One of the world’s largest web forums devoted to the trade in stolen credit card data has been disabled by an international law enforcement operation led by the Vietnamese High-Tech Crime Unit (HTCU) and the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam (MPSVN), SOCA, the Metropolitan Police Central e-Crime Unit and the FBI. Simultaneously, CID and HTCU officers in Vietnam arrested eight members of the organised crime group behind the website, and three further arrests of significant forum users were made in the UK by the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU), SOCA and PCeU. The website, which used the name “mattfeuter” had facilitated more than $200m-worth of card fraud worldwide through ‘hacking’ of commercial entities to harvest and then sell data relating to 1.1 million credit cards. The site had approximately 16,000 members, who could gain access via a secure login and specify the quantity and type of credit card data they wanted, with discounts offered for bulk purchases. The site also had a facility for users to check that the card information they were buying was usable. Officers arrested three men in London - a 37 year old from West Ham, a 34 year old from Thornton Heath and a 44 year old from Manor Park. In the US, charges have been brought by the US Department of Justice against Duy Hai Truong, aged 23, of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, one of the suspected ring leaders arrested in Vietnam. The operation remains ongoing; SOCA and PCeU are undertaking activity targeting the wider membership of mattfeuter.ru, while a number of other websites offering stolen card details have also been taken down. Intelligence on those involved in online criminal forums continues to be shared with international law enforcement partners, and further arrests are anticipated.
The successful targeting of the ringleaders was enabled by legislation introduced in 2009 by the Vietnamese government, which made it a criminal offence to fraudulently-obtain card data from overseas targets as well as those within Vietnam.The PCeU and SOCA Cyber are conducting joint operations in anticipation of the establishment of the National Cyber Crime Unit, part of the new National Crime Agency, which will be created by the end of 2013. SOCA’s Andy Archibald, interim Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “One of the world’s major facilitation networks for online card fraud has been dismantled by this operation, and those engaged in this type of crime should know that that they are neither anonymous, nor beyond the reach of law enforcement agencies. We and our partners, in the UK and abroad, continue to protect the public and legitimate businesses by targeting websites trading in stolen card data, and relentlessly pursuing those who operate and frequent them.” The investigation is also being supported by Europol and private sector partners including Visa and MasterCard. For advice on safeguarding your personal and financial information, visit www.getsafeonline.org/cardfraud
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Eleven arrests as global investigation dismantles criminal web forum
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Nine year jail term for man who supplied powdered anaesthetic commonly used to bulk up cocaine
A man who imported seven tonnes of powdered Benzocaine and other anaesthetics that were destined to be used to ‘cut’ and bulk up cocaine has been jailed for nine years.
Tarak Ahmed, 32, from Cephas Avenue, East London, denied a charge of supplying powdered substances that would assist the supply of Class A controlled drugs, but was found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey on Thursday (6th June).
Officers involved in the case believe that if all the cutting agent had been used it would have helped produce cocaine with an estimated street value of £300 million.
City of London Police was alerted to Ahmed’s involvement with supplying substances for use in controlled drugs by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which has a national remit to disrupt the supply of cutting agent chemicals.
The force began an investigation to establish Ahmed’s involvement and the scale of the offence.
Officers discovered that between December 2010 and February 2012, Ahmed imported and supplied various powdered substances, including Benzocaine and other anaesthetics. These powders were imported from China and India and distributed to fulfil orders all over the world through a website that Ahmed operated.
Benzocaine is most commonly used as a cutting agent in the production of cocaine.
Officers caught Ahmed receiving delivery of one tonne of Benzocaine to his storage unit in Dagenham on 15th February 2012. He was arrested and subsequently charged on 5th October 2012.
During the case, prosecuting barrister Neil Moore told the jury that the amount of pharmaceuticals imported by Ahmed, if mixed with cocaine, would create drugs with an estimated value of £300 million.
In passing sentence, Recorder Lodder stated that Ahmed’s actions had caused untold misery and that he was assisting with the distribution of drugs on an enormous scale in what he described as an ‘evil trade’.
