WebWatch N8

Postal Scam

Can you circulate this around
Especially as Xmas is fast approaching - it has been confirmed by Royal
Mail. The Trading Standards Office are making people aware of the
Following scam:

A card is posted through your door
From a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were
Unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a
Premium rate number). DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam
Originating from Belize. If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will
Already have been billed £15 for the phone call.
If you do receive a card with these
Details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the
Premium rate service regulator) at
www.icstis.org.uk
 

What is the NHW ?

Check it out on Neighbourhood and Home Watch

Bogus charity leaflets circulating

9:41am Friday 26th June 2009

By Jayna Varambhia »

ENFIELD residents are being warned about leaflets from companies asking for clothing donations.

Valewall Limited is distributing leaflets of a winking yellow T-shirt and asking people to donate unwanted clothes, shoes and bedding. It is also also asking people to send belts, handbags and curtains to be sent to “to help clothe the poor" in the third world.

However, the company was struck off the Companies House register two years ago because it did not comply with regulations.

Companies House said Valewall was dissolved because it did not provide information to prove its legitimacy, such as accounts or the details of a company director.

A second leaflet, which shows a bird on a sky blue background, is also going through residents' doors in Enfield asking people to give away handbags, curtains, cosmetics and perfumes.

The leaflets, distributed by Rutex Limited, which was officially incorporated as a company only last month, say that not everyone "can afford to buy new clothes, shoes and household things".

Once again, they list themselves as a limited company.

The Enfield Independent attempted to contact Rutex Limited to ask about the company, but the contact details provided were invalid.

Trading Standards said it was not aware that it was active in the area but asked people to remain vigilant.

A statement from Enfield Council said: "Although they give the impression the items are being collected for charitable purposes, some collections are organised by commercial operators who sell the donated items on for profit. This misleading impression is often reinforced by a reference to a registration number, which people may think is that of a registered charity but is, in fact, a limited company number.”

People in doubt of any charity leaflet that they have received are advised to contact the Charity Commission helpline on 0870 333 0123 to check whether the collection is for, or on behalf of, a registered charity.

Windows worm numbers 'skyrocket'

The worm can also spread via USB flash drives.

Infections of a worm that spreads through low security networks, memory sticks, and PCs without the latest security updates is "skyrocketing".

The malicious program, known as Conficker, Downadup, or Kido was first discovered in October 2008.

Anti-virus firm F-Secure estimates there are now 8.9m machines infected.

Experts warn this figure could be far higher and say users should have up-to-date anti-virus software and install Microsoft's MS08-067 patch.

In its security blog, F-Secure said that the number of infections based on its calculations was "skyrocketing" and that the situation was "getting worse".

Even having the Windows patch won't keep you safe. Graham Cluley Sophos

Speaking to the BBC, Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant with anti-virus firm Sophos, said the outbreak was of a scale they had not seen for some time.

"Microsoft did a good job of updating people's home computers, but the virus continues to infect business who have ignored the patch update.

"A shortage of IT staff during the holiday break didn't help and rolling out a patch over a large number of computers isn't easy.

"What's more, if your users are using weak passwords - 12345, QWERTY, etc - then the virus can crack them in short order," he added.

"But as the virus can be spread with USB memory sticks, even having the Windows patch won't keep you safe. You need anti-virus software for that."

Method

According to Microsoft, the worm works by searching for a Windows executable file called "services.exe" and then becomes part of that code.

It then copies itself into the Windows system folder as a random file of a type known as a "dll". It gives itself a 5-8 character name, such as piftoc.dll, and then modifies the Registry, which lists key Windows settings, to run the infected dll file as a service.

Once the worm is up and running, it creates an HTTP server, resets a machine's System Restore point (making it far harder to recover the infected system) and then downloads files from the hacker's web site.

Most malware uses one of a handful of sites to download files from, making them fairly easy to locate, target, and shut down.

But Conficker does things differently.

Right now, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of [infected] unique IP addresses Toni Koivunen, F-Secure

Anti-virus firm F-Secure says that the worm uses a complicated algorithm to generate hundreds of different domain names every day, such as mphtfrxs.net, imctaef.cc, and hcweu.org. Only one of these will actually be the site used to download the hackers' files. On the face of it, tracing this one site is almost impossible.

Variant

Speaking to the BBC, Kaspersky Lab's security analyst, Eddy Willems, said that a new strain of the worm was complicating matters.

"There was a new variant released less than two weeks ago and that's the one causing most of the problems," said Mr Willems

"The replication methods are quite good. It's using multiple mechanisms, including USB sticks, so if someone got an infection from one company and then takes his USB stick to another firm, it could infect that network too. It also downloads lots of content and creating new variants though this mechanism."

"Of course, the real problem is that people haven't patched their software," he added.

Technicians have reverse engineered the worm so they can predict one of the possible domain names. This does not help them pinpoint those who created Downadup, but it does give them the ability to see how many machines are infected.

"Right now, we're seeing hundreds of thousands of unique IP addresses connecting to the domains we've registered," F-Secure's Toni Kovunen said in a statement.

"We can see them, but we can't disinfect them - that would be seen as unauthorised use."

Microsoft says that the malware has infected computers in many different parts of the world, with machines in China, Brazil, Russia, and India having the highest number of victims.

BBC report

Festive warning over fire safety

Homeowners have been told to take care over the holiday period to ensure their festive fun does not go up in flames.

