Will Mellor has revealed he was repeatedly targeted by fraudsters who stole his identity and a “substantial” amount of money.
The Stockport-born actor – who is best known for his role on the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, as well as in Hollyoaks, Line of Duty, No Offence, and Broadchurch, and as Harvey Gaskell on Manchester-based ITV soap Coronation Street – has spoken out about his trauma the victim of fraudsters.
The Strictly star told ITV Granada that the fraudsters used his identity to set up bank accounts in his name so they could launder money.
He said he only grew suspicious when he found someone rifling through his post.
The 46-year-old, who narrowly missed-out on securing a place in the Strictly Come Dancing final last month, says a “substantial” amount of money was taken from him and that the fraudulent activity had been going on for “some time”.
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He also claims that it’s not the first time he’s been a victim of fraud either, which is why he has decided to speak out about it and warn his fans to be vigilant at all times.
Will Mellor says he was repeatedly targeted by fraudsters who stole his identity / Credit: Will Mellor (via Facebook)
“My neighbour bumped into me and said that she saw someone hanging around my letterbox and thought she saw him take something out of it,” Mellor told ITV Granada.
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“I put my CCTV facing towards the letterbox to see if I could catch anything and low and behold I caught a guy with his hand in my letterbox taking mail out. I found out that he had been intercepting my mail and had opened several accounts in my name. He had stolen my identity and had been laundering money through these accounts. One of them had £20,000 in it.”
Mellor added that situations like the one he found himself in can happen to anyone, and has offered a few tips to help “combat the crooks”.
Telling people to be aware of their online presence, Mellor pointed to recent research carried out by Nationwide that he said “shows there’s a lot of people who give too much information online on social media platforms”.
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The Stockport-born actor says fraudsters took a “substantial” amount of money from him / Credit: Will Mellor (via Facebook)
The research showed that 70% of people share their personal details on social media, with Mellor advising people to “be careful what you are posting on your bios”.
He said checking bank statements regularly is one top tip to avoid fraud.
Another tip he shared was getting a wallet that prevents people from using contactless mechanisms which can steal money off your card just by being close by, adding: “It’s great because now when I am on the train I am not worried about people being too close to me.”
Featured Image – ITV
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More adult virgins needed for next series of Channel 4’s hit reality show Virgin Island
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
You may remember that early last year, we brought you the breaking highly-important news that Channel 4 was currently in the process of producing a new reality TV series that, at the time, had the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ and was looking for a group of adult virgins to apply to take part, if they were brave enough.
But now, well over a year on, we all know that show turned out to be the hit show Virgin Island – which has just finished airing its first series this week.
Channel 4 needs more adult virgins for the potential next series of its hit reality TV show Virgin Island / Credit: Channel 4
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before, as it follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
Virgin Island aims to help young people overcome their insecurities around intimacy and sex / Credit: Channel 4
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
You can find out more and register your interest here.
Featured Image – Channel 4
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New survey finds most drivers can’t complete a car journey without using their mobile
Emily Sergeant
A shocking new report has revealed that most Brits are unable to complete a car journey without using their mobile behind the wheel.
After shocking images taken with an AI camera of drivers using mobiles and not wearing seatbelts on the roads across Greater Manchester were released to the public last November, a new report has now shed some more light on drivers’ excessive phone use while on the roads, proving that they’re the ultimate distraction.
In fact, nine out of 10 drivers struggle to complete a journey without being distracted by their phones, according a recent report from IMS and the RAC.
The research – which is based on survey results from 500,000 drivers over the past year, originally shared exclusively with This is Money – shows that only 10% of motorists manage to drive from start to finish without interacting with their mobile device.
And this is despite the risk of consequences such as £200 fines and six penalty points on their license, if caught.
A new survey has fount that most drivers can’t complete a car journey without using their mobile at some point / Credit: Geograph | Vincent Wachowiak (via Unsplash)
As mentioned, it’s also despite the increasing use of advanced artificial intelligence roadside cameras to detect ‘distracted drivers’ and their illegal mobile phone use.
Government data showed that mobile phone use was a contributing factor in 23 road fatalities last year alone, and official statistics also show that ‘distraction or impairment’ was the third most-common cause of fatal crashes, having played a role in 34.9% of deadly incidents.
The RAC is now encouraging police forces across the UK to start taking immediate action.
“We saw a reduction in motorists admitting to illegal handheld phone use after the penalties were toughened in 2017 following pressure from the RAC, but numbers are on the rise again now,” explained RAC road safety spokesperson, Rod Dennis
“In fact, our research shows the proportion of young drivers making and receiving calls illegally hit its highest rate in eight years in 2024.
“Enforcement of the law is critical, so we encourage police forces to roll out more roadside cameras to catch people in the act and get them to change their ways.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th January 2023 