Investigating officer DC Deborah O'Loughlin-Whitby said: “The sentence reflects the serious crime that Ahmed committed and is indicative of the impact and potential repercussions that could follow the production and distribution of Class A drugs. This investigation has served to disrupt the drugs supply chain.”
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G8 protests
It is likely that there will be a number of protests in and around the City between the 8th and the 14th of June in relation to the G8 summit.
The City of London Police, Metropolitan Police Service and British Transport Police are fully aware of the potential impact on the local business community and have an appropriate and proportionate policing plan in place. We are working to ensure that the protest is peaceful and that any disruption is kept to a minimum.We have given advice to businesses and will continue to liaise with them as required. Inside office hours anyone with concerns should contact the force on 020 7601 2452 or at community@cityoflondon.police.uk. Outside of office hours dial 020 7601 2222.
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Warm welcome for NFIB’s visits to City serviced offices
Last week police officers from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau Disruptions Team visited five City based serviced offices with Trading Standards, to offer practical advice to Mail Forwarders or Serviced Office providers within the City who have fallen prey to unscrupulous criminals abusing their services to sell non-regulated investments or offer commodity investment packages with a view to defrauding members of the public.
Detective sergeant Carl Dempsey from the Intervention and Prevention Team said “We visited five addresses as they had been identified as having their services used previously by fraudsters. A letter was handed to staff at the offices which in turn provided some really good feedback and intelligence and shows their eagerness to work with us. This clearly demonstrates the NFIB’s exceptional partnership working.
“We are also in the process of producing an additional leaflet which will contain helpful contact details for serviced office staff and help them to share intelligence and information in quick time with law enforcement, ensuring action can be taken to disrupt criminal networks before they take hold.”
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New international taskforce combats foreign bribery
Specialist investigators from across the globe have joined forces to create an International Foreign Bribery Taskforce (IFBT) as part of a new trans-border agreement to combat foreign bribery.
Subject matter experts from the Australian Federal Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and City of London Police’s Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit will work closely together as part of the new taskforce.
Officially established in May 2013 when all agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding, the taskforce enables like-minded countries to work collaboratively to strengthen investigations into foreign bribery crimes, and support the OECD and UN anti-bribery conventions.
The taskforce will enhance law enforcement’s response to foreign bribery on an international scale by providing a platform for police experts from Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to share knowledge, skills, methodologies and case studies.
The taskforce will meet annually to discuss trends and challenges in relation to foreign bribery of public officials, and will also provide an opportunity for taskforce members to share investigative methodologies and good practice.
Commander Steve Head, from the City of London Police, said:
“Much of today’s bribery and corruption transcends national borders and runs through multiple police jurisdictions.
“The International Foreign Bribery Taskforce is an acknowledgement of this new reality and will ensure that law enforcement in North America, Australia and the UK are in a much better position to investigate and bring to justice the people responsible for crimes which are causing serious economic, social and personal harm in countries located thousands of miles apart.”
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Can you identify this man?
On Tuesday 28th May, a man is seen on CCTV walking up Ludgate Hill from Pilgrim Street before heading back towards Blackfriars Lane. He then approaches a restaurant at about 02:00 hours and tries to gain entry through one of the entrance doors.When this doesn’t work, the man forces open a fire exit door. He is seen on the CCTV footage looking around the restaurant before leaving. He returns about 40 minutes later and again enters the restaurant through the fire exit. He then proceeds to steal the cash draw of the till containing about £200. The man leaves and walks off towards Queen Victoria Street. He is described as being about 40 years old, approximately 5’8” tall with a medium to heavy build. He was dressed in a beige sweatshirt and light coloured trousers. DC Matthew Schneider from CoLP Burglary Squad, said: “I am very keen to identify this individual as soon as possible. We have had a couple of burglaries in the area over the last few weeks and believe he could be responsible for them. If anyone has any information, no matter how small, please contact us on 020 7601 2121 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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Witnesses needed following serious collision
At approximately 13:40 hours on Tuesday 11th June, there was a crash at the junction of Princes Street and Moorgate, EC2.
