All these scams have been recently reported to Warwickshire Trading Standards by Warwickshire residents.
Copycat Driving Licence Renewal Website Charged Consumer Nearly £100
Warwickshire residents wishing to renew their driving licences are warned to beware of ‘copycat’ websites that are charging consumers nearly £100 for a process that should cost £14.
Copycat scams often involve unscrupulous people setting up websites which closely mimic Government or other official sites and charge people a fee to use them that is much higher than the fee charged by the official website. In some cases, residents have been charged to renew documents that should be free of charge.
These ‘copycat’ websites may appear above genuine websites in a web search.
Official UK renew your driving licence website: https://www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence
The https://www.gov.uk/ website is the best place to begin your search for any Government document renewal service.
More advice on copycat websites from Get Safe Online: https://tinyurl.com/4gwdta8l
Bogus Banking Texts
More Warwickshire residents have reported receiving scam bank text messages. The messages include:
The recipients are directed to a bogus bank website via a link. Some text messages may also carry a fake bank helpline telephone number. These text messages may sometimes appear amongst genuine text messages you have received from your bank.
Never click on a link in a text message from your bank. Always log into your account via your bank’s official app or via the web browser. If you wish to phone your bank, use the telephone number publicised on the bank’s website or that printed on the back of your bank card.
More advice on blocking nuisance calls and texts from the CAB: https://tinyurl.com/pgldo3zu
Scam NHS COVID Vaccination Emails
Warwickshire residents have reported receiving very genuine looking NHS COVID19 vaccination booking emails. The emails direct recipients to a ‘booking website’ at which time they are asked for a £5 fee!
More advice from NHS England: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/01/docs-and-cops-warn-on-covid-19-cons/
Arrest Warrant!
More Warwickshire residents have reported receiving scam automated telephone calls stating that a warrant has been issued for their arrest and they must press 1 to deal with the matter.
Never respond to scam telephone messages. Always try and block the telephone number.
More advice on blocking nuisance calls and texts from the CAB: https://tinyurl.com/pgldo3zu
Online Trader Warning
The popularity of online share trading and cryptocurrency trading during the COVID lockdown has led to increasing numbers of fraudsters contacting would be investors via social media, offering them the opportunity to open a ‘trading account’. The fraudsters then ask for money up front to open the account (often £1000 or more) and pretend to begin trading on behalf of the consumer before disappearing with the money. No account is ever opened, nor any investments made. Some fraudsters may send small amounts of money back to the investor for a short time, falsely claiming that the money is the return on their investment, as a precursor to asking for more funds.
If you are interested in investing, do your homework. These websites all contain advice and information you might find useful:
As part of the national embed and evaluate programme for the NHS Volunteer Responders (GoodSam) scheme, we are undertaking some local evaluation across Warwickshire and Coventry of how people have accessed community support either as a volunteer or a recipient.
To help with this, please could I ask you to distribute the attached survey link through your local contacts and networks.
https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/resources/community-support
The survey is aimed at individuals… whether they have used the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme or not. The survey link has gone live today and has a deadline of March 9th.
You are invited to join us and ask the panel of experts about health and wellbeing strategy, keeping safe and Black History in the County including;
Gemma McKinnon – Health and Wellbeing Delivery Manager, Warwickshire County Council.
Imran Dean – Equality Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
Sharon Forman – Archive Assistant, Records Office, Warwickshire County Council.
To book a ticket please follow this link:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/access-to-services-in-warwickshire-tickets-141000228479
The March edition is here! The printed copies will be distributed when safe to do so:
A new scheme from Warwickshire County Council and IChoosr aims to make solar panels and home battery storage accessible to all.
Solar Together Warwickshire is an innovative new scheme offering the procurement and installation of high-quality solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. It is a group-buying scheme, which brings Warwickshire households together to get high-quality solar panels at a competitive price helping residents through the process and keeping them informed at every stage.
The Scheme is provided in partnership with expert provider, IChoosr, who have already had great success in Warwickshire helping residents to get the best deal on their gas and electricity bills with the Switch and Save Warwickshire collective energy buying scheme.
For those residents who already have Solar panels installed on their homes, Solar Together Warwickshire can also help with the procurement and installation of innovative battery storage technology.
How does Solar Together Warwickshire work?
Step 1 – Registration: Residents can register before 23 March 2021 for free and without any obligation at: https://www.solartogether.co.uk/warwickshire/home
Step 2 – The Auction: A supplier ‘auction’ will be held on 23 March, when all approved solar suppliers will bid for the work in Warwickshire. The more people that register, the better the deal should be for each household. The auction is a reverse auction, meaning the lowest bid wins and so do residents!
Step 3 – Personal Recommendation: After the auction, from 12 April, residents will be contacted with a personal recommendation, based on the specifications of their roof.
Step 4 – Residents’ decide: The decision is then residents’ as to whether they want to accept their recommendation. There is no obligation to continue. Residents will have until 21 May to decide and will be invited to an online information session where they can hear more from the winning installer.
