NHW charter on safety

Any individual, community group, Neighbourhood Watch scheme, business, charity or other organisation in England andWales can sign up for FREE, including schools and universities, community centres, taxi firms and public places such as museums, libraries and leisure centres.

Keep your community safe

NEIGHBOURHOODWatch has launched its own Community Safety Charter - and you can get involved if you care about keeping your community safe.

The aim of the Charter is to involve a wider range of local organisations, charities,businesses and groups in crime prevention activity and extend the scope of this work towards a goal of eliminating harassment, antisocial behaviour,and intimidation experienced by anyone who lives,works,studies,or visits anywhere in England andWales. The Charter is a means by which NeighbourhoodWatch members, local residents,businesses,and organisations,agree to do whatever they can together to provide an environment that is safer for everyone, and help us to meet this goal by committing to the following Pledges : Promote a culture that does not tolerate antisocial behaviour,harassment, intimidation and hostility towards others Enable others to identify and take an active stance against these crimes and incidents Actively encourage and support those who experience or witness these crimes and incidents to report them to the relevant authorities Support those affected and signpost those who need further support to agencies who can help them.

Who cansignup to theCharter? Any individual,community group,NeighbourhoodWatch scheme, business,charity or other organisation in England andWales can sign up for FREE,including schools and universities,community centres,taxi firms and public places (such as museums,libraries,leisure centres).

Whysignup to the Charter?

Individuals will feel safer because they know the whole community is looking out for them,which can have a profound effect on their wellbeing,feelings of safety and confidence

No one wants the fear of harassment and intimidation in their community. Signing up to the Charter sends a clear message that this behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by your organisation or group

You will have a clear role in empowering people to do something positive to prevent these crimes in their neighbourhood

You will be creating a more positive,safer environment where you work or live

The collective power of a wide range of local community members, all working towards a shared goal will have a much greater impact than working individually

WhatwillIreceive? Downloadable copies of the Charter to display Downloadable or interactive training modules in various formats to use for you and your members/staff/volunteer Crime prevention advice and guidance through our dedicated website pages Other promotional materials (for example badges,pens,window display stickers and beer mats) to purchase at a later stage The opportunity to attend online events to share ideas and good practices in promoting and implementing the Charter. The opportunity to sign up forAlerts about the crime affecting your local area Invited to become aAffiliate member of NeighbourhoodWatch, whilst keeping your group or business identity.

How canIget involved? Identify a lead from your organisation/group/business Sign up to the Community Safety Charter,agreeing to uphold its principles and promote it within your community,business,and networks Display the Charter on your premises,your neighbourhood and/or on your website Promote the Charter through your social media channels Register your group or organisation as an affiliate of NeighbourhoodWatch on the NeighbourhoodWatch Register at www.ourwatch.org.uk/join Raise awareness amongst your community,group and /or with your members about harassment and intimidation and how to prevent and report it Renew your commitment to the Community Safety Charter every three years.

Duringeachissuewewillbehighlightcasesofshoddyandoftendangerous worksothatyoutakethecorrectstepsbeforeemployinganybuildertodo workonyourhome.Tobesafeandtobesure,usetheKiistoneAppandthis willsaveyouuntoldheartacheandheartbreak...andmoney.

How to avoid financial hell

IF you think you need a reason to make thorough checks on any tradesman doing work on your home, just read on.We have highlighted two stories which shows how some rogue operators behave.

And the heartache of all residents could have been avoided had they downloaded the Kiistone App to make sure that no tradesman could walk off with their money.

Company 1

This company (we haven’t named them for legal reasons) has taken £4250 from a client and hasn 't done any work whatsoever.

The company allege they spent £900 on scaffolding, but there is no scaffold and no refund and the owner refuses to say where this money has gone.

There ’ s £200 for skip, but no skip, no refund, and no idea where the money has gone.The rest should have gone on materials but there aren ’t any and no receipts.

The builder has lied to customers stating scaffold has been paid for and about to go up and has basically gaslighted us into thinking work would proceed but now he is ignoring the client.

Company 2

ATRADESMAN fromTorquay was given a 43-month prison sentence and a Criminal Behaviour Order for 10 years at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to running a fraudulent business.

