Use Caution on Classified Ads
3rd September 2012
Police advise caution to members of the public when using classified advert websites.
Northern Constabulary is warning the public to exercise caution when dealing with classified advertisement websites. There have been several incidents reported recently in the Ross-shire area where adverts have been placed online on a website called Craigslist (now available in the UK) and have resulted in a series of alleged frauds.
The perpetrator claims to be in the Ross-shire area and is clearing high value items from the estate of a recently deceased relative. All correspondence is carried out by email and no phone number is provided.
Members of the public can avoid would-be scammers by following these rules whenever using such websites:
Never give out financial information (bank account number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
Do not transfer money into any bank account details provided by sellers unless you have seen the goods for sale.
Deal locally with people you can meet in person - follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
Police advise caution when using money wire transfer services, especially when concerning payments in such circumstances.
If anyone feels they may have been a victim of a fraud they should contact their local Police station or you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
A report by the police to the Caithness area committee on 11 November will allow councillors to discuss a range of issues. Chief Inspector Calum Smith - Area Commander (North Highland Area Command) sets out the crime related figures up to June 2024.
A reduction in police activity targeting the most common causes of fatal crashes has been identified as a key factor affecting Police Scotland's ability to keep people safe on the nation's roads. A new report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland notes that since 2020 the total number of people killed or injured on Scotland’s roads has increased each year.
Police Scotland's North Safety Camera Unit are now operating average speed cameras on the A836 between Reay and Thurso with offences being progressed from Monday 2nd September. In partnership with the Scottish Safety Camera Programme and the Highland Council, the location was identified as having speed concerns and increased traffic volumes, both of which are potential ongoing road safety challenges.
Consider carefully what you are putting on social media, especially if you are staying away to visit friends and relatives this Christmas. Be wary of posting photographs of Christmas parties that contain images of high value jewellery.
Would you like to join the Police? Would you like to live and work in the Caithness area? Police Scotland is actively recruiting good quality and eligible candidates specifically for the Caithness area. We are taking applications now for Police Constable / Special Constable Entry for future intakes during 2023/2024.
UNISON, the union for police staff, says Scotland's police budget cut will see even more crime going unreported and crimes not being fully investigated. The union says around 230 police staff could be cut, including fingerprint examiners, forensic examiners, 999 call handlers, custody staff, high-speed driving instructors, cybercrime experts, payroll, HR and IT staff.
The new Highland and Islands divisional commander will take up post having been sworn in as a Police Scotland officer. Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone welcomed and thanked Chief Superintendent Rob Shepherd during a ceremony at Police Scotland Headquarters, Tulliallan, on Monday, 16 January 2023, overseen by Justice of the Peace Gillian Thomson.
Gross misconduct proceedings against police officers should be allowed to continue after they resign from the force to promote transparency and maintain public confidence, according to a public consultation. The move, which would see proceedings continue even if an officer leaves during the course of an investigation into their conduct, was among the recommendations of Dame Elish Angiolini's independent review into how police complaints and allegations of misconduct should be handled.
The total number of people proceeded against in Scottish courts fell by 46% to 46,497 in the year to 2020-21, according to National Statistics published by Scotland's Chief Statistician today. The number of people convicted fell at a similar rate, down 44% to 42,532.
Cllr Matthew Reiss, Highland Council's Strategic Lead for Police and Fire has welcomed Police Scotland's announcement that it has created fifteen new posts to further enhance the development of call handling services, based in Inverness. He said: "We were delighted in October last year to welcome 25 new jobs in Inverness with the creation of a specialist call handling service team and these fifteen additional new posts based in the Highlands are great news.
