Strathclyde Police Warning on Credit Card Fraud and Other Associated Scams

Every year in the UK millions of pounds are lost as a result of credit card fraud. Criminals and their associates use various means to obtain your details, but there are steps you can take to help fight the problem. 
Strathclyde Police Warning on Card Skimming and Cloning 
In this type of fraud a device, created to look like the card entry point on the cash machine, is fitted over the genuine slot to passively skim the information encoded on the magnetic strip of the card. These details are stored and subsequently used fraudulently.

Once they have successfully obtained the cardholder's details, fraudsters will focus their attention on finding out the corresponding Personal Identification Number. PINs can be compromised in two ways. Firstly, by shoulder surfing, whereby the fraudster will tailgate behind the cardholder and look over their shoulder as they enter their number. 
Secondly, there is increasing evidence of micro cameras being concealed within the lighting or false trunking around the ATM machine to focus on PIN entry. Real-time images are often transmitted to a receiver attached to a hand held camera, typically within 100 metres of the cash machine. The details will then be matched with the corresponding card data. 
Once the threshold of compromised details has been reached the device will be removed and the information downloaded and used to create duplicate “cloned” cards. 
Strathclyde Police Warning on Stolen Card Fraud

When a card is lost or stolen, it can be used until it is cancelled. Thieves can potentially buy goods worth thousands of pounds, before the owners become aware that they have been robbed. The problem has been exacerbated by the number of businesses now offering transactions over the phone, by fax or online. Since 1999, online credit card payments have increased five-fold, with around ten percent of all credit card spending now happening via the internet. 
What you can do 
A high-tech chip and PIN card system was introduced in a bid to tackle the issue, but credit card crime continues to rise. 
So what can you do to stay secure and help foil the fraudsters? 
• Guard your card and details when making a transaction – do not let it out of your sight. 
• Shield your PIN when withdrawing cash from an ATM 
• Don’t write down information such as PINs, passwords or logins. 
• Don’t divulge your details in response to any emails, purporting to be from your bank or the police. When on the phone, only reveal your details if you made the call.

• Access internet banking or shopping sites only by typing the address in your web browser. 
• Always check for the locked padlock or unbroken key security icons. 
• Shred documents and receipts, which contain your personal information. 
• Secure your computer with anti-virus software and a firewall. 
• Contact your bank or building society immediately, if your card is lost or stolen or you believe it may have been used fraudulently. 

Strathclyde Associates: Our Corporate Profile

Providing services globally to a vast group of clients that include private individuals, financial institutions, governments and corporations.
At Strathclyde Associates we pride ourselves with comprehending each individual client’s unique financial needs and preferences.
A constant commitment to our clients is the strong foundation of the business culture at Strathclyde Associates.
We constantly develop  innovative solutions in order to accommodate the ever-changing tastes, desires and needs of our clients.
Strathclyde Associates is a full service brokerage firm with many years experience in providing a wide array of services globally to a vast group of clients that include private individuals, financial institutions, governments and corporations.
Through the Strathclyde Associates Institutional and Private Clients Divisions we provide our clients with services that include Securities, Investment Banking and Investment Management Services.
Above and beyond we are the first choice for individuals and institutions alike when considering a Premier Wealth Management Company. Excellence in market execution and the provision of the right information at the right price, at the right time has given Strathclyde Associates an enviable worldwide prestige of being able to ensure that our clients achieve their financial objectives and aspirations.
From natural resources to technology our fundamental strengths lie in innovative investment solutions combined with robust execution capabilities. At Strathclyde Associates we pride ourselves with comprehending each individual client’s unique financial needs and preferences.
Owing to the depth and quality of our understanding we construct long term relationships with our clients with a core focus on value creation and an ultimate commitment to helping our clients build and manage their wealth.
This specialized focus, an enviable reputation for quality and integrity and of course strong relationships nurtured with investors have made Strathclyde Associates a worldwide leader in wealth management.
Strathclyde Associates  Services: Equity. At Strathclyde Associates Equities we pride ourselves on the knowledge that our Equity Departments are a worldwide leader in the careful planning of investment strategies and capital raising functions in both the private and public equity markets.
Fixed Income. Strathclyde Associates Fixed Income is a global player in ensuring that interest rate currency swaps, debt securities and other derivative products are carefully integrated into our portfolio programs in a manner that accommodates investor preferences and objectives in the ever changing, constantly evolving debt markets.
Foreign Exchange. The Foreign Exchange Market is a 24-hour market and as such Strathclyde Associates provides its clients with a truly round the clock service of spot, forward futures and options trading in all the Forex markets of the world.??Commodities??Risk Management strategies are one of the growing sectors in the market today and as such Strathclyde Associates Commodities now competes in the commodities and derivatives markets providing services in markets which include metals, energy, oil and gas trading to name but a few.
Mergers and Acquisitions. At Strathclyde Associates Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) department our primary focus is in: Mergers , Joint ventures , Corporate Restructurings , Divestitures , Recapitalizations, Spin-offs , Exchange Offers , Leveraged Buyouts , Shareholder Relations and takeover defenses
Global Capital Markets. Through our Global Capital Markets Departments we can accommodate clients' needs for capital. For instance in the situation of an IPO, a leveraged buyout or a debt offering our global capital markets professionals combine Investment Banking and sales and trading functions to guarantee clients innovative solutions based on sophisticated advice. If necessary our professionals can develop, structure and execute public & private placement of equities, debt and related products. As a major force in the market we offer every assistance to clients to attain the greatest value from each and every stage of a transaction. Thus it is our responsibility to constantly develop capital market solutions to enable clients to rise above whatever the market may throw at them.
Strathclyde Associates is a full service brokerage firm with many years experience in providing a wide array of services globally to a vast group of clients that include private individuals, financial institutions, governments and corporations.