Step 5 – Installation: If residents’ decide to accept their personal recommendations and are happy to proceed following their personal information session, arrangements will be made for installation.
Find out whether Solar is right for your home and how affordable it can be by registering today: https://www.solartogether.co.uk/warwickshire/home
Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture, said: “Many people may assume that solar power is not right for them or that it is too expensive. At Warwickshire County Council we are keen to see as many homeowners as possible join the solar evolution and embrace solar power and home battery storage solutions. Solar Together Warwickshire is here to ensure the process of deciding on Solar is as easy and, most importantly, as cheap as possible.
“There is already lots of fantastic work going on within Warwickshire County Council and our communities across the county to help reduce Carbon footprints and minimise the effects we all have on our fast-changing climate. Solar Together Warwickshire is a shining example of how we are helping our residents to make Warwickshire the best it can be, sustainable now and for future generations.”
For more information about the scheme and to sign-up visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/solartogether
For more information about how Warwickshire County Council is facing the challenges of the climate change emergency, visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/strategies-policies-legislation/facing-challenge-climate-change-warwickshire
Warwickshire County Council are requesting that any unused community medical equipment be returned. For full details including drop-off points, please see: https://www.avondassett.com/2021/02/05/community-equipment-needed-drop-off-at-fenny-compton-fire-station/ The nearest drop-off point to Avon Dassett is Fenny Compton Fire Station.
However, if residents would like to drop off any equipment they wish to return to The Thatches, Avon Dassett the Parish Council Covid Support Group will arrange for items to be delivered to a local drop off point.
However, if you have any equipment you would like to return but are unable to or are uncomfortable with dropping it off at The Thatches, please contact the Covid Support Group helpline on 07860 702749 or by email at covid19@avondassettparishcouncil.com and they will arrange for collection.
Warwickshire is looking for any spare community equipment that you may have had from hospital or your GP. Nationally there appears to be shortage of this equipment – so we just want to ensure we have enough to go to those people who need it.
It could be anything from walking frames through to crutches. The complete list of equipment we are looking for includes:
· Wheeled trollies
· Wheeled or mobile tables
· Perching stools
· Crutches
· Walking Frames (with or without wheels)
What to do
If you have had any of the above then we are asking that you or a friend or family member bring them to one of the local drop off points below.
Health and Social Care staff
If you are a key worker who visits people in their own homes – then please check to see if they have any unused equipment that they no longer need.
Where to take equipment
The unused equipment can be dropped off at any Fire and Rescue Service station in Warwickshire.
Location Drop-off days and opening times
| Location | Drop off Day | Drop off time |
| Polesworth Fire Station | Monday nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Atherstone Fire Station | 7 days a week Monday night |
8am to 6pm 7pm to 9pm |
| Coleshill Fire Station | 7 days a week Monday night |
8am to 6pm 7pm to 9pm |
| Nuneaton Fie Station | 7 days a week | 8am to 6pm |
| Bedworth Fire Station | Monday night | 7pm to 9pm |
| Rugby Fire Station | 7 days a week | 8am to 6pm |
| Southam Fire Station | Thursdays nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Kenilworth Fire Station | Thursdays nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Leamington Spa Fire Station | 7 days a week | 8am to 6pm |
| Fenny Compton Fire Station | Thursdays nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Bidford Upon Avon Fire Station | Tuesday nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Shipston Upon Stour Fire Station | Tuesday nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Henley in Arden Fire Station | Tuesday nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Gaydon Fire Station | 7 days a week | 8am to 6pm |
| Wellesbourne Fire Station | Tuesday nights | 7pm to 9pm |
| Alcester Fire Station | 7 days a week | 7am to 7pm |
Large or multiple items for drop off
If you have multiple, or large items of equipment you wish to be returned e.g. hoists, beds or mattresses, you can arrange a date to have these collected from your home. Please contact Millbrook Healthcare on 0333 321 8986.
As always we ask you to remember the
Stay Safe – handling equipment
Friends and Family
Wash or sanitise hands after handling equipment.
Key Worker
Usual PPE guidance for home visits as well as hand washing protocol after handling equipment.
Unfortunately there have been two local incidents reported overnight (2/3 Feb 2021). Please take care and report anything suspicious to the police on telephone number 101.
Puppy poisoned on Burton Dassett Hills
Please see this statement from a local dog owner:
“Evening all, just thought I’d let you know that after walking the dogs on the hills this morning the puppy is now in the vets after eating something toxic. She’s poorly but hopefully will be ok, they’re keeping her in overnight until she is back to her normal self. They think she may have eaten cannabis. Anyway just letting you know so you can be vigilant with your dogs if you’re walking up there – clearly doesn’t agree with animals!”
Attempted break-in at Avon Dassett
There was an attempted break-in at a property in Avon Dassett. Although unsuccessful, it is a reminder that there have been a number of thefts in the village recently, so please do be vigilant.
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