The collision, which involved a lorry and a motorcyclist resulted in the motorcyclist being taken to hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.
Collision investigators would like anyone who witnessed the crash to get in touch by calling 0207 601 2222.
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Fraudsters sentenced after manipulating insurers’ websites to secure £187k of policies for £30
Two friends who manipulated insurers’ websites to secure £187,000 worth of car insurance for just £30 have been sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court.James Edwards and Daniel Wilson obtained policies for 13 cars in eight months (June 2011 to February 2012), including one for a high performance car that should have cost £68,000.
The pair went online and signed-up for seven policies from insurethebox and six from a second insurer, but when it came to paying they managed to corrupt the systems so they only had to handover a tiny fee.
The case came to court after Wilson was stopped in a car by Merseyside Police in September 2011 and produced an insurethebox insurance certificate that the insurer had voided days earlier and reported to the force. Merseyside Police subsequently instigated an investigation that included a further six fraudulent insurethebox policies. The seven policies were worth more than £157,000 but the insurer had received just £15.50. Each policy referred to James Edwards or his personal details.In January 2012 the second insurer referred six policies to the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED). The policies were worth more than £30,000 but the insurer had received only £15. Again, the policies featured James Edwards or his personal details.Soon after IFED detectives arrested Edwards at his house on Bowlands Drive in Bootle. A search of the 20-year-old’s bedroom revealed a key fob and care booklet from the second insurer in his bed and correspondence from insurethebox including two policy cancellation letters.IFED then took on Merseyside Police’s investigation into Wilson. The 20-year-old was arrested in April 2012 and both men were charged with two counts of conspiracy to defraud.Edwards later admitted to the two counts while the prosecution accepted Wilson’s plea to an offence of possession of a false document.At Liverpool Crown Court today (Friday 14 June 2013) a Judge gave Edwards a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years and a two year supervision order. Wilson, of Moor Lane in Crosby, was ordered to undertake 50 hours unpaid work. He was also given a 12 month supervision order and a 12 month community service order.Det Sgt Tom Finnegan, who led IFED’s investigation, said: “Edwards and Wilson manipulated the insurers’ websites to secure car insurance policies worth tens of thousands for only a few pounds. “They obtained these policies in a bid to convince police and highways authorities that they were legally insured drivers so they could move around the country undetected.“Thanks to excellent work by Merseyside Police, a thorough investigation by IFED and prompt detection by the two insurers, these fraudsters have been exposed and made to pay for their crimes.”Andy Loftus, Motor Underwriting Manager at insurethebox, said: “This case highlights the benefits of insurers, using a combination of sophisticated monitoring tools and skilled analysts, working with the police to quickly identify and stamp out fraudulent activity. We are sending a clear message to potential fraudsters that insurethebox, other insurers and the authorities will not let them get away with this type of behaviour”.
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Insurance claims handler used Scottish flooding as a front for fraud
An insurance claims handler who conned almost £7,000 from her employer to fund shopping trips has been sentenced.
Kelly Mawson’s employer granted her temporary permission to authorise claims up to £1,000 after serious flooding in Scotland in October and November 2012 resulted in the insurer receiving a heightened number of household claims.
But instead of authorising authentic claims, the 29-year-old created 11 false household insurance claims using the personal details of previous genuine claimants and authorised fraudulent payments into her own bank account.
Mawson then spent the money on shopping trips and rented a house for herself and her partner.
Her fraud was revealed in December 2012 when her employer was contacted by concerned householders saying they had been sent a letter stating their insurance claim had been authorised, when they had not in fact made a claim.
The insurer referred the case to the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) and detectives arrested Mawson at her house in Christie Avenue, Morecambe, Lancashire, in March 2013.
At Leyland Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 13 June 2013 Mawson pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud by false representation.
Mawson was given an 18 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 250 hours unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay her previous employer £600 compensation.
DC Mick Jones, who led IFED’s investigation, said: “Mawson abused the trust placed in her by her employer when she saw an opportunity to take advantage of a heightened number of household claims being made.