Sleazy home improvement scams- Strathclyde Associates Trading

Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: Spring's the time homeowners get to work -- and shady contractors come of out of the woodwork. Here's how to smell a suspicious deal. By Bankrate

Like most homeowners, you probably spent the winter months talking about the home improvements you'd like to make. Now that spring is here, it's time to act on those remodeling impulses. After all, spring is a time of renewal, change and new beginnings.
Unfortunately, it's also a time when shady contractors come out of the woodwork to prey on innocent homeowners. "Some are actual scam artists, while others are just incompetent or unethical," says Ellis Levinson, a consumer reporter and the author of the book "Hiring Contractors Without Going Through Hell."
The good news is that you can protect yourself against these scams. In fact, many scams are easy to detect if you take the time to become an educated, savvy consumer. "Compare prices, call references and research the project you're undertaking in advance," says Bruce Johnson, the author of "50 Simple Ways to Save your House." It seems simple, but many people find this process overwhelming.
Levinson calls it emotional laziness. "It's amazing to me how much time people will put it into buying a TV because it's fun. But when it comes to remodeling a kitchen, people have no time. They see it as drudgery," Levinson says. Ultimately, he says, doing the research to protect yourself is much easier than paying for the consequences.
To help you differentiate a scam from the real deal, Bankrate has compiled a list of the most common remodeling scams. Beware of the following key phrases, and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I just happen to be working in your neighborhood'
This happens when contractors appear at your home unsolicited to inform you that they noticed some problems with your home's (insert: chimney, driveway, windows, plumbing, etc.) while working on a neighboring home. For example, a contractor might say he or she was on the roof of your neighbor's home and noticed missing shingles on your roof. This may be the case, but often no repair is needed.
More important, legitimate, established and reputable contractors tend to find enough work through word-of-mouth referrals that they don't need to be going door to door to attract customers. Be especially skeptical if the contractor drives a vehicle with no company name, no phone number or with out-of-state license plates. "Do not let these people enter your home," Johnson warns. "Often they want to be invited inside to see if something is worth stealing."
Also, be sure to ask for proof that he or she is insured, licensed and bonded. "Homeowners that check out contractors beforehand and research their credibility are usually more satisfied with the job than if they abruptly chose a contractor," says Jeremy Zidek, communications coordinator for the Better Business Bureau in Alaska.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I have materials left over'
Sometimes contractors will offer a discount for the job under the pretense that they have extra materials and want to use up their supply. Good contractors order just enough supplies to meet the needs of each job, as often the price for supplies is included in the contract.
If a contractor has materials left over from a previous job and is making them available to you, he either didn't finish the job or is cheating the previous customer. Or he didn't have a previous job but has materials to make it look like he did.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company: 'I need cash upfront'
This contractor will take your money and disappear before or (even worse) after your project gets under way. It can be frustrating trying to chase after him, getting him to come back and finish the job or hiring someone else to clean up a messy work site. Don't ever pay in full for a project before any work has been done.
However, you may be expected to pay a down payment. "The contractor may not want to block out time in his busy schedule without some money upfront," Levinson says. He recommends creating a payment schedule with the contractor at the start -- wherein you pay a sizable portion only upon completion of a project. Johnson swears by the one-third theory.
Strathclyde Associates Trading and Management Construction Company is passionate in the belief that from adversity comes opportunity. We believe that sustainable competitive advantage is always predicated upon the focused execution of a few core strengths or priniciples that are indemic to each particular company.