Between 1 October 2016 and 30 April 2018 Daniel Denison, 60, of Kingsteignton, Devon, was paid significant amounts of money by homeowners for building work which he either failed to complete or never even started.

Mr Denison took substantial deposits from eight customers before delivering building works to a poor standard, failing to apply for planning permission when required, requesting additional payments for so-called ‘ extras ’ or leaving jobs unfinished.

Completion deadlines for building work were missed and calls from his victims were repeatedly ignored.

Once the customer agreed to the work, they paid a 10% deposit and whilst in some cases works did commence, frequently it would then be months before they heard anything with completion deadlines passing before works even began. Had customers used the Kiistone App they would not have been out of pocket or living in a nightmare. If you need a reason why you should sign up to Kiistone, check out Cowboy Builders (rogue Traders) on Facebook and read about the heartbreak suffered by hundred’ s of members. The Kiistone App has been designed by Tim Mullock and it has been specifically designed to ensure that builders cannot rip you off in the way that these criminals have done. Kiistone,which aims to protect consumers from rogue traders,provide peace of mind to honest tradespeople and restore faith and improve the image of the building industry. Built to reflectTim ' s 23 years experience as a tradesperson,Kiistone safeguards all parties interests in a project by holding monies safely in escrow (a neutral bank acDaniel Dennison, a rogue count). It offsets project stages (that include tasks mutually agreed by the customer and tradesperson) against money milestones - where funds can only be drawn down after a stage has been completed to the customers satisfaction. The tradesperson also benefits because they know the money is ‘ ringfenced’ allowing them to purchase materials and invest time in a job - leading to immediate payment on completion. All messages,extras and job changes are recorded on the spot to avoid misunderstandings and reflect both parties ' conduct should a dispute arise. Kiistone is the key to peace of mind and is a small price to pay when you calculate the thousands of pounds you could lose or the condition your home could be left in. The message is: Stay alert and do your homework before you employ anyone - better still use the Kiistone app to ensure peace of mind. helpdesk@kiistone.co.uk

Awalk along the beach with family and friends is one way to celebrate the passing of a loved one

Funeral Planning regulations: Protecting your interests

THE funeral plan industry has undergone a massive revolution and this is due in no small way to the rise in direct cremations since the Pandemic.

Covid prevented attended funerals so people switched to direct cremation and discovered lower costs and a less stressful way to say goodbye to a loved one.

Where unlimited (and some unscrupulous) providers were once able to operate in the market,now there are just 26 trusted companies like Pure Cremation, Golden Charter and the Co-op,three industry leaders.

The reason the smaller,less reliable companies fell by the wayside is because some firms did not meet the required standards due to non-compliance of the new rules including;mis-selling,failing to disclose important information,and failing to have measures in place to protect consumer funds.

Now as a regulator,the Financial ConductAuthority (FCA) will have greater control into how businesses are run within the funeral planning sector to ensure they are being honest and fair to the customer.

The newly imposed FCA regulation in place on 1stAugust 2022,will improve consumer confidence and ensure better consumer outcomes.It will offer higher standards,more intensive scrutiny of the regulated companies themselves and ensure consumers are protected. As with any legislation, there are many new rules which are as follows: Cold calling customers is banned,and the new standards being placed on advertising will result in plans being marketed more clearly. A ban on commission payments to intermediaries, such as funeral directors. A requirement for a funeral plan to deliver a funeral unless the customer dies within two years of taking out the plan,in which case a full refund will be offered. Listed providers are also directly responsible for the funeral and ensuring that the funeral is delivered in line with the specifications of the plan.

The FCA approved 26 providers but also rejected the registration of other active one ’ s because they did not meet the strict financial guidelines.

If you buy your funeral plan from one of the listed 26 authorised providers,will also have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) so that if this provider fails for any reason,you may qualify for compensation.

