A resident has received the below email, if you receive similar email do not respond to it, forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk and then delete.
Please tell others of this scam.
Thieves and organised gangs are continuing to target catalytic converters from vehicles across West Mercia. This is also an international concern with forces across the world reporting a recent increase in reported catalytic converter theft. The rise in the value of the precious metals they contain is thought to be the reason behind the spike in this offence.
Inspector Andy Tanner said: “Thieves tend to target vehicles such as vans and 4x4s that have a higher ground clearance making the converters more easily accessible. However, all types of vehicles are vulnerable.
“The illegal market for the metals that the converters contain is strong and each converter can make a thief hundreds of pounds, but take only a few minutes to remove from a vehicle and can cost thousands to replace.”
“We are actively investigating several cases and would ask people to please take a few steps to reduce the chances of their vehicle being targeted. One of those steps is to please report any suspicious activity around parked vehicles that you may see or have recorded on mobile devices, CCTV or in-vehicle cameras.”
Tips on how to protect your vehicle:
For crimes in progress call 999. For non-emergencies report online at www.westmercia.police.uk/report
Speak to your Safer Neighbourhood Team and for more information, visit https://www.westmercia.police.uk/
Please share, verbally and through social media, and ask your friends to share this message far and wide to all dog walkers:
“If you Bag It, Bin It, Don’t leave It”.
Once again, dog pooh bags have been left on the ground in Pepper Wood; on Monday 15th February 4 bags were picked up from the bottom of the “welcome” sign at the Wood Lane entrance plus a purple bag left adjacent to the bridle path.
Some people say that they leave a bag to pick up later, the purple bag had been left for over two weeks.
It is NOT acceptable that volunteers have to clear up other peoples’ laziness.
We are fortunate that in Fairfield village you are no more than 1/2 mile from a dog waste bin. Also, if your dog does a mess in Pepper Wood off the path you can leave it, Mother Nature will work her magic and in a few days it is gone.
Work commences Monday 15th February to replace old water pipes in the Bournheath area, which should take approximately two months to complete.
Teams will start at the junction of Doctors Hill/Rock Lane and Valley Road, work will progress along Valley Road and Cockshutt Lane before finishing at the Cockshutt Lane/Snakes Lake Lane junction by the end of February.
The team will then move and restart work on Dordale Road/Yarnold Lane junction (22nd February) and progress along Yarnold Lane until it meets Warbage Lane by early April 2021.
In order to maintain safety, traffic control or road closures will be in place, with diversion routes sign posted.
| The fundraising campaign to double Pepper Wood is progressing well, if you would like to make a donation to the appeal CLICK HERE |
| Littering around our beautiful woodland remains at a low level, however, the Pepper Wood volunteers are making an appeal on two items: 1: If you are not prepared to take bags of dog waste to the bins, then please do not bag the stuff – use a stick to flick it into the undergrowth, otherwise it simply becomes a particularly unpleasant item of litter. Pepper Wood and Community volunteers are not there to clear up the mess left. 2: Please do not discard tissues. Their delicacy made persuade you that they are easily biodegradable. In fact, they remain visible for weeks, and some do not degrade at all. The muddy state of the footpaths around the wood are worse than any of us can remember, and every time we think it cannot get worse it does. Footpath improvements will be high up the agenda when the volunteer teams get going again. In normal times, volunteer teams work every Sunday and Wednesday from about 10 am until 1:30 pm. You are welcome to join any of the work parties, all tools are provided at work parties, and all you will need are: Clothes to protect you from the elements and rogue plants such bramble and dog rose, strong shoes or boots, something to drink, and a sense of humour. An essential ritual of all work parties is the cake and coffee break. In colder months this is held around a brazier on which coffee is roasted and brewed. No experience or specific skills are assumed; a lot of the work is scaled-up gardening. |
Do you know the signs someone could be involved with county line activity? Take a look at them here: https://www.fearless.org/en/campaigns/county-lines
Concerns can be reported completely confidentially and anonymously to Crimestoppers or Fearless.
New data from UK Finance reveals a 20 per cent increase in bank transfer romance fraud between January – November 2020 compared to the previous year, with the total value of these scams rising by 12 per cent to £18.5 million. The average loss per victim reported to UK Finance members was £7,850, highlighting the significant impact this type of fraud can have on victims’ finances.
But criminals can trick victims into sending them money in many ways, not just via a bank transfer. Action Fraud has also seen a rise in reports made by members of the public who have fallen victim to romance fraud in 2020, with total reported losses equating to over £68 million. In these reports, victims have lost money via bank transfer, money transfer, sending fraudsters gift cards and vouchers or presents such as phones and laptops, and providing them with access to their bank account or card.
Romance scams involve people being duped into sending money to criminals who go to great lengths to gain their trust and convince them that they are in a genuine relationship. They use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise 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 the victim if they are overseas.
