Welcome

Dickens Heath Parish Council

1 week ago

West Midlands Police Summer Demand

The sun’s out at last! We really hope you are enjoying the weather.

It’s also running hot on the phone lines here, as we are getting more calls for help. With the easing of restrictions, warmer weather and increased drinking, we expected to be busy but here’s how you can help us.

If you need our help and it’s not an emergency it’s quick and easy to web chat us online – you will normally get help in less than three minutes.

To do this just log onto our website – www.west-midlands.police.uk and select Live Chat. Our website is also a great one stop shop to find out about a wide range of services, from how to report a shed break-in to how to deal with being stalked online.

We know some people still really want to talk to us on the phone, even if it’s not an emergency. You can still call us on 101, but at busy times it can take a little longer to answer your call. So please bear with us or try online.

If it is an emergency – the crime is happening right now or someone’s life is in danger – don’t hesitate to call 999 for immediate help.

Thank you for supporting us through this busy time, have fun in the sun and stay safe! … See MoreSee Less

West Midlands Police

www.west-midlands.police.uk

West Midlands Police. Preventing crime, protecting the public and helping those in need.

Dickens Heath Parish Council

3 weeks ago

Message from Action Fraud

Over 5M Suspicious Emails Reported

Phishing remains the most successful attack vector for cyber criminals targeting individuals and businesses.

Cyber criminals love phishing. Unfortunately, this is not a harmless riverbank pursuit. When criminals go phishing, you are the fish and the bait is usually contained in a scam email or text message. The criminal’s goal is to convince you to click on the links within their scam email or text message, or to give away sensitive information (such as bank details). These messages may look like the real thing but are malicious. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords.

As of 30 April 2021, over 5.8 million emails were reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). The tool, which was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the City of London Police last April, allows the public to forward suspicious emails to an automated system that scans it for malicious links. Since its launch, over 43,000 scams and 84,000 malicious websites have been removed.

What are the most common phishing scams?

The most commonly spoofed organisation reported in phishing emails was TV Licensing, with victims of these emails reporting losses totalling £5.3m. The majority of losses occurred as a result of victims following malicious links in the emails and inputting their personal information into what they thought was the legitimate TV Licensing website. Shortly after, they would receive a call from criminals impersonating bank staff who was able to convince them that their bank accounts were compromised and persuaded them to transfer all of their money to a new ‘safe’ account. Some of the other most commonly impersonated organisations included HMRC and DVLA. We also received more than 40,000 suspicious email reports relating to COVID-19.

How you can protect yourself from phishing messages.

Fake emails and text messages can sometimes be difficult to spot and criminals are constantly getting better at finding ways to make them seem more authentic. Email address spoofing, for example, is just one of the tactics criminals will use to try and make their fake emails look real. Here are some tips you should follow to protect yourself, and others, from scam emails and text messages:

1: Be cautious of messages asking for your personal information. Official organisations, such as your bank, should never ask you for personal or financial information via email or text message. If you receive a message and you want to check that it’s legitimate, you can call the organisation directly using a known number, such as the one on a bank statement or utility bill.

2: Report suspicious emails. If you receive an email you’re not quite sure about, you should report it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) by forwarding the email to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Your reports will help government and law enforcement agencies to remove malicious emails and websites.

3: Report suspicious text messages. If you receive a suspicious text message, you can report it by forwarding the message to 7726. It’s free of charge and enables your mobile network provider to investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious.

4: Report fraud. If you’ve lost money or provided personal information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud.

For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud and cyber crime, please visit: actionfraud.police.uk/cybercrime

Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this information to your friends. … See MoreSee Less

Top tips to keep the cyber criminals out | Action Fraud

actionfraud.police.uk

Fraud and cyber crime are the most common criminal offences in the UK. Analysis of Action Fraud reports showed that 86% of frauds had a cyber element to them. As the threat from cyber crime continues …

Dickens Heath Parish Council

4 weeks ago

Online Reporting – Fly Tipping
Just to remind you that the best way to report Fly Tipping on council owned land is by using the following online form to directly notify the Street Care team, who will aim to investigate within 5 working days

Please call the Council’s Contact Centre on 0121 704 8000 if:

You have witnessed Fly Tipping taking place
You find any hazardous waste such as needles on council, providing as much detail as possible on the location. For your own safety please do not try to remove any needles yourself, a cleansing operative trained in the safe removal and disposal of hazardous items will attend as soon as possible
Visit the council’s website to also report abandoned shopping trolleys and abandoned household waste bags.

www.solihull.gov.uk/Roads-pavements-and-streetcare/Fly-tipping



As a reminder, Litter picking bags do not need to be reported if less than 3 are left next to a council litter bin. … See MoreSee Less

Fly tipping | solihull.gov.uk

www.solihull.gov.uk

Report fly tipping.

Dickens Heath Parish Council

4 weeks ago

Love Solihull Litter Picking Initiative

If you would like information or to register for litter picking please follow this link: www.solihull.gov.uk/Roads-pavements-and-streetcare/Love-Solihull/Litter-picking … See MoreSee Less

Love Solihull Litter Picking Initiative

www.solihull.gov.uk

Love Solihull supports residents who take pride in where they live and wish to play an active role in helping to keep their local area clear of litter.