Customers will also be able to make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

With this new regulation in place,the market has been given the same status given the same status as other financial services and products such as insurance and investments. It should provide greater peace of mind when dealing with a regulated provider

Before FCA regulation,the Funeral PlanningAuthority (FPA) had made significant progress in increasing quality standards amongst those who voluntarily signed up for independent scrutiny. continued on page 15

from page 14 Now,consumers can refer to a definitive list of companies who have been through, and passed,the stringent regulation process and have been given the green light to sell pre-paid funeral plans. What is Direct Cremation? Choosing a direct cremation gives you the option of treating the cremation and farewell ceremony as two completely separate events.

You decide the format,who will be involved, and you can take all the time you need to share memories,tears,and laughter – without worrying about finishing in time for the next funeral.

For many,a funeral is seen as a time to mourn.However,as we become more open about death,people are shifting towards a celebration of an individual’ s life,rather than mourning their passing.

A Celebration of Life is simply a ceremony designed to commemorate the experiences,relationships,and beliefs that made this person unique and special. It follows no particular religious rites or requirements. The body of the deceased doesn ’t have to be present. There are no prescribed rules for when or where to hold the event or what elements to include. The event is tailored to the wishes of the deceased or their family and friends. Cremation with traditional service This is usually the most expensive type of cremation.It combines features of a traditional funeral with a cremation including a hearse,pallbearers,flowers, and a celebrant to lead the service. Cremation and memorial service This is a way to formally honour the memory of the person who has died and is very similar to a funeral service,just without the coffin present.Some families will choose to have the urn containing the ashes as the focal point. Cremation with body donation to science It’ s possible to donate a body to science via local medical institutions.The research facility will usually arrange a cremation at the end of the study period (typically 1-3 years) with the cremated remains returned to the family.

A memorial service can be held at any time,e.g.shortly after the date of death, on a special date,or once the ashes have been returned.

A direct cremation is different,with minimal preparation of the deceased (no embalming),no viewing of the body,and no ceremony at the crematorium.

The body is still placed in a coffin and cremated in exactly the same facility as any other.This represents the lowest cost and most fuss-free option.

It’ s not really possible to say which one is right for you.How the end of a person ’ s life is celebrated is a very personal thing.

Only you can decide what fits your wishes best when it comes to planning your own funeral.

Have an informal gathering to celebrate someone’s passing

ESSEX TRADING STANDARDS CAN HELP YOU AVOID SCAMMERS

ESSEX Trading Standards can help you avoid scammers and rogue traders. Don’t be a victim, follow our advice and stay safe at home.

Choose a ‘BuyWith Confidence’ accredited trader Obtain several quotes Get a written quote detailing exactly what work will be carried out, how much it will cost and what the terms of payment are. Take your time to make sure you’re happy with what you’re undertaking Ask a trusted friend/relative for advice Ask to see identity

A genuine trader will not:

Call without an appointment Ask you or offer to take you to the bank to withdraw cash or make a money transfer Ask you to pay in full before the work is complete Insist that you decide about the work they ' re offering to do on the spot Ask what your cancellation rights are? Bully or scare you into doing work

Never be pressurised into buying anything or having any work carried out. Rogue traders and doorstep callers may do unnecessary work, or to a poor standard, and the price may rapidly increase.

To find a reputable trader approved and vetted by Trading Standards visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

For general help and advice or to report a problem with a trader telephone the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 11

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for useful leaflets to share with your friends and family. Don’t take chances, follow our advice and stay safe.

Paul Saroya of Viva Retirement Solutions explains in this issue why so many elderly people are using Equity Release to access some of the capital available in their homes and provide their children with an early inheritance to help them overcome the current financial crisis.

A cost of living cure

MORTGAGE interest rates continue to rise leaving some elderly mortgage owners with current mortgage deals, a major financial headache.

An increasing number of them are trying to resolve this problem by dipping into the value stored in their homes to see them through the UK’ s cost of living crisis.

Some want cash to upgrade their boiler or install solar panels for more cost-effective energy, whilst others are wondering how they can help family members, or themselves struggling with rising prices.

The most common equity release deals are mortgagebased products that are loans secured against your home.

Typically, there are no monthly repayments – the loan, including the built-up interest, is repaid from the sale of the property when you die or go into long-term care.These are known as lifetime mortgages.

Viva Retirement Solutions have been helping homeowners take out lifetime mortgages on their homes to release cash for a wide variety of needs. To help our family, to improve their homes and to pay off debt are some of the most popular reasons.

Stephen Lowe at the retirement specialist firm Just Group says during the past year more people have been considering using housing equity to help their families.

“Often this is to help them get on to the housing ladder or move to a bigger property, but we ’ ve started to see the resilience of household balance sheets coming under pressure, and parents exploring how they might help their children and grandchildren, ” he said.

Years of house price growth mean that millions of older people have seen their property rise in value sharply.

Equity release is available to over-55s and allows homeowners to borrow a lump sum or regular smaller amounts against the value of their home from specialist lenders, without having to sell up or downsize.

With many lifetime mortgages you can make repayments if you wish, and it is probably a good idea to do that if you can. Viva Retirement Solutions offer full monthly interest payments, reduced orYou can even have the ability to make partial repayments without penalty (subject to the lenders Term & Conditions).

These products are increasingly being seen by many as a way of giving family members their inheritance early, at a time when they most need it and an opportunity to benefit from your inheritance while young enough to enjoy it.

A record number of new equity release plans were taken out between July and September 2022 – almost 13,500 –with new customer numbers increasing by a third year on year, according to the the Equity Release Council.

Total lending has risen by 40% since 2021, and the average person now borrows £133,770 (that is for lump sum lifetime mortgages).

Products offered by Equity Release Council members, of which are members, have a “ no negative equity guarantee ” , which means your estate will never owe more than the value of your property.There are also ways to keep costs down.

Many deals allow you to pay off some of the capital of your loan, or the interest, so the cost does not compound as much.While most loans have early repayment charges, some disappear after about 10 years, but it can be as little as five.

The most flexible deals are those that include a feature called drawdown, where you take out smaller sums when needed, with a reserve to call on if you need it in future. You will pay less this way because you only accrue interest on the money you have released.

With interest rates increasing, lifetime mortgages have increased in cost and may not always be the best solution. At Viva Retirement Solutions, we will visit you in the comfort of your own home and advise you whether releasing equity is right for you. A Retirement Interest Only mortgage is a long term commitment which could accumulate interest and is secured against your home. Equity release is not right for everyone and may reduce the value of your estate.Viva charge an Advice Fee after any completion of £750, typically in the market most companies will charge you £1,695 for this. Call free on 0800 046 9776 to book your appointment.

TWO CREDIT UNIONS GO INTO LIQUIDATION

TWO credit unions have become victims of the recession - Gloucestershire Credit Union and Birmingham Inner Circle Community Credit Union Limited.

Gloucestershire Credit Union Limited is a financial co-operative owned by its members.

It is regulated as a deposit taker by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under Firm Reference Number (FRN) 21425.

Dina Devalia and JamesVarney of Quantuma Advisory Limited have been appointed as joint administrators.

You can find out more by emailing gcul@pkfgm.co.uk, calling 01452 595 290 or 01452 422 712, or alternatively call 0113 244 5141. Guidance is also available on their website

Members who want more information about the Birmingham Credit Union and getting their money back from the FSCS can do so by emailing enquiries@fscs.org.uk, calling 0800 678 1100 or 020 7741 4100 or by viewing the frequently asked questions on their website.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is stepping in to protect members and will return members ’ money within 7 days from when the Credit Union was declared in default.

Stay protected advises the FCA

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is concerned that as pressure mounts on household budgets during the current financial crisis some customers may cut-back on the insurance they need, leaving them without protection.

The government has announced further support for consumers and businesses for energy costs including a two-year energy-price guarantee for households.While this will help tackle the pressure on household budgets, some people may still consider cutting back on insurance cover.

The FCA is taking action to support households, by writing to insurance industry CEOs to make sure their customers are protected from unnecessary products or add-ons and unfair penalties.Where poor practise is found, the FCA will quickly intervene to protect customers from harm.

Customers, including businesses, in financial difficulty are also more likely to need to pay for their insurance monthly through premium finance.They may also be the most affected by general interest rate rises and have a higher likelihood of not being able to make a payment.

If customers face increasing difficulty paying bills or repaying debts, the impact on them is unlikely to be purely financial. Consumers will be more likely to face pressures on their physical and mental health, which in turn could worsen the impact of their financial difficulties. Firms can help customers in financial difficulty by: Reassessing customers ’ needs Considering whether there are other products that better meet the customer ’ s needs Providing clear information to consumers about the additional cost of premium finance Working with customers to avoid the need to cancel necessary cover Waiving fees associated with adjusting a customer ’ s policy in line with the reassessments Considering whether cancellation fees should be removed for customers in financial difficulty Sheldon Mills, Executive Director, consumers and competition at the FCA, said: “Customers who are struggling with their finances should contact their providers as soon as possible.We encourage customers to continue to shop around to find the best deal.

“Firms should not unfairly penalise them for any payment difficulties but instead work with them to find solutions.

“We have a thriving and efficient insurance sector, and we want people getting the cover they need at a cost they can afford so both business and customers benefit. ”

Firms must continue to provide clear information when customers renew their policy to help them decide whether they want to go ahead or shop around for a better deal.

Since the cost of living squeeze began, the FCA has reminded 3,500 lenders how it expects them to support borrowers who get into financial difficulty.

Although the FCA does not yet regulate Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products, the FCA met unauthorised BNPL providers to encourage these firms to provide their customers with an appropriate level of care and support.

The FCA has also told banks to improve the way they treat struggling small business owners when collecting and recovering debts and warned firms about unsuitable credit promotions.

As a result of the FCA’ s work, nearly 4,000 adverts have been amended or withdrawn, helping to protect consumers from being misled.

A Xmas present that can kill

E-SCOOTERS and e-bikes were again one of the most popular presents on the Christmas list again this year. But the latest craze comes with a warning from fire chiefs.

Firefighters in London were called to more than 130 fires involving the type of batteries used in e-bikes and escooters in 2021 .

The scooters use lithium-ion batteries which are prone to overheating if incorrectly charged and these have been banned from all parliamentary buildings.

London Fire Brigade ’ s figures show it was called to 44 inciedents from ebikes, 28 from e-scooters and other incidents, including mobile phones, laptops and cases where the e-scooter or e-bike was not identified.

This was four times as many as the 26 recorded in 2020. Up top October this yearThe London Fire Brigade revealed that there had been 89 fires involving batteries used by e-bikes and scooters

AXA insurance has warned commercial businesses and consumers of the risks associated with fires resulting from the electrically powered micromobility vehicles

Axa UK has revealed that two large claims associated with lithium-ion batteries in an electric scooter and bike has resulted in a loss of almost half a million pounds.

As this choice of transport increases in popularity, the insurer is warning the insurance industry and consumers of the significant fire risk caused by these batteries being damaged, over-charged or exposed to extreme temperatures.

E-scooters can not be taken on the Tube or London buses following several alarming blazes.

But there are concerns at the lack of official fire safety advice for homes, despite e-scooter batteries being blamed for at least five residential fires in London this year .

Europe ’ s largest e-scooter provider, VOI, who have run the public hire escooter scheme in Liverpool since October 2020, have partnered with Lithium Battery Recycling Solutions (LBRS) to enable their batteries to be safely dismantled and recycled.

VOI’ s scooters have been declared safe despite a recent blaze in Bristol, where the scooters were temporarily withdrawn from the city.

And throughout the country fire brigade ’ s have had to deal with escooter battery fires making that latest Christmas present a potentil danger to the home.

Tips to keep you safe Please pay special attention to bike conversion kits: Do not attempt to modify or tamper with the battery. Always follow the manufacturer ’ s instructions. Reduce the risk of overheating: Batteries can get warm during their use.Allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge. Batteries: They should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate. Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried. Batteries should also never be exposed to extremes of temperature. Follow the instructions Always follow manufacturers ’ instructions when charging Never leave it charging unattended or charge it while you are asleep. You should always make sure you unplug your charger once it’ s finished charging. Always use the correct charger for your batteries and buy any replacements from a reputable seller. Where to charge your batteries Never block your escape route with e-bikes or e-scooters Store and charge them somewhere away from a main through route or exit Make sure you and your family have an escape plan in place in the event of a fire.Always call 999, never try to fight the fire yourself Using your e-bikes or e-scooter Not all personal electric vehicles, such as e-scooters and e-unicycles are road legal in the UK.This means you can be fined by the police for using them on the road in the UK.Always check to see if you can use your vehicle on public roads.

A recent report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary found cops were unable to effectively probe burglaries and theft due to a shortage of skilled staff and detectives.

A record of shame

BURGLARS and thieves across Britain can continue robbing and stealing knowing that their chances of getting caught are unlikely.

And it also revealed that Christmas is the best time for robbing.

Freedom of Information requests have revealed 899 Christmas Day Day burglaries went unsolved over the past three years.

And in the last three Decembers, there have been 65,542 burglaries, with 54,364 of these cases closed with noone being arrested or charged.

Latest Home Office figures revealed that police stopped investigating more than 1.1 million cases in England and Wales because they failed to find a suspect.

That means 1,145,254 cases from June 2021 to June 2022 left homeowners and residents without any chance of getting their valuables back.

The Home Office data also revealed that the proportion of all crimes that resulted in an arrest and charge had fallen to a low of just 5.4 per cent — down from more than 15 per cent seven years ago.

Former Met DCI Mick Neville, 55, said: “The police need to be ashamed. ”

Police did not even find a suspect for the crimes — which cost on average £1,400 for each break-in.They were just part of a total of two million offences shelved by detectives, which included 300,000 violent crimes.

And the overall charge rate — the proportion of all crimes that result in a suspect being arrested and charged — fell from more than 15 per cent seven years ago to just 5.4 per cent

The news comes after police warned about the risk of burglars taking advantage of the festive period while many people are off visiting friends and family.

Police chiefs have recently promised every burglary would see a visit from a copper in a bid to restore confidence in the system.

A recent report from His Majesty ’ s Inspectorate of Constabulary found cops were unable to effectively probe burglaries and theft due to a shortage of experienced staff and detectives.

HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said at the time the “ current low charge rates for these crimes are unacceptable ” and ordered police to buck up to build back confidence.

Tory MP and former minister Brendan Clarke Smith said of the latest figures: “I welcome the pledge from the National Police Chiefs ’ Council on attending every home burglary.The public wants to see these criminals caught, convicted and locked up. ”

Former cop Mick Neville, 55, worked for the Met Police — now led by Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley — for 28 years. He said: “They need to be ashamed. Police are nothing more than a crime number allocation service now.

“With the amount of people that have Ring doorbells and CCTV, the opportunities to solve burglaries has gone up. Police officers are just obsessed with PC nonsense now instead. "The more ordinary you are, the less likely you are to get a good service from the police if your house is burgled. ”

Labour analysed the figures, which Shadow Home Secretary,Yvette Cooper described as “disgraceful” . She said: “Theft and burglary are awful crimes and should be properly investigated, not just left for the victims to make an insurance claim.

“The Home Secretary has no plan to turn this around and is instead obsessed with gimmicks rather than a serious plan to catch more criminals. ”

22 WHAT’SAPP CROOKS What’ sApp fraud alert

HUNDREDS ofWhatsApp users are being targeted by crooks posing as Goldman Sachs employees as part of a ploy to get them to invest in crypto schemes.

The fraudsters invite unsuspecting WhatsApp users to an online chat group in which they introduce themselves as executives of theWall Street bank before telling group members they will “ provide investment training strategies for free ” .

“I hope Goldman Sachs can become your trusted brokerage scheme, ” one scam message reads.

“As a global investment firm, we work together to create long-term value for our investors…establishing a correct investment philosophy and ensuring you can obtain stable and generous returns is the ability that every investor needs to have. ”

The scammer then promises to “ provide a Bitcoin perpetual trading contract strategy ” before directing users to a bogus crypto platform where they can deposit funds.

Other users in the group, also suspected to be scammers, pledge to invest into the crypto scheme, adding: “I have personally witnessed how Goldman Sachs can help you. ”

In a statement a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said: “Unfortunately this kind of fraud is increasingly common, and third parties have been known to falsely claim to carry out financial services on behalf of Goldman Sachs and may use names of existing staff in attempting scams.