“Diligent members of the public exposed her fraud which quickly resulted in action by IFED.
“Her actions have left her with a criminal record and cost Mawson her job at the insurance company.”
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Man wanted in connection with assault
On Friday 15th March, a group of friends were enjoying an evening in the City at Abacus bar. At about midnight one of the group accidentally bumped into a man on the dance floor. The man instantly became aggressive towards the group and head butts the victim. The victim’s friends immediately came to his aid and tried to protect him from the suspect. A second man, who was with the suspect, hit the victim with a glass bottle on the back of his head causing a serious cut. Whilst this was taking place the second suspect began to punch one of the victim’s friends repeatedly.Security staff at the venue intervened and broke up the fight managing to detain one of the suspects. The second suspect, who had used the bottle, disappeared in to the crowd and got away.Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment, one sustained a serious cut to his head and injuries to his mouth, the second suffered bruising.The outstanding suspect is described as a white man about 5’8” tall with dark hair, which was slicked back behind his ears. He was wearing a white shirt tucked into trousers.Police would like anyone who was in the bar that evening and may be able to help with the investigation to contact them on 020 7601 2121 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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TV appeal to find Alexander Dooley
BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow programme this morning (17 June 2013) features an appeal to find 29-year-old Alexander James Edward Dooley from the Ashton Under Lyne area of Manchester.
Detective’s from the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department want to speak to Dooley about hundreds of worthless car insurance policies sold to young driver in Manchester.
Dooley failed to appear at the Old Bailey in April 2013 to answer charges of conspiracy to defraud and possession of identity documents with intent.
Police believe Dooley may have left the country.
Anyone with information on Dooley’s whereabouts should call the City of London Police on 020 7601 2222, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Trader charged in LIBOR investigation
Tom Hayes, a former trader at UBS and Citigroup, has today been charged with offences of conspiracy to defraud in connection with the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into the manipulation of LIBOR. Tom Alexander William Hayes, 33, of Surrey was one of the three individuals arrested on 11 December 2012 by officers from the SFO and City of London Police. He attended Bishopsgate police station this morning where he was charged by City of London Police with eight counts of conspiracy to defraud and was released on bail. He is due to appear before City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday June 20. The SFO’s investigation into the manipulation of LIBOR continues.
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Bank employee who spent customers’ inheritance on gambling jailed
A bank advisor who groomed two customers so he could help himself to £110,000 of their money, which he spent on gambling and shopping, has been jailed three and a half years in prison at the Old Bailey today (20 June).
The sentence came after an investigation by the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU), which consists of officer from both the City of London Police and Metropolitan Police.
Hissan Dar, from Middlesex, cultivated a personal relationship with the 58-year-old man and his 60-year-old wife after discovering they had received a large inheritance, in March 2011. The couple, who have learning difficulties, were customers at the bank in Richmond where Dar worked.
Dar, who is 26, preyed on the couple’s fears of fraud and overspending to convince them to give him their debit cards. He told them he would protect the cards and manage their withdrawals. In fact, he used the cards to fund shopping sprees and spent in excess of £75,000 on gambling, betting up to £500 a day at a local bookmaker’s.
Sometimes he directed the victims to withdraw money and bring it to him. He also took out six personal loans to the tune of £29,000 in the victims’ names, without their permission, and attempted to take out a further two loans totalling £45,000.
Dar’s criminality was uncovered when he went on holiday in June 2012. On 29 June, the couple visited the bank and told staff that Dar had given them £200 to spend while he was away but that they wanted more. Staff told the bank’s fraud investigation team and the matter was reported to the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU) who worked closely with Richmond Social Services, who oversaw the victims’ care.
During their investigation, the DCPCU obtained CCTV showing Dar using their debit cards at shops and a betting store. Officers arrested him on 9 July 2012 and he pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey on 15 May 2013. Investigating officer DC Martin Godsave, of the DCPCU, said:
“Dar held a position of great trust but coldly used this to identify two vulnerable customers and callously exploit their trusting nature in order to get their money.
