The Importance of Fraud and Scam Awareness
With the winter months drawing near it can be a difficult time for our more vulnerable loved ones and can unfortunately make them targets to fraudulent individuals. That is why Home Instead Senior Care Norwich and Clapham and Collinge solicitors recently teamed up to offer a free Scam Prevention Workshop for older people, family members, carers and people throughout the community.
The workshop held on the 23rd September 2019 offered advice and guidance in supporting your loved ones to help them feel safe and secure in their own home. As the home is no longer only targeted by doorstep sales-people and cold callers but also nuisance calls, texts and unwanted post it is important that we take steps to prevent this invasion of privacy and security.
Citizens Advice research shows that almost three-quarters (72%) of people surveyed had been targeted by scammers over a two year period. Over a third, had been targeted five or more times. Home Instead Senior Care and the team at Clapham and Collinge Solicitors have identified some ways your loved ones may be targeted and offer suggestions of preventative measure.
Doorstep Salespeople and Cold Callers Door to door sales techniques can often include a very pushy and intimidating pitch with the aim of selling a service or product to an individual that may not necessarily require that service/product.
As we all know these pushy pitches are easier to avoid when you are not in a face to face scenario, we would suggest that you or your loved one take care in answering the door unless they have previously arranged a visit.
Online Scams The anonymity of the internet presents opportunity for would-be scammers without the risk of being identified. You may be approached through various different methods of direct communication such as Email or social media or indirect methods such as fraudulent websites, viruses and fake dating sites.
You can take the following preventative measures to protect yourself and your loved ones from these common scams.
• When entering payment details always check the web address starts with a secure extension of 'HTTPS' for example 'https://example.com/' • Make sure you or your loved one have up to date Anti-Virus software. • If you receive a suspicious Email from an individual claiming to be your gas, energy or another supplier do not click any links or download any attachments contained within the email. Search for the provider's website yourself and make an enquiry or call the number provided on your legitimate communication. • Similarly if you receive an Email from a company/provider asking for your bank details do not follow their instructions. Contact the company/provider directly or if you
North East Norfolk Bird Club
Felbrigg Park Monthly Walk on 16 October 9am - 11am - this walk caters for all levels of ability. We will take a leisurely walk around the park & lake, route dependent on the local bird and other wildlife likely to be present on the day. Please wear clothing appropriate to the weather - footpaths in Felbrigg can be muddy at any time of the year. Meet at Sexton's Lodge car park, off Lion's Mouth, NR11 8PS at the western end of the estate. To keep the Club's carbon footprint small, please consider car sharing. As usual, children are welcome if accompanied by well-behaved adults, but we regret no dogs.
Horsey Walk for autumn migrants on 19 October 9am – 1.30pm - we plan to walk along the coast, with a loop inland to Horsey Mere and Brograve Mill, looking for autumn
migrants and early winter visitors. Meet at the car-park at Horsey Gap (the car park for visiting the seal colony, TG463241, nearest postcode NR29 4EQ). To reach the car park leave the A149 coast road at the sharp righthand (coming from the Happisburgh direction) bend at TG460236, and drive towards the coast along a track for a couple of hundred metres. In autumn the car park is usually unmanned and parking free. From the car-park we will head south-east by the coastal dunes, turn inland along the Nelson Head track and continue to Horsey Mill, where there are facilities. We will then walk around the edge of the mere to Brograve Mill, before looping back to the Horsey Gap car park. This is a longish walk (several miles), a short section of which is along the road, but it offers a nice range of habitats. This is a return visit
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have an account on their website sign in and check for any new messages.
If you receive any of the above phishing attempts make sure you report them to the organisation the individual is claiming to be from, they will confirm whether it is genuine or fake correspondence.
Unwanted Calls and Texts Unfortunately sales calls are a product of our society and an unwanted nuisance. Our information may not be as secure as we would like it to be and we have all had calls asking if you had recently been in a road traffic accident.
A scammer may pretend be to calling from your bank, service provider or another trusted company with the intent to access your information or bank accounts. It is important to not give out any personal details and if you are not expecting the call – hang up.
Clapham and Collinge are proud to provide the local community with an extensive range of private client services across North Norfolk.
If you would like to enquire about our private client services please contact us on 01263 823398, email enquiries@clapham-collinge.co.uk or visit www.clapham-collinge.co.uk
to an area NENBC last visited in 2017, when we found a very creditable 55 species. As always with autumn, the potential birds depend very much on the prevailing winds and weather. A telescope is useful if you have one. This area is very exposed and can be bitterly cold in winter, so good footwear and clothing is a must. Children are welcome if accompanied by well-behaved adults, but we regret no dogs. To keep the Club's carbon footprint small, please consider car sharing. Leader Andy Clarke.
‘Urban Peregrines & Developments at Sculthorpe’ a talk with Zoe Smith with an update on the Cromer Peregrine Project 2019 on 31 October 7.30pm – 9.30pm at Aylmerton Village Hall, NR11 8PZ.
North Norfolk Post | October 2019