject:- Pick Pockets in Pilar de la Horadada.
Occurrence:- After visiting an ATM for money:-
  1. We were approached by a woman in Pilar de la Horadada main street by the church square asking us to sign a petition for a building for disabled children. When I signed I thought it a bit odd that our N I E number was not needed, I know that on petition forms, this must be added. Anyway, she lent in the car to give me a kiss on the cheek and as she pulled back I realised she had taken money from my shirt pocket. I immediately grabbed her bag and the folder she was carrying and sure enough, the money fell out of the folder into our car. She ran off and although we circled the area we were unable to find her. She is of small build, between 25 - 35 years of age and is either Morrocan or South American, and her breath smells awful!! I think she waits in the main street watching for people to come from the bank, as I did and then approaches them. Beware this advice applies everywhere.
Subject:- Gypsy Signs Used by thieves.
Occurrence:- Left outside property:-
  1. Follow this link (PDF Format) for a list of some of the signs used by thieves to pass on information to one another, the list is not comprehensive, they may also leave small piles of stones on a wall or pavement near a property. Some chalk signs have been seen in Pinar de Campoverde recently so please be aware and if you do see anything that may be a sign rub it out or remove the stones and please let the Neighbourhood Watch know the location. Please pass on to neighbours and friends.
Subject:- Bank ATM (Hole in the Wall)Frauds.
Occurrence:- When visiting an ATM for money:-
  1. As well as looking around you for people loitering in the vicinity, inspect the machine before use. Look above the machine for a hidden miniature cameras, inspect the key board and see if it is set flush at the front of the machine and look at the trap door for dispensing the cash. If something looks not to be correct, do not use but inform the bank staff if the bank is open or if closed, call the Police.
  2. Never allow anyone you do not know to help you at the machine or distract you whilst using a machine. It has been known for a victim to fall for the dropped €10 note scam and whilst the card is left in the machine, it is removed and scanned without the victim knowing.
  3. If the cash does not appear, call the Police immediately.
  4. At night, it is better to use a machine in a bank foyer where the outside door can be closed from within.
  5. If you suspect a person or the machine seems to be altered please look around for a vehicle and obtain the number if possible but do not make what you are doing obvious or put yourself in danger pass this to the police direct whilst the vehicle remains in the vicinity, usually with a driver in the vehicle or later via your local Neighbourhood Watch.
Subject:- FOREIGN REGISTERED VEHICLES.
Occurrence:- The Chief of the Guardia Civil has announced a crackdown on foreign registered vehicles, the crackdown which was started late last year on the Costa del Sol is to be extended nationwide with the Guardia working in conjunction with the State Tax Authority. The Chief stated that, "For far too long these drivers have not paid parking or speeding fines, do not pay vehicle road tax and are often uninsured and not ITV tested, this is wrong and must be corrected". This is in response to an EU ruling that states that people are obliged to comply with the tax regulations of the country in which the vehicle is driven. Drivers stopped will be given a period in which to register their vehicle, failure to do so will result in the vehicle being seized and handed to the Tax Authority for disposal and the owner fined €450. In 3 months in the Malaga area 200 drivers have been ordered to register their vehicles, of these over half were British and the remainder German and French nationals.
Subject:- The Credit Card Scam.
Occurrence:- This is an old one where a person rings up saying that they are from your credit card fraud section. They suggest that a fraud has been committed using your card then proceed to give you all the details on your card, (this is easily obtained from somewhere you have used your card), this lulls you into a false sense of security as they have not asked you for any information. Finally to prove that you still have the card they ask you to quote the three numbers on the back of the card. After promising that you will get a rebate on your next statement they say goodbye and proceed to use your card using the security numbers you have just given them.
Subject:- The Computer Scam.
Occurrence:- This is a fairly new scam but we have had many reports from the public and even coordinators in Campoverde have been targeted. You receive a telephone call from someone pretending they are from Microsoft and telling you that your computer has been infected by a virus and it is causing damage to computers on your email address list. They then say that this can be fixed for a certain cash payment, there are several variations on this scam but they are all basically the same. Advice. The advice is the same for ALL telephone and email scams, NEVER EVER give any personal, bank or credit card details to anyone who cold calls by telephone or email, and NEVER pay for anything you have not personally ordered.
Subject:- Spanish Tax Office Refund Scam
Occurrence:- As shown in a article in the Costa Blanca News we had already been informed of persons in our area receiving e-mails in Spanish on official headed "Agencia Tributacia" correspondence informing them that they are due to a refund from the Spanish Tax Office. The e-mail had an attachment on which personal and bank details are requested. ON NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU EVER PART WITH THIS INFORMATION TO THIS OR ANY OTHER REQUEST RECEIVED UNLESS YOU HAVE SOLICITED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.