Authorities and organisations are issuing warnings to Brits to remain vigilant over the Christmas period as scam parcel delivery texts are set to spike.
You may remember that in 2020 – and continuing into 2021 – there was significant rise in sophisticated scamming and phishing activity throughout the pandemic, with scammers found to have been carrying out fraudulent activity under the guise of just about everything from Amazon Prime, and hot tub sales companies, to social media platforms such as Facebook, and even the NHS.
It’s all part of what’s known as ‘Smishing’ – or ‘SMS phishing – and it’s where fraudsters send texts to mobile phones in the hope that people will click on a link to download malicious software, or give away their private data.
It was even found, thanks to a survey by consumer group Which?, that 60% of Brits received fake texts as scammers impersonate delivery companies during the pandemic.
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And that, unfortunately, only looks set to continue over the festive season, as it’s being reported by the BBC that more than a million scam texts will be sent in the UK in just this week alone.
More than half of those will use parcel deliveries to try to trick consumers.
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🤔 Received a suspicious message that you're unsure about?
Fake messages can be difficult to spot and criminals put in a lot of effort to make their communication look legitimate so it’s important to take your time and not act too quickly.https://t.co/AzELWBNpEt#12Fraudspic.twitter.com/Cbyn0qdnif
One cyber-security firm, Proofpoint – which works with regulators and retailers, collating and analysing ‘smishing’ texts – says it is seeing ten times more scam messages this year than last, and its Vice President of Operations, Jacinta Tobin, said a mix of COVID and Christmas makes the texts more tempting.
“We are totally susceptible, because we trust and we act quickly,” she said, with 98% of people reading a text within three minutes.
“And up to only a few years ago texts were used by friends and families.”
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Ms Tobin also pointed out that fraudsters use fear to manipulate us, and this is just one way to spot a scam, adding: “We don’t want to miss that parcel or present [and] we are seeing more and more urgent messages warning packages will be returned unless action is taken.”
While we know that the run-up to the big day is a time when fraudsters will be hard at work, Proofpoint is also warning Brits that after Christmas, there is also expected to be a spike in scam texts regarding Boxing Day sales, deals, and discounts.
Scam texts related to the new Omicron variant are also said to be expected.
More than a million scam texts will be sent in the UK in just this week alone / Credit: Twitter (@RoyalMail)
So, what’s the advice then? And what are delivery companies saying about the scams?
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This past year, the Royal Mail says it has been contacted by 60,000 members of the public concerned about texts or emails pretending to be them, and as a result, 40,000 websites have been taken down or blocked within 24 hour that claim to be for Royal Mail parcel fees.
Adam Christie – Privacy Manager at the Royal Mail – said consumers will never receive just a text or email from them asking for money or more information.
“The business is doing everything it can to deliver Christmas to people,” he said, “but we would urge people to be suspicious and not to click on any links they are sent unless they are 100% certain it’s from us.”
A spokesperson for Hermes also said: “We’re aware of a phishing attempt claiming to be Hermes where individuals are receiving a text message including a link to pay for parcel delivery.
“We would never ask for payment in this way.”
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Royal Mail, UKFinance, and Proofpoint are currently all urging consumers to forward dodgy texts so that they can take action.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home
Emily Sergeant
The Council is now offering financial help to support people moving into a smaller and ‘more manageable’ property.
Ever heard of ‘rightsizing? Well, according Manchester City Council it’s a process where a tenant in a larger social rent, Council, or Housing Association property, that may have more rooms than they need or perhaps are struggling to manage a big house as they get older, can be supported into a smaller property that better suits their needs.
The benefits of this process include cheaper bills, lower rents, and overall, just homes that are easier to clean and manage.
The aim of it is also to free up larger Council properties for families who are on the housing register – of which there are said to be around 20,000 of them currently at this time, with larger homes having some of the most significant wait times.
Are you struggling to look after a big Council or housing association home? We can help!
We are offering £2,500 to help people move into a smaller more manageable home, freeing up larger homes for families that need them.
It’s also estimated, according to the Council, that a third of all social rented family homes are thought to ‘underoccupied’.
This is why financial support and grants are now being offered.
Last year alone, 109 households were helped to ‘rightsize’ and were supported in the process by a dedicated team of Council officers, as well as benefitting from the Rightsizing Incentive Scheme – with a further 432 households having expressed interest doing so in the future.
Residents interested in ‘rightsizing’ could get a cash incentive of £2,500, which can be spent on anything they like, along with moving costs.
The Council is giving Mancs £2,500 to move into a ‘more manageable’ home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
“Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property,” explained Cllr Gavin White, who is Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Housing and Development.
“Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
“The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of Council tenants could be under occupying their home, which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.”
Does this sound like you? Are you ready to ‘rightsize’? Find out more and begin the process via Manchester City Council’s website here.
Featured Image – Vitaly Gariev (via Unsplash)
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Trailer released for Netflix’s new Lucy Letby documentary with ‘unprecedented access’
Emily Sergeant
The trailer for Netflix’s new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby has been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby – the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital – hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film – simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby – is described as being the most ‘comprehensive’ look at one of Britain’s most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given ‘unparalleled and exclusive access’ to those central to the story.
“This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility,” commented director, Dominic Sivyer. “Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case.”
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions – who produced the documentary – added: “The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone’s perspectives with care and understanding.
“We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story.”
Emily Sergeant -
23rd December 2021 