“He made numerous calls to them from his mobile and to their home, even outside of branch opening hours. The couple quickly came to feel Dar was like a son, even bringing him back gifts when they went on holiday. They trusted him and he took control of their accounts, frivolously spending their money on gambling without a thought for them. It’s shocking that he believed he could get away with it.
“Dar’s deception has had a massive impact on the victims, not least on their ability to trust others. I hope his conviction will go some way to helping them move on.”
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Counterfeit coin racket foiled by detectives
Two men were jailed Thursday 20th June at the Old Bailey to a total of 21 months for their part in a counterfeiting conspiracy to produce thousands of fake £2 and £1 coins. A third man was given a suspended sentence.Anthony Dunn, 53, Tony Rees, 50, and Mark French, 46, had pretended they were running a recovery vehicle business.They rented a room inside an office block in East London and used it to set up a makeshift factory to smelt metal ingots and mould the coins.The three men used a nearby derelict vacant warehouse unit in Hoy Street, Canning Town to spray paint the coins in a gold colour before hand-finishing the counterfeits at home.The trio had enough metal to produce 57,000 counterfeit £2 coins. But they had only produced around 1,000 finished fakes when City of London Police detectives with specialist knowledge of counterfeiting, acting on intelligence, along with officers from the National Counterfeit Currency Unit (UKNCO) at the Serious Organised Crime Agency raided their illicit set-up in May 2012.Det Insp Doug Blackwood said: ‘Dunn, Rees and French had their criminal counterfeiting conspiracy all set up and were fast on their way to establishing small-scale commercial fake coin production.‘But they were rather surprised when police officers found all three of them together in the derelict warehouse where the spray painting took place.’Det Insp Doug Blackwood added: ‘There is no doubt that they could have set up a steady production of fake coins had they not been caught. There were around five to eight thousand in various stages of production when officers executed a warrant at the premises.‘It was quite a labour intensive process. Each moulded coin had to have a penny placed in the centre before it was sprayed gold and then each was finished by hand to make them appear more genuine.’Anthony Dunn, from East Ferry Road, east London was jailed for nine months.Tony Rees, from Derby Avenue, Upminster, Essex was jailed for 12 months.Mark French, from East India Dock Road, east London was given a nine month custodial sentence suspended for two years.All three had admitted a charge of conspiracy to counterfeit coins, intending they would be passed as genuine.The prosecution was successful in applying for a Serious Crime Prevention Order that places stringent restrictions on the three men for five years following their release from jail. This includes monitoring individuals’ possession of cash, mobile phones, access to premises and ownership and use of vehicles. It also prevents them from associating with one another upon their release.The City of London Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Dyson is the ACPO lead on issues relating to counterfeit currency. Assistant Commissioner Dyson said: ‘Counterfeiting currency, whether coins or notes, is not a crime without victims – fake currency is damaging to the British economy. ‘The police work closely with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which coordinates enforcement activity nationally against those involved in producing or distributing counterfeit currency.‘Royal Mint figures suggest that around one in 35 of pound coins in circulation are counterfeit and it is estimated that more than £40 million of fake coins are in circulation. However, counterfeit £2 coins are rarer because they are more difficult to produce.’Anyone concerned about counterfeit coins can find out more information, including what signs to look for when examining coins, on the Royal Mint website.Anyone with information about persons involved in the making of counterfeit currency, banknotes or coins, should contact their local police force or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Seriously injured cyclist warns others to STOP, THINK and DON’T run a red light
