AVIAN INFLUENZA: Housing measures to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza are coming into force across the UK at one minute past midnight (00:01) on 29 November 2021. This means that, from this time, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors, or where this is not practical, to take steps to separate them from wild birds. Keeping your birds undercover away from wild birds is vital to minimise the risk of them becoming infected with avian influenza by wild birds. But housing alone is not the only solution – it remains essential that you follow strict biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of disease spreading to your birds. Read more https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain If you need advice on housing your birds, please contact us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
CAR SALE SCAM: Suffolk Police are asking people to be vigilant following recent cases of a car sale scam in Felixstowe and Barrow. One incident took place in Felixstowe on Saturday 20 November where unknown males asked to test drive a vehicle for sale, namely an Audi A5 which they did. On their return to the victim’s location they had poured oil on the windscreen and the engine and demanding to buy the vehicle for less money, claiming the head gasket was broken (crime number: 37/66229/21). Another incident took place also in Felixstowe on Surrey Road on Thursday 11 November where the victim was selling his car, another Audi A5. Two male suspects came to view it and during that time smeared oil on the engine and in exhaust and added it to the coolant fluid. They again claimed head gasket had blown when test driving it and wanted the vehicle at a reduced rate (crime number: 37/64470/21). The final incident took place in Barrow near Bury St Edmunds on Saturday 13 November. The victim was selling a Jaguar XK150 and two males came to view the car. Dirty oil was poured into water header tank and on the engine block in another attempt to scam the victim claiming that the vehicle had a head gasket fault. Anyone who knows who was responsible or has also experienced a similar incident should contact Suffolk police, quoting the relevant crime number. Potential sellers of vehicles are asked to be mindful of who they invite to view their vehicles and monitor their actions at all times. They are also advised to retain all vehicle documentation such as log books/V5s prior to the transaction being completed.
Email: ccc@suffolk.pnn.police.uk
Website - Complete an existing report update form https://www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/existing-report-update
Phone - Call 101
ADVANCE FEE LOTTERY FRAUDS: Over £925,000 was lost by victims in Advance Fee Lottery Frauds over the last seven months. Victims reported losing an average loss of just over £1,500. 70% of victims reported to be aged 50 or over. Lottery fraud occurs when criminals use fake messages and calls to convince a person that they have won a lottery or a prize draw. The victim is then informed that they will need to pay an advance “fee” in order to receive the winnings. Victims are commonly asked to pay these advance fees by purchasing gift cards and relaying codes to the fraudster. In some instances, victims have reported being asked for personal and financial information in order to obtain their “winnings”. Some victims reported providing their bank details thinking they would be sent a small payment to verify the account. In reality, criminals use these details to steal the victim’s money.
Stop: Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge: Could it be fake? After all, you can’t win a prize in a competition you didn’t enter. Remember, it’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Be wary of unsolicited callers instructing you to pay fees or fines using a gift card or voucher. Legitimate organisations would never do this.
Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to Action Fraud.
SCAM ONLINE SHOPPING BARGAINS: Scam online shopping bargains which were ‘too good to be true’ cost shoppers £15.4 million over the Christmas period last year. New data from Action Fraud reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year. Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we are warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge. Here are some simple tips to help you and your family enjoy a secure online shopping experience this festive season.
Where to shop - Buying from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase. Read reviews from reputable sources to check websites and sellers are genuine.
Your information - Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.
Payment method - Use a credit card when shopping online, for purchases over £100 and up to £30,000 where possible. Use the secure payment method recommended by reputable online retailers and auction sites. Don’t accept requests to pay by bank transfer.
Phishing - Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use the it – go separately to the website. Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.
CARBON MONOXIDE: Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas which has been linked to a range of long-term health conditions and complications, including low birth weight in babies, brain damage and heart disease. Many of us could be being harmed without even knowing, as carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelled or tasted – this is why it is known as the ‘silent killer’. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas. Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including boilers, gas, fires, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers and open fires Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated household appliances, such as cookers, heaters and central heating boilers, are the most common causes of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide. It's important to be aware of the dangers and identify any appliances in your house that could potentially leak carbon monoxide. Boilers, cookers, heating systems and appliances should be installed and regularly serviced by a reputable, registered engineer. Do not attempt to install or service appliances yourself.
Anyone carrying out work on installations and appliances in your home must be registered with a relevant association, such as the:
Gas Safe Register (for gas appliances) https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) (for solid fuel appliances) https://www.hetas.co.uk/
Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) (for oil appliances) https://www.oftec.org/
Make sure all chimneys and flues are swept regularly by a qualified sweep who's a member of the:
National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) https://nacs.org.uk/
Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps https://www.guildofmasterchimneysweeps.co.uk/
Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps (APICS) https://www.apics.org.uk/
Carbon monoxide alarms are no substitute for an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer, however audible carbon monoxide alarms are a good second line of defence against carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide alarms are designed to sound when the concentrations of CO in the air are enough to harm you. A good CO alarm will sound when it detects the gas and it will be loud enough to alert everybody in the house. A CO alarm will sound when there are 50 or more parts per million (PPM) of CO in the air and alarms are designed to sound more quickly when higher and more dangerous concentrations of the gas. Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/09/do-you-have-a-safe-and-reliable-carbon-monoxide-alarm-in-your-home/