Strathclyde Police Internet Auction Warning on Fraud, Scam and Boiler Room Associates

As technology advances, fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated. The following pages from Strathclyde Associates Police highlight some recent types of fraud which are causing concern and give you advice about how to avoid being a victim. Internet auction sites like eBay and Yahoo provide a useful service for the public. However, like other areas of business, they have become the targets of fraudsters, with several thousand would-be traders falling victim every year. Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on How internet auction sites work These sites work as facilitators for transactions between sellers and buyers. Sellers post items for sale with terms and conditions set, and potential buyers make ‘bids’. The person who makes the highest offer within an allotted time wins. Arrangements are then made between the two parties for payment and delivery of the goods. Payment is often arranged through an escrow service. These services hold the buyer’s payment in trust until the goods have been received and checked. The buyer then authorises the escrow service to release the payment to the seller. How internet fraudsters operate Internet fraudsters operate in a variety of ways including the following: ‘Invisible goods' fraud The buyer sends the payment, but no goods are delivered and inevitably, the seller cannot be contacted, as false details were originally given. Using a legitimate escrow service can help protect the buyer from this type of fraud. Non-Payment fraud Buyers can also fail to pay. This can happen where the seller agrees to payment after delivery. It can also occur if a stolen credit card is used to make payment to an escrow service, and this is not discovered until after the goods are sent. Please bear in mind that this is different from the case where there is no payment made as a result of a dispute between buyer and seller. This is a civil matter. Strathclyde Associates Police highlights on online escrow fraud Unfortunately, a number of fraudsters have created apparently genuine websites offering escrow services in order to defraud would-be customers. The seller follows instructions on how to pay his money to the escrow site, usually by means of a cash transfer system such as Western Union. The escrow site then fails to pass the money on to the seller, and can no longer be contacted by either party. These fraudsters also use a number of other methods to maximise their gain from such a website. Escrow fraudsters can commit invisible goods frauds or can contact the losing bidders for genuine auctions, claiming to be the seller with a similar product for sale. In both cases, the fraudster insists that payment is made through their fraudulent escrow service, with the same result as before. In addition, escrow fraudsters can ensure winning bids on genuine auctions for high-value goods, again insisting that payment is made through them. When the seller checks the escrow service, he sees that payment has been made by the buyer and sends off the goods (usually to a foreign address). The seller thereafter loses contact with the buyer and the escrow service, and does not receive the promised payment. Don’t Be Caught Out There are a number of steps that can be taken to minimise the risks associated with carrying out business on the internet. • Familiarise yourself thoroughly with the auction site terms and conditions. • Get to know the seller/buyer - if possible, check the auction website for feedback on this person. Find out details, such as a permanent address and landline telephone number. Carry out online checks to verify that information. • Ask questions about the goods. Try to verify that a seller has the items in front of him Consider the payment arrangements requested. Fraudsters will often insist on high-risk payment methods such as cash, cheque, wire transfer or cash transfer systems such as Western Union or Nocheques. • Consider the seller/buyer's location. Very few internet auction frauds occur with the buyer and seller in the same police force area. Although these fraudsters do operate within the UK, they often prefer to commit their frauds in foreign countries, playing on the difficulties of international crime investigation. • Check out escrow services - especially if the other party insists on using a particular service. These sites are often well presented and appear genuine, but fraudulent sites may have a number of spelling and grammar mistakes. If you do find yourself a victim of internet auction fraud, report the fraudulent transaction to the internet auction site itself. You should then contact your local police office.