At this time of year, more people are spending time at home, using candles and fairy lights, and having a few drinks, but London Fire Brigade has warned that these activities can increase the risk of fire.

They have issued a number of guidelines on how to keep fire safe over Christmas, which includes not placing candles near the Christmas tree or furnishings, and checking that Christmas lights are in good working order.

          

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They have also warned that the risk of accidents, especially in the kitchen, is greater after alcohol is consumed, and that many fires start in that part of the house, so people are advised not to leave cooking unattended.

Mark Bloomfield, Station manager at Hendon fire station said: "At this time of year there are a whole range of things that add to the risk of fire in the home, including greater use of heating, naked flames and lights.

"The best way to reduce the risk is to think a little bit more about how fire is going to affect you. If people need any help then they can call the fire service and we will make sure that we can come into their homes and give people free advice about the risks that we see."

To arrange a free home fire safety visit from local firefighters, and to fit free smoke alarms if needed, call 08000 28 44 28.

Barnet Times - 10:30am Tuesday 18th December 2007

Subsidence - a root cause?

Photographs taken of short trenches under the North side pavement .  Gas engineers expose a subterranean plane root structure that could be under your footpath and reach close to your front elevation/boundary.
There are relatively cheap methods to defend your house from future root invasion . 

Click on picture to enlarge.

Fire Brigade Advice for Christmas

Be safe and sound as the weather gets colder

With autumn/winter approaching and the days getting shorter, London Fire Brigade is urging Haringey residents to take care to protect their homes from fire.

The majority of fire deaths occur in the home, and fires tend to increase during the winter months as people spend more time indoors making greater use of heaters, candles and cooking appliances.

The Brigade is particularly concerned about the borough’s older residents, as across London many fires affect people over 65. Haringey’s Borough Fire Commander John Brown explains: “If you live on your own or have reduced mobility, it’s very important that you are aware of things you can do to protect yourself. For instance, simply fitting smoke alarms and checking them regularly can be the difference between life and death as a smoke alarm can buy you the time you need to escape.”

Fire safety advice:

• Install smoke alarms and check them regularly

• Consider how you would leave your home if a fire started

• Ensure all objects are kept clear of fires/heaters

• Make sure all electrical appliances are in safe working order, replacing frayed cords, broken plugs and keeping them free from dust

• Ensure candles are used with caution and never left unattended

• Always put out cigarettes carefully and only empty ashtrays when the contents are cool. Never smoke in bed

• Don’t overload plugs – use multi boxes with circuit breakers where possible

• Always turn off electric blankets before getting into bed

• Never leave cooking unattended

• Talk to friends and relatives to ensure they know how to protect themselves from fire

John Brown continues: “If you are worried about fire risks contact us and arrange a free home fire safety visit. Local firefighters will visit your home, chat about fire safety and fit free smoke alarms if you need them. Call us on 08000 28 44 28 and we’ll arrange a time to suit you.

SINISTER STORM IS BREWING

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,2195730,00.html

Rogue Trader - beware

Yesterday afternoon a pleasant looking, well presented, white, middle aged male, wearing a Tshirt, knocked on a neighbour's door offering to clean her rain water gutters. 

The man said he was working locally and noticed that her gutters needed clearing.  He volunteered to do the job: £4 for the front and £4 for the rear. 

The resident, an elderly frail lady,  was taken aback by the approach. 

The resident had never cleared her gutters before. She thought £8 for front and rear was a good price so she agreed to do the job straight away.
The man told her to have her money ready. The front door was shut and his assistant got 'to work'.  She heard several items falling from the roof into her front garden (later to discover that these were roofing tiles).
Several minutes later the man knocked and asked for "£40". The lady corrected him "£4".  No, no, "£40". He said that our neighbour must have misunderstood his Mancunian accent and demanded the £40. Rather than argue in his intimidating prescience she handed over the money.  He was not allowed to step into her house. He then also demanded the money for clearing the rear gutter. 
Our neighbour who lives in a terraced house had not given him access to the rear. She refused him the additional £40 and cancelled the rear gutter clearance.  He claimed that his assistant had already cleaned half the rear.  He also stated that her roof needed tiling repair.  Our neighbour closed the front door.
Our resident, a pensioner and 40 years on our street, waited a while and when the coast was clear she knocked on her neighbour's door because she was so shaken by the experience.
They called the Police and within 20 minutes two motorcycle officers arrived to take details.

Its a disgrace that Rogue Traders seem to have invaded our street and are taking advantage of elderly pensioners.

I will be inspecting visually her roof over the weekend.  I fear that damage may have been purposely done to her property.   Anyone with a double extending ladder and more able bodied than myself may wish to volunteer to discover the deliberate damage to her roof - please email me for address details.

Burglary spate

Three reported burglaries at East and West ends of our once tranquil Avenue - all in the space of one month.

First event:  Early morning entry odd number Western (Park Road end)  - no forcible entry apparent - occupants on first floor - some portable items taken.
Second event: Last Tuesday an Eastern (Priory Road end) even number house was entered late at night or early morning with no visible signs of entry - lap top and camcorder stolen - owners asleep on first floor.
Third event:  Yesterday sometime - odd number house, Western end of the avenue, was broken into and property taken plus one of the household cars.

Police attended the scene, taking details and finger printers followed hours later.

Are they the same modus operandi?   Police will inform us (hopefully) soon. 

Perhaps its time we called the Crime Prevention Officer around to address a gathering of concerned residents

If you have anything to add please get in touch soon