Archive for category: News

Action Fraud is warning of more frauds being perpetrated using Coronavirus as cover.

It appears that the majority of reports relate to online shopping scams where individuals 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.

Detailed counter fraud advice is available online, including from Scamsmart, ActionFraud, CIFAS, TakeFive, Citizens Advice, Trading Standards and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Frauds can be reported to Action Fraud via https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. To report offers of financial assistance from HMRC contact .

See the attachment below for more detail.

SODC’s waste collection service disruption plan is now in place as a result of Coronavirus.

Waste contractor, Biffa, has suffered some staff shortages due to illness and self-isolation but is managing this by redeploying staff and using agency drivers.

However, with new crew members unfamiliar with the routes and in some cases fewer staff, it’s likely that on occasions, crews might not be able to complete all of their daily rounds and so some bins might not be emptied on their usual collection day.

• The advice for residents is as follows: if the bins in your street are not emptied, please leave them out for up to three days (including weekends) and Biffa will try to catch up. If still not emptied, bring them back in and they will be emptied on the next planned collection day.
• SODC is working with Biffa to prioritise critical waste services. To help with this plan SODC has suspended some non-essential services, including new bulky waste bookings, new garden waste subscriptions and investigating abandoned vehicles.
• SODC is urging residents to sort their waste carefully – food in food waste bins, rubbish in black bins and clean, dry, loose recycling in their green recycling bins.

SODC will prioritise food, rubbish and clinical waste collections and some elements of street cleansing, including emptying litter bins.

It’s also possible that SODC may have to suspend garden waste services so it can focus on essential waste collections, as other councils have. If this is the case, SODC will let residents know through our social media sites and council websites.

Sadly there are those who will attempt to take advantage of the vulnerability of some – all in the name of helping them through Coronavirus.

There is but one message: Be alert for scams.

Never respond to any organisation asking you to move funds to a ‘safe place’ – no bank or police officer will ever ask you to do that.

If offered help with the inducement of a cash payment, be very cautious. All forms of official help can be found on the government website at https://www.gov.uk. (Look for the padlock symbol and the text ‘https’ in the web address). Don’t follow a link – go to https://www.gov.uk yourself.

If you are unsure about the veracity of a website, offer of help or a request, SEEK third party advice. If you receive an email or communication out of the blue offering money, bin it. If you get a caller at the door, close it. And if you receive an unsolicited call, put the phone down.

To prove the point, look at the image below that was forwarded to ARPC from district councillor Ian White. It’s a text that leads to a lookalike fake government website.

Please stay alert.

 

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The government has issued an urgent call for a quarter of a million people to register as a volunteer for the NHS to help tackle the coronavirus crisis.

If you’re fit, healthy and currently have no coronavirus symptoms then you could be the perfect fit to join this “army” of volunteers. 

There are a variety of jobs you could do to play your part in dealing with the pandemic.

Community Response volunteer: Collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home.

Patient Transport volunteer: Supporting the NHS by providing transport to patients who are medically fit for discharge, and ensuring that they are settled safely back in to their home.

NHS Transport volunteer: Transporting equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites, it may also involve assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.

Check-in and Chat volunteer: This role provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation

It’s simple and easy to apply, all you need to do is visit https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS.