OTHER NEWS CITIZENS ADVICE NOTES
Coronavirus and life in lockdown
Citizens Advice in Sherborne is currently operating a phone only service with advisers working from home. The contact number is: 0344 411 1444 (charged at local rate). The Coronavirus emergency has presented opportunities for scammers to try and take advantage, so it is timely that June is ‘Scams Awareness Month’ with specific events planned for 15 – 28 June. For more information google ‘citizens advice scams awareness month 2020’ and look for the section on ‘Advice for consumers’. You could also look at www. citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ scams/get-help-with-online-scams for information about on-line scams: there is also a helpline, 0808 2505050, where you can talk to a Scams Action Adviser. Beware of scams which are reported to be doing the rounds: Free school meals scam – some parents have received an email asking them to ‘send their bank details to make sure they are supported’. Ignore the email and report it as spam. Home testing scam – see www.actionfraud. police.uk/news/ctsii s s u e s - w a r n i n g - o v e rcovid-19-home-testingscams for advice about suspicious callers doorto-door offering Covid-19 testing.
Our volunteers have been working hard to ensure to help those residents who need support with collecting medicines or shopping etc. and it is reassuring to know that we have been making a difference. There is a new contact number for the help line if you need assistance during the present restrictions and you are now asked to ring 01395 221022 which is the central number for support in Dorset although you can still leave requests and messages at yetvirushelp@gmail.com and these will be passed on. The help line is open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week and they have access to a large number of helpers throughout the County. Yetminster Help Group
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