Craig Dortkamp, an experienced cyclist, had never encountered any problems with other road users or suffered any accidents. But that all changed when Craig cycled through a red light in the City in May – suffering serious injuries as a result.Reflecting on his experience, Craig said: “It’s so easy not to consider the consequences, but I don’t think I will ever go through a red light again.”Watch Craig tell you his story. On Friday 17th May, Craig was cycling to work during rush hour traffic at about 8am. As Craig approached the junction of Holborn Circus the traffic lights were showing red indicating for him to stop. Craig failed to stop at the red light and as a result found himself in the middle of a busy junction with cars travelling in all different directions. As he struggled to get out of the way of oncoming traffic he cycled into a taxi. Craig, who was not wearing a helmet, crashed into the rear side of the taxi and his head went through the side window smashing the glass completely. Craig sustained a serious cut to his head which went down to the bone. He required surgery and over 200 stitches. He also suffered smaller cuts to his face, two black eyes and bruising to his neck. On this occasion Craig was very lucky he did not sustain more severe injuries. He hopes that by publicising his experience it will encourage other cyclists to stop, think and not to go through red traffic lights.Craig offered advice to other cyclists: “Be sensible, don’t take unnecessary risks, don’t run through a red light – you don’t know what is around the corner.“I hope I don’t see any other cyclists running through a red light. If you don’t take that risk your chances of being hit by a vehicle are much slimmer and you probably won’t end up with scars on your face for the rest of your life like me.” Going through a red traffic light is a Road Traffic Act offence that applies to all road users, including cyclists. However many cyclists continue to ride through them. Ignoring these signals can be hazardous for other road users and pedestrians and equally puts you as the cycle rider at risk. Between April 2012 and March 2013 145 cyclists were injured in the City, 21 seriously. If a cyclist is caught going through a red light they will be issued a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) which carries a £30 fine. Last year over 3,000 fines were given to cyclists for traffic offences in the Square Mile. Of these, nine out of 10 were issued to cyclists who went through a red light.Craig hopes his experience will both act as a warning to cyclists while encouraging them to take a moment and wait at red lights. Pausing for those extra few seconds while the lights change to green could be the difference between you reaching your destination safely or being involved in a collision.Craig is now back cycling to work, with the addition of a helmet which he wears every day.
For more information about cycle safety and security visit our website. You can also follow us on Twitter @CityPolice
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Fraudulent tickets cost Brits £2.7 million in 2012
June 25, 2013 – LONDON – You’ve waited months to see your favourite band play, your bags are packed and you are ready to head off for a weekend of fun. However, it’s not until your ticket doesn’t arrive just before the big day that you realise something is up. Or if you do receive your tickets, they may not be the genuine article. Much to the disappointment of music and sports fans, new figures show that fraudulent tickets cost the nation an eye watering £2.7 million in 2012.
The findings from non-profit awareness organisation getsafeonline.org and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) not only reveal that 46% of fraudulent tickets were bought online, but three quarters (75%) of all victims first made contact with fraudsters on the internet. Victims then went on to either purchase tickets online or in person.
Unsurprisingly, the festival season is the worst time for ticket scams, with the peak months for the reporting of ticket fraud offences in 2012 being July and August, and a high proportion of these reported ticket crimes were for music events.
Further statistics show that:
39% of victims of ticket fraud have each lost between £50 and £200
46% of all fraudulent tickets are purchased online
30% of victims are aged between 21-30 years old
‘Criminals have a captured market of fans that will do anything to get a ticket, which makes festivals and concerts a prime target for fraud,’ said Tony Neate, CEO, getsafeonline.org. ‘It’s incredibly frustrating for many festival goers, especially if they’ve waited months for the event. Get Safe Online is concerned to see such a high proportion of these figures relating to online fraud. There are some simple steps that can be taken to protect you from fraud and we would urge the public to be cautious when spending money on tickets as we head towards the summer months.’
