Warnings to be wary amid rise in scams in the Borough

The Windsor and Maidenhead cabinet member for communities has urged people to look out for each other in times of increased numbers of scams – both online and in person.

Last week, a story was published in the Advertiser’s sister publication, the Slough and Windsor Express, about a fake listing on Facebook for a Christmas fair in Clewer and Dedworth.

It encouraged people to send a private message to the event poster, be sent a link to a form which asked for money purportedly for the fair.

It hijacked a real Windsor event and used the name of a real Windsor community organisation to create the illusion of authenticity.

It was picked up by Windsor councillor Alison Carpenter, who became suspicious as she had not heard of such an event previously, even though she is on the organisation’s committee.

Cllr Carpenter confirmed this was a scam – and said she has heard reports of similar ones happening in Slough and other surrounding areas.

Following this, the Advertiser spoke to Councillor Josh Reynolds, the council’s cabinet member for communities and leisure, about scams in the borough.

“We have had quite a lot of reports recently about scams that have been going around the area,” he said. “I think it is getting worse.

“It only takes one person to fall for a scam [like this] and it will be worth it for the scammer.

“This is something they can do all across the world at once – they don’t have to be local to you.”

As such, Cllr Reynolds recommends looking for the organisation’s website for evidence of the event posted – and use local newspapers and other community resources to determine if the person posting the event is a member of the organisation.

When trying to find vendors online, the advice is to find someone with positive reviews, and a company record – or at least a recommendation from neighbours or friends.

Scams in person also appear to be on the rise in the borough, Cllr Reynolds said, particularly things like insulation instalment scams – preying on people’s worries over energy prices.

“I would say there is more now than the last four years I have been councillor, because times are tricky,” Cllr Reynolds said.

“In the cost-of-living crisis, people are trying their luck more.”

One example was a woman who had someone claiming to be from the council, saying they were there to help her with her electricity bills.

Cllr Reynolds stressed that Royal Borough staff will always have an ID, an RBWM lanyard.

If there is any doubt, there is ‘no problem’ with a resident calling to check their credentials, he said. This is also true of above-board private companies.

“If you’re talking to a reputable organisation, they’ll have no problem with you saying, ‘Let me have a think,’ or ‘Let me give a friend a call, I’ll call you back,’” he said.

“Taking a step back can be really helpful, not feeling under pressure.

“If they aren’t willing to give you the evening or overnight to think about it, they’re probably not people you want to be dealing with.”

Cllr Reynolds recommended utilising Citizens Advice East Berkshire or other charities in the area, as well as running queries by friends, family and neighbours, where possible.

There are the borough’s own community champions, who are ‘more than happy to help,’ as well as local councillors for each ward who know their areas and can offer insights.

“Windsor and Maidenhead have great community groups – our voluntary sector is really big and they have the power to help,” said Cllr Reynolds.

“[All the scamming] does feel constant – it feels like a never-ending battle. But the more we stick together, and have these conversations, the closer we’ll be as a community.”