Police have issued a warning about a ‘despicable’ blackmailing scam in which owners of lost dogs are being told to transfer hundreds of pounds or their pet will be killed.
Fraudsters are posing as dognappers and sending threatening messages to people whose animals have disappeared – exploiting any contact details posted online in a plea for information.
Scammers present no proof they have the pet – but urge the owner to pay up or the dog will be harmed.
The victim is then told they have a limited amount of time – usually a day – to make a Bitcoin transfer.
Lancashire Constabulary has revealed that a woman in Longridge – who had lost her lilac and tan French Bulldog Nelly – was sent a message reading: “I have your dog. It’s fine just scared. Send £450 in bitcoin to this bitcoin wallet or I will kill it or sell it or whatever. When you pay send your address and I’ll drop it off. I won’t contact you again or reply.”
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The message continued: “This is a throwaway phone. Police can’t help. You have until end of Thursday.”
Message sent to a victim of the dognapping scam / Image: Lancashire Constabulary
The victim also received threatening phone calls from a man who claimed he would hurt the dog if the owner did not pay a ransom of £1,000 by 3pm that day.
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The supposed kidnapper(s) did not send any proof of Nelly’s whereabouts.
Lancashire police force said it was taking the offences ‘extremely seriously’.
Officers are advising any recipients of these fraudulent messages to avoid responding and call 101 instead.
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Juliet Clark of Lancashire Constabulary’s Cyber Crime Unit said: “These despicable individuals play on the emotions of their victims when they are at their most vulnerable.
“As upsetting and tempting as it is to pay the ransom, this is [a] scam. If people are contacted after losing a pet with similar messages, contact police on 101.”
Anybody with information about the whereabouts of Nelly is asked to call police on 101, quoting log 0934 of 31 March 2021.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic
Emily Sergeant
A new survey has revealed that seven in 10 NHS workers believe the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic if one should arise.
After the recent meningitis B outbreak in Kent last month raised the conversation of mass contagion once again, of course following the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouGov survey of more than 1,000 NHS workers has now uncovered how well prepared staff in the health service think it is for another global pandemic.
The results show that 69% of staff surveyed think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic, and to make matters worse, 26% of those even say it’s ‘very poorly’ prepared.
Only one in five (22%) think the NHS is could properly handle another pandemic, but statistically, YouGov claims none of those surveyed said it’s ‘very well’ prepared.
Seven in 10 NHS workers think the health service is ‘poorly prepared’ for another pandemic / Credit: Pxhere | Rawpixel
When workers were asked how the NHS’s level of preparedness now compares to prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 41% did concede that they think it is better prepared now than 2020, however 37% admitted they think it’s no better prepared.
16% actively think it’s less well-prepared now than it was prior to 2020.
This marked a new era of ‘transparency’ and ‘accountability’ in the NHS, with the league tables delivering on the Government’s promise to drive up standards, tackle variation in care, and ensure people get the high-quality service they rightly expect.
Every trust in England – from urgent and emergency care, through to elective operations and mental health services – will now be ranked quarterly against ‘clear and consistent’ standards.
Featured Image – Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
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Seven people arrested in Salford over plans to conduct coordinated mass shoplifting campaign
Emily Sergeant
Seven people have been arrested in Salford over plans to be part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign of ‘high end’ retailers and supermarkets across the country.
According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), it is believed the group had been training for ‘non‑violent direct action’ in Salford as part of a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign, where they were intending to steal goods from high‑value stores and major supermarkets across the country, and then redistribute them to places such as food banks.
Working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Service, officers arrested one male and six females in Salford yesterday afternoon (Sunday 19 April) on suspicion of conspiracy to steal.
They all remain in police custody for questioning.
It has been reported in multiple sources, such as the BBC and the MEN, that the individuals arrested are believed to be part of the Take Back Power Action Group.
Take Back Power Action Group describes itself on its website as a ‘nonviolent civil resistance group’ that is aiming to ‘put the 99% in charge’ through citizen’s assemblies.
“We are ordinary people from all walks of life who believe that in order to fix Britain, taxing the rich is an essential first step, and we want ordinary people to decide how,” a statement on the group’s website declares.
Speaking following the arrests over the weekend, Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said: “This joint operation with the Metropolitan Police has resulted in the arrests of seven individuals who we believe were planning to take part in coordinated national activity targeting high‑value retail stores.
“We are taking robust action to disrupt this type of organised criminality, and it will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester.
The Manc -
7th May 2021 
