West Mercia Police – Economic Crime unit – March Fraud and Scam Bulletin – March 22

/in /by

 

The Fraud & Scam Bulletin

March 2022
Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds
Welcome to March Bulletin aimed at raising awareness to  current Fraud and Scams

Please circulate to your members and contacts, as well as using it for your own information.

 

This month we are promoting an initiative from Take Five to encourage families to sit and discuss  various types of Fraud with potentially vulnerable relatives and friends, and raise awareness.

 

The aim of Take Five over Tea is to encourage families to sit down with parents/grandparents and anyone else they think may be vulnerable to financial fraud whether in their own home, or online, and then discuss the advice provided.

 

Fraud and Scams have a devastating impact on all those who fall for them, and this is a summarised format of the Take Five toolkit to help families set up their own discussions.

 

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

We all think we are savvy when it comes to fraud and scams, but the truth is any one of us can fall for one, especially in the heat of the moment. Criminals are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, using many tactics to gain our trust and make it harder for us to spot the obvious signs of a scam as easily.

By taking the time to talk to your loved ones, including those who are not online, they have a much better chance of spotting a scam, and more importantly, preventing themselves from falling for one.

TYPES OF FRAUD AND SCAMS

As technology becomes more sophisticated, so do the techniques used by criminals. They now use a wide variety of methods to trick people, the most frequent are listed below:

IMPERSONATION SCAMS

Criminals are experts at impersonating trusted organisations, including banks, the police, and government departments such as HMRC and DVLC, to convince you to make a payment or share your personal and financial details.

  • They often use alarmist language and time-pressure to convince you to take immediate action,
  •  They may already have some of your details, which they use to add a layer of authenticity to their scam.
  • If you receive an urgent request for your money or personal information
  •      STOP: take a moment to pause and think.

 

INVESTMENT SCAMS

There are numerous paid adverts or comparison sites claiming to be legitimate firms offering guaranteed returns with minimal risk. You may be asked to complete a “Contact Form” with your personal details for a Call-Back.

The use of genuine company logos, celebrity endorsements and testimonials may often be fake.

 

PURCHASE SCAMS

It can be easy to fall for a purchase scam. Criminals advertise goods/services at “too good to be true” prices often via social media or auction sites to trick people into purchasing something that does not exist. They often use images taken from genuine sellers to convince you they are the real deal. They may also ask for payment prior to delivery and send fake receipts and invoices that seem to be from the payment provider.

 

ROMANCE SCAMS

The ease of online dating services often means you can find the love of your life in the comfort of your own home. However, this also provides criminals with an opportunity to gain your trust and build a relationship with you by using information and fake identities found on social media – also known as catfishing. Criminals will claim to declare strong feelings for you just after a few conversations before pretending to need money for a personal emergency or flights to visit you.

 

COURIER FRAUD

If you’re contacted by someone purporting to be from your bank or the police, take a moment to question their authenticity. If the caller is from the bank, they may claim that their system has spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or that it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.    They may even confirm personal details about you, such as your full name and address and offer you peace of mind by having someone such as a courier collect your card to save you from having to go to your bank or local police station. You may even be asked to write down your PIN and place it in a separate envelope to that of your card.

 

DOORSTEP SCAMS

Doorstep criminals can come in all sorts of disguises, from dodgy salesmen to unscrupulous tradespeople and, can be very convincing. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement, such as the roof, and offer to fix it for an inflated price with payment required upfront. Some criminals may even convince you to visit your bank branch to withdraw money whilst they set up their equipment

 

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST FRAUD AND SCAMS

If you receive a request to provide personal or financial information whether that’s over the phone, in an email, online or through social media always remember:

Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment.

Stop and think – It could protect you and your money.

STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud

ALWAYS REMEMBER:

  • Avoid disclosing security details
  • Emails, Phone Calls and Texts may not be authentic
  • Always make direct contact with any organisation by using a genuine phone number
  • Stop and Challenge any unexpected requests
  • Protect others by reporting Fraud and Scams

If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks.