The rise in romance scams comes as more people have turned to online dating during 2020 due to social distancing restrictions. Figures from the Online Dating Association (ODA) estimate that over 2.3 million Brits used dating apps during the first lockdown, with 64 per cent of people surveyed seeing dating apps as a lifeline for those living alone. While the internet can be a great way to meet people and form new relationships, the growth in popularity of online dating is giving criminals more opportunities to exploit and coerce people into parting with their money.
Scammers will often build a relationship with their victims over time, the ODA’s data shows that half (53 per cent) of people surveyed are having longer conversations on dating services during lockdown. UK Finance is therefore calling on people to look out for their friends and family this Valentine’s Day. Dating app users should also speak to their friends and family for advice, and follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign to keep themselves safe from scams.
West Mercia Police Detective Inspector Emma Wright from the Economic Crime Unit said: “We are committed to safeguarding vulnerable people and disrupting criminality that preys on victims and causing them significant financial losses. We work in collaboration with the City of London Police to investigate reports and develop intelligence leads to disrupt romance fraudsters, whilst also safeguarding, supporting and offering protection advice to the victims.
“Romance scams are both emotionally and financially damaging for victims. The increasing popularity of online dating services has made it easier for criminals to target victims, so we urge everyone to be cautious and follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign, which offers straight-forward and impartial advice to help people spot scams and protect themselves against fraud.
“Although banks are always looking out for suspicious activity, customers must be on their guard and protect themselves too. Always be wary of requests for money from someone you’ve never met in person. If you think you’ve been the victim of a romance scam, contact your bank immediately, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call us on 101.”
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “I am committed to protecting vulnerable people and supporting victims of crime. Romance fraud is a horrible crime that can leave victims devastated, both financially and emotionally.
“Providing the right support for victims is central to my role as commissioner, and I would urge anyone that has been a victim of this very personal crime to reach out to the support that is available.”
If you’ve been affected by romance fraud or know someone who has, then support is available from the West Mercia Victim Advice Line.
The Victim Advice Line is a free and confidential service offering advice, practical help and emotional support to people affected by crime, regardless of whether it has been reported to the police.
Support is available by telephone on 0800 9523000, via email at info@victimadviceline.org.uk and through live chat on victimadviceline.org.uk
How users can stay safe from romance scams:
If you think you have been a victim of a romance scam, do not feel ashamed or embarrassed – you are not alone. Contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
It is important that no matter how long you’ve been speaking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met them in person it’s important that you do not:
Preparations for the laying of fibre is complete and contractors, on behalf of Openreach, have started laying the fibre optic cables that will bring Ultrafast Broadband to properties that are connected to the Mount Road junction.
Once underground cables are laid, work will commence connecting properties. It is hoped that Fibre to the Properties will be “live” by early Spring.
Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day as it is sometimes known, is a traditional feast day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, this year Shrove Tuesday falls on 16th February.
Lent – the 40 days leading up to Easter – was traditionally a time of fasting, and Shrove Tuesday was the last opportunity to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the fast, and pancakes are the perfect way of using up these ingredients. As well as eating pancakes it is traditional to have pancake races and toss pancakes!
There will be no community pancake races due to Covid restriction, but there is still something that we can do as a community to mark the occasion:
Challenge
On a dinner plate size circular piece of paper (your pancake), create something that depicts part of our community, e.g. your pancake could have a church (St. Marks), or trees (Pepperwood) or football field (Recreation Ground) – you can use pens, crayons or craft materials. Take a photo of your creation and email to admin@fvca.org.uk where will share on a social media streams & website. Please state name to be quoted and, if created by a child, age.
LENT GROUP 2021
For the people of Belbroughton, Blakedown, Broome, Churchill and Fairfield
On Zoom
on The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
Starting Wednesday 24th February 2pm, lasting till 3.15/30 pm
For 6 sessions
The only thing you will need is a Bible.
Session 1: Following Jesus. Matthew 4: 18-22; 8: 18-27
Session 2: The Path of Grace. Mathew 5: 1-12
Session 3: The Path of Humility. John 13: 1-17
Session 4: The Path of Suffering: Matthew 10: 1-33
Session 5: The Path of Peace. Matthew 7: 1-12
Session 6: Following to the End. John 11:1-44
Not everyone agrees, but the majority think that Thomas a Kempis, an Augustinian monk of the 1400’s, is the author of a book that for years was second only to the Bible in sales. The Imitation of Christ has never been out of print and copies have been in circulation since 1418.
Revered by Protestants and Catholics alike, you might like to get your own copy. You can get the Penguin Classics translation by Robert Jeffery, the Dean of Worcester Cathedral before the present one, for under £10. But you do not need to have your own copy. You might already have one!
If you indicate you want to join this Zoom Group, along with the Zoom details, each week you will get a “Handout” with some text from the Imitation and the questions we shall discuss/think about.
Do join us!
Email sueoliver778@gmail.com
Canon Sue