WhatsApp Account Takeover Scam

Criminals are targeting WhatsApp users by posing as a friend and asking for a security code. By early April, Action Fraud had received over 60 reports relating to this scam.

The scam begins when a criminal gets access to a WhatsApp account that has you listed as a contact. The criminal will pose as your friend, or as a member of a WhatsApp group that you are also a member of and will send you seemingly normal messages to try and start a conversation with you. However, at around the same time, you will receive a text message from WhatsApp with a six-digit code. This is because the criminal has been trying to login to WhatsApp using your mobile number. The criminal will claim that they sent you their own code by accident and ask you to help them by sending the code to them. Once the criminal has this code, they can login to your WhatsApp account and lock you out. The criminal will then use the same tactic with your WhatsApp contacts in an effort to steal more accounts and use them to perpetrate fraud.

How to protect yourself:

 STOP. THINK. CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person to confirm their identity.

 Set up two-step verification to give an extra layer of protection to your account. This means that a PIN, set by you, will be needed together with the six-digit code to register your number on another phone. From the WhatsApp home screen, select Settings > Account > Two-step verification.

 Never share your account’s activation code (that’s the six-digit SMS code).

 You can report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. From a user or group screen, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.

If you think you have fallen victim to a scam, report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit https://www.actionfraud.police.uk.

If you're not sure whether something is a scam, you can talk to one of the trusted contacts in Meldreth:

Graham (01763) 260358 Linda (01763) 261405

Peter (01763) 260323 Tim (01763) 262801

You can contact Neighbourhood Watch by telephoning Graham on the above number, or by emailing nhw.meldreth@btinternet.com.

Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch

Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire

We would like to congratulate the ten new volunteers who recently completed an initial training course to become Home Visitors. The six-week course helped the new volunteers to understand their role as Home Visitors and prepared them to feel confident when they are matched with their first families.

Being the parent of young children can be particularly hard work and most parents have periods of time when they feel exhausted and overwhelmed by family life stresses and strains. For some, additional challenges like post-natal depression, relationship breakdown, a child’s disability, isolation or cost of living worries, make coping day-to-day feel unachievable. Asking for help isn’t easy, especially when you need it the most. But Home-Start can help and any parent or carer can even refer themselves! Home-Start support is free and confidential and will take place at your pace in the way you need it most. If you are a parent or carer of children aged nine or under, live in the SG8 and SG9 postcode areas and would like to have a free, confidential and non-judgemental conversation about the support we may be able to offer, get in touch today. Email admin@hsrsc.org.uk, telephone (01763) 262262, or contact us via our website, www.hsrc.org.uk/ contact-us, or via Facebook Messenger.

Tracy Aggett

Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire

MCCS – Community Support

MCCS is pleased to be coordinating the Meldreth Food Bank and Meldreth Village Hub.

Huge thanks to everyone who is supporting these initiatives, whether through volunteering and warm welcomes, or donations of daily basics to the collection box outside 62 High Street, or cash support from individuals and groups (please contact MCCS Treasurer Roger James 07808 235873). Behind the scenes, invaluable support has been received from our Parish and District Councils. Core funding initiative for the Warm Hubs comes from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (our local NHS).

Our Neighbourhood Zone Leaders are always on hand for a friendly chat by telephone and to help locate the support you’re looking for. Their telephone numbers are below.

Kneesworth Rd, West Way, Burtons & Fenny Lane: Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838

Elin Way and Howard Road Zone: David Hollamby, 07732 106828

Whitecroft Road, Chiswick End, Oakrits, Melrose, Marys Way, Westacre: John Crawforth, 07595 627684

High Street, Flambards, The Grange, Woolpack Way, Station Yard and Road: Lindsey McCaig, 07884 432345

Bell Close and Gables Close: Cathy Walston, 07757 086380

North End, Brewery Lane, Malton Lane, Cam Farm: Bev Cottrell, 07773 592838 and Ian Mitchell, 07726 936635

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

County and District Councillors Susan van de Ven, Jose Hales, Sally Ann Hart and all at the MCCS team

17 Bus Service

This bus runs Mondays to Saturdays from Guilden Morden via Steeple Morden, Litlington, Bassingbourn, Whaddon, Meldreth, Melbourn and Kneesworth to Royston and return.

The bus stops in Meldreth High Street (near the Stocks) at 10.20am and then makes several stops in Royston including Tesco at 10.35am before the last stop at Royston Bus Station at 10.49am. The return bus leaves Royston Bus Station at 1.10pm and Tesco at 1.21pm, arriving in Meldreth at 1.31pm.

Susan van de Ven