Forward Fake Emails received to .

SOURCE: TAKE FIVE

A full PDF leaflet can be downloaded from Take Five at:

Take-Five-Over-Tea-Loved-Ones_2021_FINAL.pdf (takefive-stopfraud.org.uk)

 

Always remember:

 

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

 

For further information visit:

 

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

 

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

 

Fundraising for Ukraine

/in /by

Ukraine

Mr and Mrs R Nott have, very kindly, offered their home, Field Farm, Abberley, WR6 6AZ to any Abberley resident wishing to hold a fundraising activity such as a coffee morning, for example, in support of the Ukranian people in their hour of need.

All monies raised will be donated via the Parish Council to the Disasters Emergency Committee Fund recently established by the UK government who have pledged all donations to be matched pound for pound.

If you are interested in making use of this venue please contact the Parish Clerk for further details See below;

West Mercia Police – Fraud & Scam Bulletin – January 2022

/in /by

The Fraud & Scam Bulletin – January 2022

Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds
 

Welcome to the first monthly Bulletin  highlighting current fraud trends in our area.

Please circulate to your members and contacts, as well as using it for your own information.

This month we are focusing on two types of Fraud about which we have had multiple reports from the public in recent weeks and how you can keep safe.

Romance fraud – What is it?

You are convinced to make a payment to a person  you may have met through social media platforms, dating websites and Apps, or Gaming sites.

  • Fake profiles are used by criminals in an attempt to build a relationship with you – this is often known as “Catfishing”.
  • Criminals  use information found on social media to create fake identities to target you with the scam, often looking for profiles saying you are single, widowed or divorced
  • They will go to great lengths to gain your trust and convince you that you have found a genuine relationship before appealing to your compassionate side to ask for money
  • Criminals use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise any alarm bells
  • These requests might be highly emotive, such as criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit you from overseas

What to do:

·      If you are speaking to someone online that you have not met in person, stop and think. It could protect your heart and your money

·      Never give your bank details to someone online that you have never met, and if you are in any doubt about the person’s honesty, speak to a friend or family member. If they have tried to take money from you, report it to  Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

NEW WhatsApp FRAUD

A rising number of similar Frauds using WhatsApp have been seen in recent weeks in our area which residents need to be aware of.

  • The suspect will send the victim a message via WhatsApp claiming to be their son/daughter/friend and that they have had to change their phone number
  • The suspect then asks for money for debt repayment / to buy a new phone/asking to pay outstanding bills
  • The victim then ends up sending money to the fraudster believing this is going to an actual relative or friend
  • This type of Scam is becoming more frequent

Always remember:

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

For further information visit:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

 

 

Malvern Hills Electoral Review

/in /by

Portrait Poster

Today Malvern Hills District Council published draft recommendations for new wards, ward boundaries, and  ward names for Malvern Hills District Council.

They are now inviting comments on those recommendations.

Our consultation closes on 21 March 2022.

If you represent a local organisation or community group in Malvern Hills, please pass this message on to your members or anyone you think who might be interested in the review.

New electoral arrangements for Malvern Hills District Council Draft Recommendations January 2022

ELECTORAL REVIEW OF MALVERN HILLS Draft recommendations for ward boundaries in the district of Malvern Hills January 2022

Draft Recommendations on the new electoral arrangements

Have your say

You can take part in the consultation through the interactive consultation portal.

Interactive website includes further information about the Commission and the review.

MHDC encourage everyone who has a view on the draft recommendations to contact us, whether you support them or whether you wish to propose alternative arrangements.

MHDC will consider every representation received during consultation, whether it is submitted by an individual, a local group or an organisation.

MHDC will weigh each submission against the legal criteria which we must follow when drawing up electoral arrangements:

  • to deliver electoral equality: where each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors as others across the district;
  • that the pattern of wards should, as far as possible, reflect the interests and identities of local communities;
  • that the electoral arrangements should provide for effective and convenient local government.

