From Jane Thirsk, Homewatch Co-ordinator, Cheshire Police
27 October 2008
I have received many enquiries concerning an email circulating concerning a parcel company called PDS. If you remember this email was going around the past two years [2006, 2007] and I sent out warnings concerning this company.
PhonepayPlus
(formerly ICSTIS), the government's regulatory body for phone-paid services, stopped the company trading in December 2005 but it would seem that the email is doing the rounds again.
Trading Standards are aware of this email circulation, and they have confirmed that this is a hoax. For your information, please see the information provided by them on their web site.
JANE THIRSK
Watch Officer
Cheshire Police
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6371
Hoax emails
I am often sent copies of emails many of you might also have received.
There are hoaxes of many kinds. One concerns claims that if criminals force you to withdraw money from an ATM, entering your pin in reverse will automatically alert police.
This email is a typical HOAX message.
If banks were to install this safety PIN number system they would provide information to their customers explaining how the system works and how to use it. It is absurd to suggest that a bank would go to the considerable expense of implementing a safety pin system and then not bother to tell customers about it.
Although this idea did come from America the idea has not been implemented.
Such messages contains potentially dangerous misinformation and should not be forwarded as it could put a victim of crime at risk.
JANE THIRSK
Watch Officer
Cheshire Police
Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team 0845 458 6371
