Author: FVCA

Nominated Neighbour Scheme

Nominated Neighbour scheme is designed to deter cold callers and rogue traders and can help neighbours work together to give cold callers the cold shoulder.

A bright yellow Nominated Neighbour sticker, prominently displayed shows potential callers that their identity will be checked by a trusted neighbour and they will only been seen if accompanied by a known and trusted person.

All it takes is a neighbour, family friend or family member to agree to be nominated and any callers will be directed to them for their identity to be verified.

The scheme makes it clear to any callers that their identity will be checked, deterring those callers who are not genuine.

The nominated neighbour scheme is funded by West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner to help reduce doorstep crime. It is free and delivered to homes by the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership represented by Council Community Safety officers or your local police officers.

In addition to the Nominated Neighbour window sticker, a pack containing useful information on keeping safe is also provided as part of the scheme.

Further information and details of how to join the scheme can be made by contacting Community Safety at Bromsgrove District Council by calling on 01527 534187 or email at community safety@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk

Pepper Wood Extension Update

Paul Jarczewski, Woodland Trust Site Manger (Central England) has provided the Community Association with the following update:

The online consultation was very successful. We had 79 responses, which indicated very obvious support for our plans to establish the new wood. I’m sure this interest was in no small part due to the Community Association championing the project locally, so many thanks for that.

We are just about to submit our final design plans to The Forestry Commission for their approval. The consultation response is an important appendix to this, as it provides evidence to the Commission that the new wood is something that local people will value.

One of the things we wish to do is set up some monitoring as the new land develops (hoping of course that our fundraising is successful and we acquire the land). The monitoring will look at how well trees establish on different areas of the site, but also look at how the biodiversity changes/improves with time. It is very interesting to know we already have some potentially rare species.

We are still fundraising to buy the land, so any opportunity you have to let people know would be greatly appreciated.

If you would like to know more about the proposed Pepper Wood Expansion visit http://fvca.org.uk/directory/pepper-wood/

Do You Know What A Ghost Broker is?

Just 15% of people have heard of a ‘ghost broker’.* Do you know what one is?
Have you ever heard of a ‘ghost broker’? No, we are not talking about things that go bump in the night – this is a lot scarier. ‘Ghost brokers’ are fraudsters who sell fake or invalid car insurance policies. Victims are sold fake insurance documents for a policy that does not exist, or for a genuine policy that has been set up using false details to lower the price of the premium.

How do ‘ghost brokers’ operate?
Fraudsters lure victims in with the offer of cheaper insurance premiums, usually via social media or by word-of-mouth. These individuals or groups pose as middlemen for well-known insurance companies, claiming they can offer you legitimate car insurance at a significantly cheaper price.

This type of fraud is typically carried out either by forging insurance documents, falsifying your details to bring the price down, or by taking out a genuine policy for you but cancelling it soon after.

Often, the victim is not aware that they have been scammed until they are involved in an accident and try to claim on the policy.

Who do ‘ghost brokers’ target?
‘Ghost brokers’ tend to target vulnerable communities, including members of non-English speaking communities who may not have full knowledge of UK insurance and laws, as well as young people looking for cheaper insurance deals.

Last year, Action Fraud received 694 reports of ‘ghost broking’, with almost a third (29%) coming from victims aged 17-29. The reported losses for these victims alone totalled £113,500, with each individual losing an average of £559.

Figures also indicate that over half (58%) of all reports in 2020 were submitted by men.

What could happen if I drive without valid insurance?
As policies sold by ‘ghost brokers’ are either invalid, non-existent or fraudulent, this means that the driver is technically uninsured, meaning that you could face:

£300 fixed penalty notice
Six points on driving licence
Vehicle being seized and crushed

How can I protect myself from ‘ghost brokers’?
There are simple steps that you can take to spot the signs of these scams and avoid being taking for a ride by ‘ghost brokers’:

‘Ghost brokers’ often advertise and communicate via social media, online forums and messaging apps. If a broker is only using a mobile phone or email as a way of contact, this can be a sign of this type of crime. Fraudsters do not want to be traced after they have taken money from their victims.
They may also try to sell insurance policies through print adverts in pubs, clubs or bars, newsagents
If a deal seems too good to be true, then it probably is. If you are not sure about the broker, check on the Financial Conduct Authority or the British Insurance Brokers’ Association website for a list of all authorised insurance brokers. You can also contact the insurance company directly to verify the broker’s details. You can also check to see if a car appears to be insured on the Motor Insurance Database website.
If you think that you have been a victim of a ghost broker, you can report your concerns to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
You can also contact the Insurance Fraud Bureau via its confidential Cheatline on 0800 422 0421 or on the IFB website.