“The security of our customers and prospective customers is extremely important to us.We fully investigate all claims of fraud and will take appropriate action as a result. ”

Brits lost more than £600 million to fraud in the first half of 2022, according to data from UK Finance.

More than 5000 people fell victim to investment scams over the period, losing a total £61.2 million, up almost 30% on 2020.

Jenny Ross,Which? Money editor, said: “Fraudsters will use a wide range of tactics to ensnare victims — such as fakeWhatsApp messages posing as representatives of respected financial firms or friends and family claiming to have lost their phone.

“At a time when many people will be looking for alternative ways to make some extra money, investment schemes promising lucrative returns on relatively small investments may sound attractive — but they are typically scams and should be treated with extreme caution.

“Genuine companies will never ask for personal information, nor will they hurry you into making a decision. If that happens, take time to think whether it’ s too good to be true.

“Anyone can also sign up to

Which?’ s Scam Alert Service to raise awareness of new scams. ”

WhatsApp owner Meta said it uses a combination of techniques to enforce its policies and prevent abuse.

However, it warnedWhatsApp protects personal messages and calls with end-to-end encryption, meaning no one except the sender and recipient has access to those messages, not evenWhatsApp.

PREGNANT THERANOS BOSS JAILED FOR 11 YEARS DISGRACED Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been sentenced to more than 11 years in a US federal prison for conning investors and endangering patients while peddling a bogus bloodtesting technology.

The 38-year-old was convicted by a Californian jury on three counts of investor fraud and one count of conspiracy in January. She was jailed for 135 months. Prosecutors were also seeking $804m (£675m) in compensation from Holmes. The amount covers most of the nearly $1bn (£840m) she raised from a list of sophisticated investors that included software magnate Larry Ellison, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and theWalton family behind Walmart.

Prosecutors had branded Holmes ' crimes " among the most substantial white collar offences Silicon Valley or any other district has seen " .

The sentence imposed by US District Judge Edward Davila was shorter than the 15-year penalty requested by federal prosecutors, but far tougher than the leniency her legal team sought for the mother of a year-old son with another child on the way.

Worldwide crackdown on fraud

AWORLDWIDE crackdown on social engineering fraud has seen scammers identified globally, substantial criminal assets seized and new investigative leads triggered in every continent.

The two-month Operation saw 76 countries take part in an international clampdown on the organized crime groups behind scams.

Police in participating countries raided national call centres suspected of scamming fraud, telephone deception, romance scams, e-mail deception, and financial crime. Preliminary figures show: 1,770 locations raided worldwide 3,000 suspects identified 2,000 operators, fraudsters and money launderers arrested 4,000 bank accounts frozen $50m worth of illicit funds seized

FIDDLING FINANCE BOSS FORMER Hewlett Packard finance manager Shelbee Szeto has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to forfeit more than 250 luxury items after she blew $5m on herself using company credit cards.

The list of stuff she bagged included a 2020Tesla sedan, a 2021 Porsche sport utility vehicle, 46 Chanel handbags, and 16 Rolex watches.

Szeto, 30, of Fremont, California, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and related tax charges. She worked for HP, first as an executive assistant and then as a finance planning manager, from August 2017 until June 2021, according to US prosecutors.

CORRUPT COPS ARRESTED A SPANISH-led police operation has takendown a network of corrupt officials – including police and customs officers across Europe who had been helping ship cocaine and hashish into Europe.

Working with the support of Europol’ s European Financial and Economic Crime Centre, the Spanish Civil Guard and National Police, have dismantled a drugs trafficking network which allegedly relied on corrupt law enforcement and customs officers to ship hundreds of millions of euros ’ worth of cocaine and hashish into Western Europe.

A total of 61 people were arrested in the operation including five officers from the Civil Guard, one from the National Police and one from customs, who were identified thanks to the collaboration with European law enforcement agencies.

The arrests follow an 18-month long investigation into two criminal gangs, known as ‘Clan deTanger ’ and ‘Clan del Sur ’ , who are believed to have smuggled over 16 tonnes of cocaine and 150 tonnes of hashish via the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain for further distribution across Europe.