It is important that you take account of the criteria if you are suggesting an alternative pattern of wards.

If you wish to put forward a view, we would also urge you to ensure that evidence supports your submission.

For example, if you wish to argue that two areas should be included in the same electoral ward, make sure you tell us why they should be together, providing evidence about community facilities, ties, organisations, and amenities, rather than simply asserting that they belong together.

Their website features technical guidance that explains the process and our policies, as well as guidance on how to take part in each part of the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pavement Parking in Abberley

/in /by

Dear Parishioners,

It is often brought to our notice that there is a problem with pavement parking in Abberley. It is misguided to think that it is helpful to park across the pavement. It may allow cars to pass unimpeded but it makes it IMPOSSIBLE for pedestrians, people with sight problems and pushchairs and prams to pass safely.
Below you will see the rules about parking as written in the Highway Code. They are advisory but extremely sensible. If it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to park on the pavement please make sure that you leave enough room for a pushchair to pass.

HIGHWAY CODE
244 You SHOULD NOT park on a pavement.
Parking on a pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs.

LAW GL(GP)A Sect 15
243 DO NOT park
– near a school entrance
– opposite or within 10 metres (32ft) of a junction
– near the brow of a hill
– where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
– in front of an entrance to a property
– on a bend

NB DO NOT instructions are prosecutable whereas SHOULD NOT is advisory

West Mercia Police – Economic Crime Unit – Monthly Fraud and Scam bulletin

/in /by

Welcome to West Mercia Police first monthly Bulletin  highlighting current fraud trends in our area.

This month we are focusing on two types of Fraud about which we have had multiple reports from the public in recent weeks and how you can keep safe.

Romance fraud – What is it?

You are convinced to make a payment to a person  you may have met through social media platforms, dating websites and Apps, or Gaming sites.

  • Fake profiles are used by criminals in an attempt to build a relationship with you – this is often known as “Catfishing”.
  • Criminals  use information found on social media to create fake identities to target you with the scam, often looking for profiles saying you are single, widowed or divorced
  • They will go to great lengths to gain your trust and convince you that you have found a genuine relationship before appealing to your compassionate side to ask for money
  • Criminals use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise any alarm bells
  • These requests might be highly emotive, such as criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit you from overseas

What to do:

·      If you are speaking to someone online that you have not met in person, stop and think. It could protect your heart and your money

·      Never give your bank details to someone online that you have never met, and if you are in any doubt about the person’s honesty, speak to a friend or family member. If they have tried to take money from you, report it to  Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website https://www.actionfraud.police.uk

NEW WhatsApp FRAUD

A rising number of similar Frauds using WhatsApp have been seen in recent weeks in our area which residents need to be aware of.

  • The suspect will send the victim a message via WhatsApp claiming to be their son/daughter/friend and that they have had to change their phone number
  • The suspect then asks for money for debt repayment / to buy a new phone/asking to pay outstanding bills
  • The victim then ends up sending money to the fraudster believing this is going to an actual relative or friend
  • This type of Scam is becoming more frequent

Always remember:

  • STOP: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
  • CHALLENGE: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
  • PROTECT: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.

For further information visit:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

MHDC December Roundup

/in /by

Booster vaccinations

Every adult should get boosted as soon as they eligible to give enough protection against catching Omicron. A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone aged 18 and over, and some people aged 16 and over, who have had 2 doses of the vaccine at least 3 months ago.

  • young people aged 16 to 17can get a first and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • all 12 to 15 year oldscan get a single dose of the vaccine

To book your vaccine or booster online go to book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination on the NHS website.

Find your nearest vaccination centre: Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG – Vaccination sites.

Council House closing over Christmas

Our reception at the Council House will be closed from 1pm on 24 December and will reopen at 9am on 4 January 2022. If you need help with an enquiry, there is plenty of information on our website: www.malvernhills.gov.uk

Christmas and New Year bin collections

Please note, there will be no changes to Christmas collections this year, days of collections will not change as we will be working on Bank Holidays.

