Scam Alert from Trading Standards

26/01/2021

A new fake email and text claiming to be from NHS Test and Trace has been circulating, telling people they have been selected to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The email/text is shown below for your information.

Please be aware that the NHS Test and Trace has no access to medical history or medical records and is separate from the NHS vaccination programme.

With the recent approval of multiple vaccines in the UK, these types of scam attempts are continuing as fraudsters look to take advantage of the rollout to so many people.

Cold calls regarding the vaccine are also taking place – we havealready had reports of scammers asking people to pay for it over the phone. If you receive one of these calls, then just hang up.

Please share this message with your networks, friends and families.

Croods 2 sign up with Neighbourhood Watch!!!

Dear friends,

We are delighted to announce our exciting new partnership with Universal Studios and the Co-op in the launch of The Croods 2: A New Age in the UK. The film (also known as The Croods 2) is a computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures.

The film centres around values ofcommunity, neighbourliness, inclusivity, and working together. These are values that are close to the heart of all Neighbourhood Watch supporters, and as part of our initiative to reach more young families and to add to the positive and approachable perceptions of Neighbourhood Watch, the opportunity presented by this partnership was too good to pass up!

The Croods and The Bettermans are thrown together, two very different families who have to learn to live with one another when an evil tribe of monkeys threaten their homes. Once safe from this threat, the Croods and the Bettermans realise that home is not a place, it’s people, and together they create history’s first neighbourhood!

Neighbourhood Watch’s partnership with the film provides the opportunity to reach young families and to promote the importance of neighbourliness and community spirit to new audiences and across diverse communities. We know many young people and their families believe in the values which we stand for and this partnership gives them the introduction to becoming Neighbourhood Watch supporters for life.

WIN! Design a Croods 2 inspired treehouse and win it for your local community

In partnership with ‘The Croods 2: A New Age’ and Co-op, we want children up to the age of 16 to design their very own Croods 2 inspired treehouse for their local community. What’s more, the winning entry will be brought to life and built within a nearby Wildlife Trust location to be enjoyed by the public for years to come!

What do you need to do to enter?

• Head over to Co-op Insurance website to download the treehouse template and top tips for entering

• Design a Croods 2 inspired treehouse for your local community – it can be as wacky as you want, let your imagination run wild!

• You can draw, paint, use computer software or even cave drawings to create your design, but above all be sure to think about how this could be used by the community and bring a lot of fun.

• Share the design on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #Croods2Treehouse and tag Co-op (@coopukinsurance on Facebook and Twitter) and Neighbourhood Watch Network (Facebook: @ourwatch; Twitter: @N_Watch and Instagram: @neighbourhood.watch.insta) to enter.

• The competition closes on 22nd February and the winner will be contacted within 5 days via social media. The treehouse will be built by 26th March, just in time for the film’s release and Easter holidays!

• See the attached flyer, or click here, for more details

How to support the campaign

We rely on the amazing Neighbourhood Watch volunteers and supporters to spread the messages of Neighbourhood Watch and to provide the first step for all people to connect with their neighbours for mutual support, a key strategic goal. We hope that you will promote this campaign within your community and use it to reach more families within your area. We have secured some amazing prizes to be won over the course of the partnership. See the attached a fun activity pack (or view it on our website here) to keep children entertained whilst they are home schooling. Please feel free to share this with families in your area. If you cannot print at home and would like an activity pack and competition entry template posted directly to your door along with a treehouse template to enter the competition please email croods2@isg.media.

To support this campaign, you can:

• SHARE: Follow us on social media to share our posts on the partnership and competitions

  • Facebook: facebook.com/ourwatch

  • Twitter: twitter.com/N_watch

  • Instagram: neighbourhood.watch.insta

• INFORM: Share this email and the attached flyer and activity pack with your community. This could be via email, WhatsApp or in your local newsletter

• WATCH: Go and see the film (COVID-19 restrictions dependant) when it comes out on the 26th March!

Neighbourhood Watch and Croods 2 special edition logo

The Neighbourhood Watch brand and iconic yellow roundel is undeniably widely recognised across the UK. To celebrate this partnership, we have created a unique and playful adaptation of our logo featuring The Croods and The Bettermans to be used on all material supporting the partnership. We will be using the fresh and fun adapted logo on all our social media channels, within our website and on all materials created for this partnership.

We hope you are as excited as we are by this unique partnership and the opportunity it presents for Neighbourhood Watch to engage young people. If you would like more information visitwww.ourwatch.org.uk/croods2 or emailDeborah.waller@ourwatch.org.uk

Central Support Team

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK

Follow us.. Website: ourwatch.org.uk

Facebook: facebook.com/ourwatch Twitter: twitter.com/N_watch Instagram: neighbourhood.watch.insta LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/neighbourhood-watch/

Rise in doorstep scammers across borough

Trading Standards have advised us that there has been a significant rise in doorstep scam across our communities

As you may be aware, the methods in which these criminals act is unscrupulous and shameful.

Someone knocked on my door and was so kind and helpful, telling me a roof tile looked loper and that he was working in my area and could do it at a great price. I thought that was kind and went ahead.....little did I know that I needed more work, but the price got higher and highe. I couldn’t pay all of these extras they were adding on. Eventually I was so distraught that I couldn’t pay so I signed my house over to him.

Scammers don’t care about their victims.

BUT WE DO....

Share this post and raise awareness. For our neighbours who aren’t connected via email or social media - talk to them, even by pivking up the phone.

Let‘s get Greenwich informed.