Released Balloons Can Kill

Another balloon found next to pasture land, near Pepper Wood. This balloon, in the shape of a bottle with the word ‘Cheers’ on it, was made out of plastic. In addition to being unsightly, spoiling our beautiful countryside, balloons can kill livestock – cattle have been known to eat balloons that end up stuck in their throat, choking them to death.

Neighbourhood Matters

West Mercia Police have launched Neighbourhood Matters, their brand new community messaging service!

Through Neighbourhood Matters you can sign up for local alerts, receive information about crime in your area, find out about police events and more.

WHAT IS FAIRFIELD 200 CLUB?

Members of the 200 club buy one or more numbers which go into a monthly draw. There are 200 numbers in total. The subscription is only £1 per month for each number. Over the course of the year £1500 is given out as prizes and the remainder (up to £900) goes into Fairfield Village Hall funds. Twice per year the top monthly prize is £200.

You may have been resident in the Fairfield area for a number of years and never got around to joining or you may be new to the village.

Either way, please consider giving your support by joining the 200 Club. Most members pay £12 annually for each number.

Further details and application forms can be found on the website http://fvca.org.uk/200-club/. Alternatively, please contact the Administrator (details below).

If you wish to join the 200 Club, please take the completed form(s) and subscriptions to the Administrator or contact her and she will collect them.

The 200 Club Administrator is

Linda Garvin

83 Brook Road

Fairfield

01527 834935

Cryptocurreny Investment Scams

Criminals will cold call consumers and convince them to share their personal details and to sign up to cryptocurrency investment websites. The consumer is then asked to make an initial minimum deposit, after which the criminal will call again to persuade them to invest more to achieve a greater profit.

Consumers have realised that they have been defrauded, but only after the website has been deactivated. The friendly person they had previously spoken to can no longer be contacted.

Action Fraud have provided these tips on how to protect yourself:

• Don’t assume it’s real – professional-looking websites, adverts or social media posts don’t always mean that an investment opportunity is genuine. Criminals can use the names of well known brands or individuals to make their scams appear legitimate.

• Don’t be rushed or pressured into deciding – a genuine bank or financial organisation won’t force you to part with your money on the spot. Always be wary if you’re pressured to invest quickly or promised returns that sound too good to be true.

• Stay in control – avoid uninvited investment offers, especially those over cold calls. If you’re thinking about making an investment, get independent advice and thoroughly research the company first

Holiday Fraud & Top Tips from ‘Which?’

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) have issued an alert to warn members of the public about the risk of holiday fraud and ticketing scams following the announcement of the government’s planned road map out of lockdown.

Any significant demands for holidays are likely to be exploited by scammers leading to an increase in holiday fraud.

Here are some top tips around holiday scams from ‘Which?’:

Incredibly cheap online deal – If the price for your flight or holiday is considerably cheaper than the average cost elsewhere, you should be suspicious.

Look out for logos – Looking out for official logos is a good way to check the authenticity of holiday booking, travel agent and tour operators. Seeing the ATOL logo in your travel company’s brochures, adverts and websites should mean your holiday will be protected.

Watch out for fake listings – Check out if a property exists by using Google Street View to see the property and the area. You can also use Google Images Reverse Search to see if the interior photos have been used elsewhere on the internet for other property listings.

Bank transfer – If a bank transfer is your only option for payment, this should set alarm bells ringing. You should be especially cautious if you’re asked to pay directly into a private individual’s bank account. Not only does this show no bank is prepared to provide credit card facilities, but – if you’re dealing with a scammer – it will be almost impossible to get your money back.Check online reviews – Do a thorough search to check the company’s credentials. Check multiple reviews for information on other people’s experiences and take note of any warnings about the company.

Do you have scam mail?

Please write the date you received the mail on its envelope, then pop it into any mailbag or envelope and send to the National Trading Standards Team using this address:

FREEPOST
NTSST
MAIL MARSHALS

Another Successful Pop Up Police Surgery

PC Stone from Bromsgrove North Safer Neighbourhood Team enjoyed meeting residents on Friday 11th June, some discussing issues/concerns and other popped along for a chat. It is hoped that another surgery will be arranged for about 5 weeks time.

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