General NIE Scam - all areas

NIE have been in touch with PSNI re the following scam that has occurred over recent weeks.
Below is a copy of their recent press release details.
Please ensure you pass these details on especially to vulnerable and elderly neighbours and family.
Phone Scam For Bank Details
Local energy company, NIE Energy, would like to warn customers to be careful following a spate of bogus telephone callers.
In the most recent incident, a woman with a foreign accent called pretending to from NIE Energy. She said she was calling to arrange to fit an energy saving device and then asked for address and other personal information.
Chris Bell from NIE Energy said: “We have had a number of reports of similar incidents in the last few weeks, so we thought it would be good to let other people know of this scam.
“In the latest case, the gentleman was rightly suspicious when the caller started asking for address and other details. Our customer knew that we would have that information already and would have no need to ask for it. In a similar incident a few weeks ago, a man with a foreign accent called saying he was from NIE Energy and went on to ask for bank details.
“What we would advise is that if any customer is worried that the caller isn’t legitimate, terminate the call. Legitimate companies won’t have a problem with you calling them back. In the case of NIE Energy, you can find our telephone number on the back of bills or direct debit statements and also in the Yellow Pages and Phonebook, as well as online.”
If there are any other similar calls, you can contact NIE Energy’s Customer Helpline is 08457 455 455 (local call rate. Mon-Fri 8am-8pm and Sat 9am-1pm).

General - Creeper Burglaries - All Areas

There has been a recent trend whereby creeper burglaries have occurred around tea-time / early evening while occupants are in the house.
As the house is occupied the property is unlocked and the thieves enter the house through the unlocked door and steal the car keys / vehicle. This criminal activity during the busy evening with persons and vehicles out and about or making the homward journey obviously arouses less suspicion than the thieves operating in the late of night or early hours of the morning.
Please ensure your property is always secure even if in residence at the time. A simple turn of the key will allow access to those who are welcome and keep out those who are not!

General - Quads - Mopeds etc

QUADS, GO PEDS AND MINI MOTOS


If you are thinking about buying your child a present then think very carefully before you put their lives or the lives of others in danger by buying them a quad, a go-ped or a mini moto.
These are not toys but they are powerful machines with the potential to kill or seriously injure children who use them. Please think seriously about where your child is going to use a vehicle and the legalities of it.
Under law quads, go peds or mini motos are actually classified as motor vehicles.
They are not suitable and not legal for use on roads or footpaths unless the rider has or complies with the following:
A driving licence

Road tax

Registration with DVLNI

Insurance

Lights and reflectors

Number plate

Must comply with all aspects of road traffic law

Fulfil all requirements of regulations relating to motor vehicles

General All Areas - Stolen Vehicle and Traders

A white Ford Transit van registration 08-LH-873 was stolen form Main Street Glenavy around 1215pm yesterday.
The vehicle was equipped with ladders, scaffolding and fitted with 3 spotlights on the front and roll bars. The van contained all the equipment required by the owner for his business.
Again if sighted or if you can assist in identifying the offenders or associated vehicles please contact police with details.
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Reports of "traders" and vans operating in the Moira area offering cleaning services.
These persons have been checked by police and all is legitimate. However please be wary of rogue traders offering expensive services and targeting elderly and vulnerable persons for custom.

General - Firework Safety

Firework Safety Code
• When buying fireworks, make sure they comply with BS 7114 and are clearly marked for their intended use “Indoor, Garden or Display”

• Keep fireworks in a sealed box or tin.

• NEVER put fireworks in your pocket or anyone else’s.

• Read the instructions carefully, using a torch or a hand lamp. Never use a naked flame.

• Light fireworks at arms length using a taper or a firework lighter.

• Stand well back and NEVER return to a firework after it has been lit.

• Always supervise children around fireworks.

• NEVER throw fireworks.

• Keep all pets and animal indoors.

• Don’t set off noisy fireworks late at night and never after 11 pm.
Sparklers
• These are often viewed as being harmless but they do burn at fierce temperatures. To a young child, the heat from a sparkler is equivalent to the heat from a welding torch.

• Never give sparklers to young children under five.

• Always wear gloves with sparklers, preferably leather ones.

• Hold it at arms length and always have an adult light it.

• Never wave sparklers about near anyone else as you could burn them.

• Never hold a baby in your arms when you are holding a sparkler.

• When the sparkler has finished, put it into a bucket of cold water straight away.


What you should know when buying fireworks
• Fireworks must not be sold to children under 16 years of age.

• Fireworks cannot and should not be bought in Northern Ireland without a licence. The only exceptions will be Category 1 i.e. sparklers and indoor fireworks.

• To fire any outdoor firework you must apply to the NIO for a licence.

• Only Category 2 garden fireworks can be purchased by the general public.

• Fireworks of erratic flight, mini-rockets, bangers and air bombs are illegal.

• The cost of a fireworks licence is £30. When applying for one you must specify who is using the fireworks.

• Fireworks should not be fired between the hours of 11.00 pm and 7.00 am

General - All Areas - emails et al

Bogus E-mails

Just a further reminder of the still bouyant trend of e-mails and letters to members of the public from alleged banks, organisations, lotteries etc in which they request money or personal banking details.

The best advice that can be given is to destroy or delete any such communications as they are bogus ie scams aimed at extricating money either directly from you or through accessing your bank accounts when supplied with personal details.

CSN member reported receiving such an e-mail today alledgedly from the Bank of Montreal. It requests the reader to click an email address link for new security procedure.

If you receive a similar mail message please delete. Under no circumstances release any personal banking details to such an address.

General - suspicious vehicle

Suspicious Vehicle

White Ford Transit Pick-up UEZ8335 two males on board ( scrap in rear) making similar enquiries from at least two seperate residents of Demiville Avenue Maze BT27 5RE regarding ownership of vehicles parked at that location.

Please be wary of bogus callers and rogue traders. Ensure property locked and secure if left unattended. There have been a number of tool thefts and garage / shed break-ins over the last few weeks in the Lisburn area.