We will also accept up to two extra black sacks on general waste weeks between Monday 20 December and Friday 7 January.

How to report a rough sleeper

No-one should have to spend Christmas on the streets. If you see someone sleeping rough, tell us where they are and we will go out as soon as possible to find them and provide support. Visit www.streetlink.org.uk/ or call 0300 500 0914.

Christmas Waste Campaign

We have been encouraging people to re-use, reduce, recycle and repair as much as they can this month with our Christmas Waste Campaign.

Keep checking our Facebook and Twitter pages every day at 12pm throughout the rest of December. We have been posting lots of useful tips and tricks on how to reduce waste this festive period.

MHDC councillors have also been getting involved by appearing in videos and offering eco tips.

The majority of content has been developed by Worcestershire County Council’s Sustainability Team, as well as the MHDC Comms Team and Matt Barker, Carbon Reduction Project Officer. Take a look at the Let’s Waste Less website for more tips.

Dog Control PSPO Consultation

On 2 December we launched the consultation to gather responses on our proposed Dog Control Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that has now expired. We have had a good response so far with 296 completed surveys.

We continue to receive reports in relation to dog fouling and would like to extend the PSPO that was previously in place to address these issues. If approved the PSPO will allow the council to deal with dog control offences by issuing fixed penalty notices.

The proposed PSPO could make the following an offence:

  • Failure to pick up dog faeces when in control of dog
  • Failure to carry a poop bag or other means to clean up after a dog
  • Failure to keep a dog on a lead in a designated area
  • Failure to exclude dogs from fenced off or enclosed children’s playgrounds.

Take part in the consultation before 13 January 2022.

Contact Rob Rich on 01684 862290 or  if you would like more information on the proposed PSPO.

Businesses could win £1,000 by taking part in skills survey

Businesses are being encouraged to take part in a survey to find out what their skills and training needs are.

The survey is being run by Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils with telemarketing agency, Team Telemarketing, and will end on 31 January 2022.

They will be contacted via phone call to take part in the survey but it can also be done online. All entrants will be entered into a prize draw to win a £1,000 cash prize.

The results will help guide the councils in providing targeted support to businesses including future subsidised courses to meet their needs, help with recruitment and to fill the skills gap.

The survey is being run as part of the Malvern Hills and Wychavon Upskilling Project which has received funding of £283,050 from the UK Government Renewal Fund.

Read more about the survey and how to take part.

New Tolkien Walking Story features on BBC Countryfile

The Malvern Hills recently featured on BBC Countryfile on Sunday 12 December.

Our Visitor Economy Officer Victoria Carman helped to develop the programme content to ensure it featured our connections to J.R.R Tolkien, C.S Lewis and Sir Edward Elgar.

The programme also featured Andy Stevenson from Point2Guides and a Lecturer at the University of Worcester walking across the Malvern Hills on the new Tolkien Walking Story.

Victoria Carman also commissioned Andy from Point2Guides to develop a brand-new series of Walking Stories called ‘The Chronicles of Malvernia’ which each tells a story linked to the myths, tales and legends from across The Malverns.

Visit www.visitthemalverns.org/lovetolkien for more information.

Healthy Habits

Residents are being encouraged to get active in the New Year with a new fitness and wellbeing programme.

Healthy Habits is a ten week programme which aims to help improve people’s health and wellbeing. It commences on the 12 January at The Octagon Malvern, and costs £20 for 10 weeks or £2 pay as you go.

The programme consists of weekly talks including: sleep, stress, how to relax, hormones, healthy eating, mindset and a range of exercise classes to try such as resistance bands, weights, yoga and Pilates.

Healthy Habits is fully supported by our Physical Activity and Wellbeing Officer, Rachel Nicholls, who will provide support and advice throughout the sessions.

Priory Park FAQs

As you will be aware work has already started to replace the play area in Priory Park. We have compiled a list of FAQ’s regarding the works, visit the Priory Park webpage for more information.