Supporting Quotes:
‘In the UK we are blessed with great summer sporting and music events that are booked up well in advance, often at great expense. Unfortunately in 2013 thousands of fans will fall foul of online ticketing fraud and not even make it through the gates. Last year millions of pounds were reported lost to fraudsters using fancy websites and sharp sales techniques, with the true figure likely to be even greater with some victims choosing to suffer in silence. The good news is you can protect yourself by carrying out a few basic online checks before buying a ticket. It may take a little extra time but could mean the difference between having a day to remember and being left at home and out of pocket. And if you are one of the unlucky ones please report the crime to Action Fraud. Only by knowing the true extent of the pain can the NFIB get to grips with the criminal gain.’ - Det Supt Dave Clark, Director of the NFIB
‘As a company that is dedicated to serving fans and providing access to the best in live entertainment, we know that refusal at the gate is the worst experience a fan can have – particularly if a fraudulent ticket means they don’t get in. StubHub has stringent listing criteria for sellers on our site which means there is no incentive to list fraudulent tickets. Furthermore we back every ticket on the site with our FanProtect Guarantee which ensure you get the ticket you paid for, in time for the event or comparable replacements. Where we cannot offer replacements, we give you a full refund. With StubHub, pricing is clear and transparent – you won’t be asked to pay a penny more than the price you first see on the site and we manage the process from both sides to protect both the buyer and the seller. We would urge fans of live entertainment and events to always shop safely online and only go through trusted sites which offer good customer service, secure payment methods and full consumer protection.’ - Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, GM International, StubHub
‘To avoid disappointment, anyone wanting to buy tickets for an event should only buy them from trusted websites and check that the website’s url is that of the legitimate ticket seller. If you’re in any doubt at all then call the company on a known phone number instead. Be very wary of ticket offers for ‘sold out’ events as these situations are exploited by fraudsters, and if you’re unsure then leave the website immediately. If you have lost money to a ticket scam, report it to Action Fraud and help the police identify the fraudsters behind these scams.’ - Jamey Johnson, Head of Action Fraud
‘We take fraud very seriously and do everything in our power to keep scammers off our site. However we know that some people can be very devious and target fans that are desperate to see their favourite acts play - so we’d urge everyone to always carry out basic checks before buying tickets online and handing over money. One of the key points to remember is that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.’ - Luke Todd, Head of Customer Operations at Gumtree.com
Consumer Advice:
Getsafeonline.org is urging festival goers and music fans to be extra vigilant this summer when purchasing tickets and has the following simple advice for consumers to follow:
Buy tickets only from the venue box office, promoter, official agent or reputable ticket exchange sites.
In the event that you choose to buy tickets from an individual (for example on eBay or a fan site), never transfer the money directly into their bank account but use a secure payment site such as PayPal, where money is transferred between two electronic accounts.
Paying by credit card offers better protection than with other methods in terms of fraud, guarantees and non-delivery – so if you’ve got one, and the seller accepts it, use it.
Before entering payment details check the link is secure. There should be a padlock symbol in the browser window frame (not the page itself), and the web address should being with ‘https://’. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’.
Do not reply to unsolicited emails from sellers you don’t recognise.
If you think you have been a victim of fraud you should report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre by calling 0300 123 20 40 or by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk
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Man jailed for insurance fraud
An engineer who tried to con his employer’s insurer out of £900,000 by claiming that an accident at work left him with career-ending injuries was later caught on camera playing rugby.
David Ribchester was today, Thursday 27 June 2013, jailed for eight months at the Old Bailey after pleading guilty to the fraud.
Ribchester had injured both his wrists when a ladder gave way underneath him while working for a company in February 2006. He subsequently told RSA that his injuries meant he was unable to work, shop, drive a manual car or play rugby. He also reported he could not lift his young daughter with his right hand.
But, the 31-year-old later came unstuck when the RSA caught him on camera shopping at a supermarket, refuelling a car using his right hand and catching a rugby ball at a game. On his birthday, 4 July 2009, he was also recorded putting up garden furniture, turning food on a barbeque, greeting a man with a handshake and carrying a child – all using his right hand.
RSA sent the film to the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) on the unit’s launch in January 2013.
IFED detectives arrested Ribchester at a house in Washington Village, Tyne and Wear, in April 2013.
Ribchester, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, was subsequently charged with and pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation.
DS Tom Finnegan, who led IFED’s investigation, said: “Ribchester exaggerated his injuries and the impact they had on him thinking that no one would bother to find out if he was really telling the truth. This was a serious mistake that turned him into a criminal and his actions have cost him a jail sentence. “There is still a public perception that making exaggerated claims to insurance companies is somehow acceptable. IFED securing convictions is evidence of how committed we are to working with insurers to change this culture in England and Wales.”
