As Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads across the UK, it will be harder for people to maintain their social connections.
For many, the telephone will be the easiest and most accessible way to keep in contact.
Where possible, call your friends, colleagues and relatives regularly on the phone to see how they are, especially those who are older and not up to date with modern technology.
The Maureen Lipman 1988 advert, it’s good to talk (below) will hopefully bring a smile and encourage us to pick up the phone and speak to someone we care about.
Staffordshire Police are reporting “Coronavirus Related Fraud” which is affecting many people, and they want you to be aware of what is happening.
What scams are we seeing?
The majority of reports are related to online shopping scams where people have ordered protective face masks, hand sanitiser, and other products, which have never arrived.
Other frauds being reported include ticket fraud, romance fraud, charity fraud and lender loan fraud.
Fraudulent emails – We have also received over 200 reports of coronavirus-themed fraudulent emails. These attempt to trick people into opening malicious attachments which could lead to fraudsters stealing people’s personal information, email logins and passwords, and banking details.
Some of the tactics being used in fraudulent emails include:
Fraudsters claiming to be from a research group that mimic the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO). They claim to provide the victim with a list of active infections in their area but to access this information the victim needs to either: click on a link which redirects them to a credential-stealing page; or make a donation of support in the form of a payment into a Bitcoin account.
Fraudsters providing articles about the virus outbreak with a link to a fake company website where victims are encouraged to click to subscribe to a daily newsletter for further updates.
Fraudsters sending investment scheme and trading advice encouraging people to take advantage of the coronavirus downturn.
Fraudsters purporting to be from HMRC offering a tax refund and directing victims to a fake website to harvest their personal and financial details. The emails often display the HMRC logo making it look reasonably genuine and convincing.
Protect yourself
1) Watch out for scam messages
Don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details.
2) Shopping online:
If you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know and trust, carry out some research first, and ask a friend or family member for advice before completing the purchase. If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, use a credit card if you have one, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases.
Nearby Tunstall Supermarkets are having their say on people stockpiling goods, and what is happening in their stores.
Lidl
Lidl have advised that as of yet there are no restrictions to customers buying goods.
Aldi
Aldi is restricting customers to purchase only four of each item.
The supermarket has said it’s store is seeing an increased demand in buying goods, and the restriction in purchasing will help facilitate all customers needs.
Aldi add that they still have good product availability, and are restocking shelves regularly.
Asda
On the Asda website, they say, Like most retailers, they have seen a heightened demand for products both in store and online – particularly on items like hand sanitiser and cleaning products and as a result, have implemented a two item limit on purchasing them.
Whilst doing everything they can to maintain the availability of products for all customers, they are asking people to shop responsibly in store and online so everyone has access to the essentials.
Sandyford & Goldenhill Residents Association is encouraging everyone to shop sensibly, and only purchase what is needed. Advice being given by the large supermarket chains is that there is enough items in their stores for everyone, and there is no need to panic buy.
Stoke on Trent City Council wants to make you aware that a formal partner for children’s services has today been confirmed. Leeds City Council has been appointed as the authority’s official Improvement Advisor for an initial period of 12 months, to work with the council to support delivery of its children’s social care services function.
The Secretary of State for Education has authorised the partnership in a Statutory Direction to the Council issued today. It follows a recommendation to seek a long-term local authority partner, by Children’s Commissioner Eleanor Brazil, who is working on behalf of the Secretary of State to oversee the city council’s improvements after its children’s services were judged inadequate by Ofsted in 2019.
This means that with immediate effect, the city council will now benefit from an intensive package of support delivered directly by Leeds City Council. Leeds City Council’s children’s services have been judged outstanding by Ofsted. They will help the council to drive through necessary improvements over an initial one-year period by working with the council to support delivery of its children social care services functions, providing expertise, additional capacity, leadership, insight and challenge.
Improving children’s services is our number one priority. The size and scale of the challenge we face is significant and this partnership gives us the opportunity to learn from an outstanding authority and accelerate the improvement work that we have been progressing, with support provided by Stockport and Essex councils on a shorter term basis. Improvement required at this scale can take between two and three years. Securing an experienced and outstanding local authority Improvement partner is a significant milestone in driving forward much-needed change and will only benefit the most vulnerable children and young people in the city.
An eight year old boy was hit by a vehicle on a pedestrian crossing outside McDonald’s in Sandyford.
It was said the young boy was in collision with a silver or grey van when the lights were on red, and the vehicle in question failed to stop after the accident.
The injured boy suffered minor injuries after being taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital, but the situation could have been much worse after a fatality at the location sadly happened a few years ago.
Staffordshire Police are asking anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident number 645 of February 29. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Many of us have spent our holiday’s in Rhyl, and even a day trip to the seaside, but many older people probably don’t have the same memories when leaving their families to go to Rhyl Homes.
The idea of going to Rhyl was to give both the children and their parents a much needed break, which in some cases was far from ideal, especially when many children had never been separated from their parents and vice versa.
David Williams in the link below shares some of his experiences at Rhyl Homes where he recalls on times that were far from being that of enjoyable.
Staffordshire Police have recently received reports of an air weapon being discharged within the Graveyard at St Johns Church, High Street, Goldenhill. It would appear that someone has placed a makeshift target on one of the trees and unknown persons are using it to fire the air weapon at. These persons are committing a criminal offence by discharging an air weapon in a public place.
If anyone has knowledge of this, please contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or via other methods on the Staffordshire Police Website, and if any person wishes to remain anonymous then they can contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Free “7 a-side football tournament is being run by Port Vale’s Foundation Trust, where young people from the ages of 13 to 16 can register to take part in the event.
Premier League “Kicks” Project welcomes all participants to join them at Dimensions Leisure Centre in Burslem.
As Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads across the UK, it will be harder for people to maintain their social connections.
Staffordshire Police say that the Government has announced that everyone must now stay at home, except in exceptional circumstances.
Staffordshire Police are reporting “Coronavirus Related Fraud” which is affecting many people, and they want you to be aware of what is happening.
Lidl
n the Asda website, they say, Like most retailers, they have seen a heightened demand for products both in store and online – particularly on items like hand sanitiser and cleaning products and as a result, have implemented a two item limit on purchasing them.
Stoke on Trent City Council wants to make you aware that a formal partner for children’s services has today been confirmed. Leeds City Council has been appointed as the authority’s official Improvement Advisor for an initial period of 12 months, to work with the council to support delivery of its children’s social care services function.
An eight year old boy was hit by a vehicle on a pedestrian crossing outside McDonald’s in Sandyford.
Staffordshire Police have recently received reports of an air weapon being discharged within the Graveyard at St Johns Church, High Street, Goldenhill. It would appear that someone has placed a makeshift target on one of the trees and unknown persons are using it to fire the air weapon at. These persons are committing a criminal offence by discharging an air weapon in a public place.
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