 

 

Town Centre Prospectus Consultation

There is still time to have your say on the future of the town centres in the Malvern Hills District.

Our consultation, which ends on 31 December, gathers views to guide our five town centre transformation plans. These will be for Barnards Green, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Tenbury Wells and Upton upon Severn. Take part in the survey.

Holiday Food Support

Ready, Steady, Worcestershire have partnered with providers across Worcestershire to offer free access to activities, leisure centres, clubs, events and theatres over the Christmas holiday.

The offer is available for families of children aged 5-15, in receipt of Free School Meals and families that are professionally referred to the programme. All activities will be available through the online booking system.

Need support this winter? We have put together a list of local and national organisations that can offer a range of support and advice, including with food, essentials and debt advice. Visit our website here for more information.

Upcoming Events

18 December – Great Malvern Farmers Market

Please also keep an eye out for events happening in Upton and Malvern Link – lots of exciting things being planned for this year!

To find additional events happening in the district, go to the Visit the Malverns events webpage.

 

 

 

Businesses could win £1,000 by taking part in skills survey

/in , /by

picture wccMHDC LOGO

Businesses could win £1,000 by taking part in skills survey

 

Businesses are being encouraged to take part in a survey to find out what their skills and training needs are.

The survey is being run by Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils with telemarketing agency, Team Telemarketing, and will end on 31 January 2022.

Businesses will be contacted via phone call to take part in the survey but it can also be done online. All entrants will be entered into a prize draw to win a £1,000 cash prize.

The results will help guide the councils in providing targeted support to businesses including future subsidised courses to meet their needs, help with recruitment and to fill the skills gap.

The survey is being run as part of the Malvern Hills and Wychavon Upskilling Project which has received funding of £283,050 from the UK Government Renewal Fund.

The project is being run by Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Councils, with Worcestershire County Council acting as the lead authority for the programme.

Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “This survey is an important part of our continued commitment to addressing the skills gap within the Malvern Hills District and helping businesses to thrive. It is a great opportunity for businesses to tell us what they need in terms of recruitment, providing training for staff and more.”

Cllr Richard Morris, Executive Board Member for Economic Growth and Tourism on Wychavon District Council, said: “We need to support the changing needs of businesses to help people stay and get into work, as well as growing a successful economy. We will be able to use the findings of the survey to provide much-needed, targeted support.”

The survey will take between three to 15 minutes to complete depending on the business.

Visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/skills to take part in the survey if you are a Malvern Hills District based business.

Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/business to take part in the survey if you are a Wychavon based business.

The Here2Help Community Services Directory

/in /by

Picture2

The Here2Help Community Services Directory

In September 2021, Here2Help launched its Community Services Directory as part of its wider service to help residents search for a range of services and support offered by charities, community groups, businesses, public sector groups and other organisations in their local area and across the whole of Worcestershire.

These services include mental health and wellbeing, financial advice, assistance and supplies, volunteering opportunities, recreation activities and much more.

Since its launch in September, over 275 organisations have signed up to offer support and services to Worcestershire residents.

The Here2Help team have also been out visiting various libraries in the County to talk to residents about the Here2Help Service and the Community Services Directory.

Do you know any local organisations that may be interested in registering their service on the Here2Help Community Services Directory ?

More information can be found by visiting  www.worcestershire.gov.uk/here2help

Your Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion wants to hear from you ahead of setting next year’s policing budget. 

/in , /by

Your Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion wants to hear from you ahead of setting next year’s policing budget. 

As part of the PCC’s ongoing commitment to take feedback from communities and use it to shape his decision making, he is seeking your views for his 2022 budget. Over the next four weeks, you will have the chance to have your say via a public survey.

The survey will ask you about your priorities, what concerns you have where you live and how much you would be willing to pay for the policing element of your council tax.

The PCC is urging you to take the time to have your say, as this is about your police force and this is your money.

To complete the survey, click on the following link:

https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90409334/Budget-consultation

The consultation closes on Monday 3rd January 2022.