John Beadle, RSA Counter Fraud Manager, said: "RSA fully support IFED in its effort to bring real consequences to those who attempt to commit fraud against insurers and their customers. People need to realise that insurance fraud is not a victimless crime as we all end up paying through our premiums. They also need to wake up to the fact that insurers are no longer a 'soft touch' and work closely with IFED to ensure that those who commit fraud are detected and face the consequences of the law".
Note: If you would like to use the video on your website please contact the media office
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New unit to tackle online piracy and counterfeit crime
A new police unit aimed at targeting intellectual property crime has been announced by Intellectual Property Minister, Lord Younger and City of London Police Commissioner, Adrian Leppard today.
The unit will be dedicated to tackling online piracy and other forms of intellectual property crime such as counterfeit goods. It will be one of the first units of its kind in the world, ensuring that the UK stays at the forefront of intellectual property enforcement.
The Intellectual Property Office will provide £2.5 million in funding over two years to the City of London Police, which is the National Lead Force for fraud, to establish and run the unit. It is expected the unit will be up and running in September.
The Commissioner of the City of London Police, Adrian Leppard, said:
“Intellectual property crime is costing the UK economy hundreds of millions of pounds each year, with organised crime gangs causing significant damage to industries that produce legitimate, high quality, physical goods and online and digital content in an increasingly competitive climate.
“The establishment of a new online intellectual property crime unit is evidence of the Government and City of London Police’s commitment to confront this threat. Together we are creating an operationally independent police unit that will co-ordinate the national and international response from law enforcement and public and private sector partners so we can effectively target those who continue to illegally profiteer on the back of others endeavours. In doing so, we will also be safeguarding jobs and protecting people’s personal and computer safety by ensuring they are not exposed to counterfeit goods and unauthorised copyrighted content.”
Minister for Intellectual Property, Lord Younger said:
“Intellectual property crime has long been a problem in the world of physical goods, but with the growing use of the internet, online intellectual property crime is now an increasing threat to our creative industries. These industries are worth more than £36 billion a year and employ more than 1.5 million people.
“Government and our law enforcement agencies must do all they can to protect our creative industries and the integrity of consumer goods. By working with the City of London Police, who have recognised expertise in tackling economic crime, we are showing how committed this Government is to supporting business and delivering economic growth.”
Around seven million people a month visit sites offering illegal content in the UK. Globally, it is projected that digitally pirated music, films and software will account for losses of around $80bn – this is expected to rise to $240bn by 2015. According to The Creative Coalition’s TERA Report (2010), if nothing is done about copyright infringement, up to a quarter of a million jobs in the UK could be at risk by 2015.
The intention to set the unit up was announced by the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, last December.
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Change to front office opening hours at Snow Hill Police Station
From 1 July the front office at Snow Hill Police Station will have revised opening hours of 7.30am to 7.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The change in opening times for Snow Hill front office brings it in line with arrangements we already have in place for the front office at Wood Street Police building.
Ch Inspector Matt Burgess said: “The new opening times at Snow Hill Police Station mean that we can reduce the impact on operational officers covering front offices – putting more officers on the streets, in line with our Policing Plan objectives.”
Members of the public arriving at Snow Hill Police Station out-of-hours are able to directly contact the City of London Police Control Room by using a video link situated at the entrance of the building.
Note: Access to front office facilities remain 24/7 at Bishopsgate Police Station.
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Think your bike is secure? Think again
Bike thefts are on the increase in the City of London – don’t make it easy for thieves to get away with your bike.Take a look at our short YouTube clips to see just how easy it can be to steal a bike, and find out what you can do to give cycle thieves a rough ride.Our resident cycling expert, PCSO Scott Green, talks you through the best bike security options and how you can secure your bike to make it as hard as possible for someone to lift your pride and joy.Watch our cycle security awareness videos now and visit our cycle security page for further information.More videos on bike theft can be found on our You Tube Channel.
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