WHAT A NICE LITTLE URNER CIVIL Guard officers searching a home for drugs discovered more than a thousand ancient treasures dating back to the 12th and 18th centuries, with some even dating back to the Roman era.

The Civil Guard in the town of Guadassuar, located in the autonomous community ofValencia, were investigating an unnamed 68-year-old suspected drug dealer.

But they also discovered priceless rare ceramics, pottery and other historical and archaeological artefacts.

Police bodycam footage of the raid showed officers looking over rack after rack of antiquities, some dating back to the Roman era.

Experts from Spain ’ s Municipal Museum of Alzira have taken charge of the treasures, which could be one of the biggest ever finds in the region.

24 CONSUMER WARNING NOW IS THE TIME TO BE ON YOUR GUARD

CONSUMERS are facing a barrage of misery from scammers who prey on people 365 days of the year,but the festive period is the criminals busiest time.

As well as the rush to buy presents we also have January sales and this is when criminals are at their cleverest.

The CharteredTrading Standards Institute (CTSI) is sounding the alarm about the latest wave of scams which could cause misery to consumers and their families ithroughout the festive period.

Scammers are always quick to jump on opportunities to exploit people ’ s vulnerability and this year,with people trying to cope with rising costs,anxieties over household bills and disruption to deliveries and supply chains,the potential for the unwary to fall foul of the fraudsters is greater than ever.

Of particular concern this Christmas is loan fee fraud,in which the victim pays a fee for a loan they never receive.People in need of quick access to cash are particularly vulnerable to this type of scam,and according to the Financial ConductAuthority (FCA)* ,the average victim stands to lose £260.

With recent NationalTrading Standards (NTS) research showing that losing just £100 to fraudsters would push one in four adults in the UK into serious financial crisis** ,the implications of these types of scam are serious and potentially life-changing.Loan fee fraud scams have increased 21% compared with this period last year,according to the FCA.

People concerned about their finances are also being targeted by scammers posing as representatives of HMRC.

Common tactics include recorded phone messages saying that the recipient’ s National Insurance details have been compromised,or that they are about to be arrested for non-payment of tax.

Consumers who receive these types of call are advised not to reply,and never to share any personal information over the phone.If you are unsure whether a call or email from HMRC is genuine,check the Government website here.

Another organisation which scammers frequently pose as representatives of is online shopping giantAmazon.

In attempts to steal people ’ s personal details,scammers are sending texts, emails and recorded messages claiming that the recipient’ s account has been hacked or that their subscription is due for renewal.

Amazon users should only ever access its services via official channels such as the iPhone/Android app or theAmazon.co.uk website,and the retailer will never ask customers to give any payment information,including gift cards (or ‘ verification cards ’) for products or services over the phone.

Online shoppers are also urged to be on the lookout for fake versions of legitimate websites.Scammers can clone sites to look like those of retailers,banks or other organisations in order to steal financial details.

Shoppers are advised to look for the padlock symbol next to the website ’ s URL,check that the website address begins with‘https ’ and check for subtle errors like replacing a zero with a letter in a URL.

It’ s easy to check who owns a domain too by using sites such asWhois.com. Online reviews of websites and products should also be approached with caution, since they can easily be faked.

Delivery scams are particularly prevalent at this time of year,with many of us ordering goods online as Christmas approaches.

With disruption to the postal service and many people unsure when their mail is due to arrive,scammers are likely to capitalise with bogus texts and emails.

Common scams include messages that a parcel is awaiting delivery and a fee is due to be paid,or that the recipient should log in to a website to schedule a delivery.In most cases,the messages are merely a ruse to harvest people ’ s personal data.

Katherine Hart,CTSI Lead Officer, said: “This year people are under a lot of financial pressure,and many will be thinking about ways of making their money stretch further this Christmas.

“When people are under stress,they are particularly vulnerable to making decisions on the spur of the moment.

“We would urge anyone who receives a phone call,email or text message that claims to be from a company or Government organisation take a breath,and consider whether or not it is genuine.In many cases,these messages are just scams that could leave you out of pocket. ”

For consumer advice,please call the CitizensAdvice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Katherine Hart

Beware Amazon scammers