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26th March 2024

BANK SCAMS

In recent weeks, several of the major banks have reported a rise in Bank Scams. Criminals may contact you in various ways including phone calls, emails, texts or social media.

Whilst it used to be easier to spot scams by their bad grammar, spelling or unusual email address, with modern technology many scams are getting much smarter and everyone has to be that bit more vigilant.

Criminals are also using QR codes within phishing emails to lure victims to fake websites, so always be wary of QR codes in emails.

How to recognise scam messages or phone calls

 Official – Criminals will pose as someone in authority such as the Bank or Government departments
 Urgency – you will be told that you must respond immediately, or in a short-fixed time span, and may be threatened with fines or penalties if you fail to respond
 Emotions – the message content, or tone over the phone, may make you frightened, panic, or even hopeful or curious. They may also use threatening language.
 Check – always check if a message or call is genuine if you have the slightest doubts. But do not use the contact details in the message but the details from your bank card or statements, or the official website. If responding to a phone call, firstly hang up, wait for at least 10 minutes before calling back, or just use a different phone, as criminals may keep the line open,

And finally
 Your Bank will never ask you for sensitive information over the phone, nor will they ever ask you to move funds into a different account, or hand over cards or cash to a courier
 Fraudsters can use “Number Spoofing” to emulate a genuine Bank phone number, so if you are unsure, hang up, let the line clear then ring back on the number on your bank card. To report any fraud or attempted fraud dial 159 to contact the Fraud Department of most of the major banks
 It is always advisable to delete any suspicious emails without opening them, and then clear your “Deleted Items” as well, for extra security

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Please feel free to share this information with any family, friends, neighbours you think it may be able to assist.

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Take Five to Stop Fraud

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
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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 report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks

25th March 2024
22nd March 2024

Shropshire Council now have access to flood recovery grants money from the Government, covering businesses and residents affected by Storm Henk from Tuesday 2 January 2024.

Businesses and residents whose properties were affected by Storm Henk are being urged to apply for a series of grants by Sunday 7 April 2024.

If you were affected by Storm Henk, which affected the county between Tuesday 2 January 2024 and Friday 12 January 2024, you may be able to apply for the following grants to help with your immediate needs:-

Flooded households in affected areas can apply for up to £500, to give cash to help with immediate costs.
Households and businesses significantly affected by flooding will be eligible for 100% council tax and business rates relief for at least three months.
Small-to-medium sized businesses in affected areas will be eligible for up to £2,500 from the Business Recovery Grant, to help them return to business as usual.
Eligible flood-hit property owners will be able to apply for up to £5,000 to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future flooding, via the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.

20th March 2024

CrimeStoppers are an independent charity that gives you the power to speak up to stop crime, 100% anonymously.

Whoever you are, wherever you live, from communities to companies.

By phone and online, 24/7, 365 days a year.

CrimeStoppers also share advice on how to protect the people you care about from crime, so everyone can feel safe.

After receiving your call or a completed anonymous online form, CrimeStoppers create a report that brings together all the information you gave them, making sure it doesn't contain any information that could identify you.

Your report is sent to the relevant authority with the legal responsibility to investigate crimes, make arrests and charge people in order to bring them to justice. This could be West Mercia Police or an agency such as the UK Border Agency or HM Revenue & Customs. Find out more with what CrimeStoppers do with your information here.

CrimeStoppers research confirms that nearly a fifth of the public have known about a crime, but chose not to talk to the police (according to insights drawn from various research projects commissioned by CrimeStoppers).

Some of the reasons for people not speaking out include:

I do not want to talk to the police
I need to report someone I know
I am worried that others will know if I speak out
I am not sure if what I know will help
I do not want to get involved with courts
Hundreds of thousands of people contact CrimeStoppers every year. Below is a sample of the impact their information – given 100% anonymously – has in making us safer.

· Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a crime that many people are now more alert to thanks to greater publicity and education.

A piece of information we received about a man engaging in sexual activity with a minor led to a multi-agency strategy with the authorities now taking a lead through the statutory child protection process.

· Knife crime has been highlighted as a particular distressing issue due to the harm it causes and the prevalence amongst young people.

CrimeStoppers received a call about an incident where two schoolboys were carrying knives for protection. Both boys, who were aged 14, were visited by the police and spoken to in front of their parents. This approach could go some way to discourage young people from believing the myth that carrying a knife will help to keep them safe.

Fearless is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality.

What makes this site different is they also provide you with a safe place to give information to us about crime - 100% anonymously. Fearless is the dedicated youth service of the independent charity CrimeStoppers

You can give information to them using their online form or by calling CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

CrimeStoppers cannot track your IP address or your phone number and they have no way of knowing who has contacted them.

After receiving your completed form or your call, CrimeStoppers create a report, ensuring it doesn't contain any info that could identify you, and generate a report which is then sent on to the relevant authority with the legal responsibility to review the information that has been passed to them.

CrimeStoppers are not the police, they are a charity. You will not be contacted by the police after passing information on to Fearless as the police have no way of knowing who the information has come from.

19th March 2024

TELEPHONE FRAUD

The number of “Nuisance” calls has risen in recent years from 21% to 40%, and according to OFGEN, nearly 40% of Scams start with a phone call.

These scams involve fraudsters trying to gain your personal and financial information, and are often referred to as “Vishing” – an amalgamation of “Voice” and “Phishing”.

Very often the fraudster has disguised their call identity by using an apparently legitimate number so appearing genuine; this is known as “Spoofing”. If you do receive a call from a company which is not expected then just hang up, wait for 10 minutes or so, or use another phone, and then call the real company back on a listed number from their website or letterhead.

Common Phone Call Scams

 Technical Support scams - They may impersonate a company such as Microsoft or BT, and tell you there is a fault on your computer or Broadband. They then probably will ask you to download remote access software to gain access to your computer, or else install Malware on your computer.
 Impersonation Scams - Typically these may claim to come from your “Bank Fraud Department” telling you that your account or bank cards have been compromised and you need to transfer money to another so-called Safe Account, from where it vanishes. Similarly, calls may come from fraudsters masquerading as a Police Officer, Utility Provider, HMRC or DVLA.
 Prize Draw Scams – “You have won the Lottery or a Prize Draw!” Sounds good but is it? You may think you never entered the competition but they will convince you that you have, then ask for your bank details so you can “receive” the prize
 Financial Scams – you are called with tempting offers for investing your money in funds, schemes or perhaps in Bitcoins with the promise of huge returns. Since 2019, it has been illegal to make cold calls to sell Pension schemes, so any calls about Pension Schemes will be scams. This scheme may be extended in the future to ban any unsolicited financial cold call.

How can you stay safe?

 Never give out your financial information over the phone, and just hang up if you are unsure about the caller’s identity
 Register for “TPS” - Telephone Preference Service - this prevents bona fide companies calling you so you will then know that any cold call is a fake.
 Scammers will often keep the phone line open after the call so even when you think you are calling a legitimate number you are still speaking to the fraudster. Wait for up to 15 minutes or make the call using a different phone line or mobile

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Please feel free to share this information with any family, friends, neighbours you think it may be able to assist.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take Five to Stop Fraud

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 report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks