How fraudster on a jet ski runs a network of cold calling sharks who 'groom' victims into taking out fake domestic appliance cover. So are YOU on their 'suckers list'?
Scammers bombard targets with around 40 million cold calls a year, with the true scale of the fraud unknown because most victims do not report it.
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The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
JD Vance ‘unaware' of claim police asked Cotswolds residents for social media details
JD Vance 's team have denied knowing about any efforts from police to collect social media information from residents near where he spent his Cotswolds holiday. Locals near the Hamlet of Dean, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, have claimed police had been door-to-door asking for personal details of residents and social media accounts. Thames Valley Police have denied officers were instructed to ask residents for social media details, and said they were under 'no obligation' to answer any questions. One local told The Observer: 'I know several people refused. We asked them if they were protecting us, or Vance. At least they were honest and said it is for him and that it will all be passed on to the American security people.' The claims have circulated widely on social media in recent days, and now the vice president's team has denied being aware of any efforts to collect such information. 'The Vice President's Office and Secret Service were unaware of any efforts by local police to collect residents' social media information,' William Martin, Mr Vance's communications director said. 'We greatly appreciate the effort our law enforcement partners put in to keeping the vice president safe, but any questions about security measures are best directed to the law enforcement agency responsible.' Residents in the vicinity of the 6-acre site Mr Vance was staying on described roadblocks and police door knocks in recent days, as security in the area was on high alert. Thames Valley Police said it was supporting the US during the vice president's visit to the area to 'ensure the safety of all involved'. It said: 'No officers were instructed to ask residents about their social media accounts or use, and we have received no complaints regarding this. 'To reduce local impact due to temporary road restrictions during the visit, we held brief courtesy conversations with residents to understand their access needs and facilitate safe movement. 'It was made clear that participation was entirely voluntary and that responses would not be shared outside the police force.' Road closures, sniffer dogs, police and a number of blacked out cars have all been spotted in the area, a marked difference to the usual calm and quaint atmosphere of a Cotswold country retreat. One woman told The Times the village had seen 'one blinking pantomime after the other'. Another told the paper she and a friend had been stopped by police blocking a footpath while walking through the area, and said: 'I told the police 'we are two old ladies, we are hardly terrorists'.' The vice president has now left the Cotswolds to begin his second leg of his family holiday in Scotland, where he will reportedly spend five days. He landed at at Prestwick Airport on Wednesday evening before travelling with a large motorcade to the luxury Carnell Estate near Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, where airspace restrictions will remain in place around the estate until Sunday. He was greeted by dozens of pro-Palestine protesters referencing the US government's support for Israel amid the starvation and bombardment of Gaza. Similar protests were seen at a 'not welcome' party staged in the Cotswolds earlier this week, where dozens came quipped with banners, cake and plenty of pictures of an unflattering meme of the vice president. Many placards referenced Mr Vance's own words, with a woman holding a sign saying 'Cotswolds childless cat ladies say go home', and many quoting his 2016 statement that he was a 'Never Trump guy'. Other more satirical signs read 'JD Vance claps when the plane lands' and 'JD Vance's Netflix password is 'password''. One picture was everywhere - an edited image of Mr Vance as a bloated, smooth, bald man staring off into the distance, which has become a commonly-used meme on social media. Last month, US officials were forced to deny a claim from a 21-year-old Norwegian man who said he was denied entry at Newark Liberty International Airport after border security found the meme on his phone. 'Fact Check: FALSE,' the Customs and Border Protection wrote on X. 'Mads Mikkelsen was not denied entry for any memes or political reasons, it was for his admitted drug use.'
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment suspected drink driver is caught by police ASLEEP at the wheel with the engine running
This is the moment a suspected drink driver is caught by the police snoring at the wheel with the engine running in the middle of the road. Cambridgeshire Police found Scott Tuite, 36, in the early hours of the morning, asleep in his car with the engine still running in Papworth Everard. Click above to watch the video in full.
BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Longbenton former soldier walked into ex's home and strangled her
A former soldier who walked uninvited into his ex-girlfriend's home and strangled her has been given a suspended Miller, 34, had previously assaulted the woman and repeatedly threatened to kill her, Newcastle Crown Court victim said she believed she was going to die in the attack and lived in fear of what he would from Longbenton, North Tyneside, was jailed for two years, suspended for two years, after admitting offences including intentional strangulation. The couple's short relationship ended in November after Miller, of West Farm Avenue, smashed her phone, threw a wine glass at her causing a cut to her hand and chucked her belongings out of a window, prosecutor Joe Hedworth days later, Miller pinned the victim against a wall by her throat and said "I'm going to kill you" when she went round to collect her possessions, the court heard. 'In fear for life' Miller, whose previous convictions included battery and assault, was arrested and released on bail on condition not to contact the woman, Mr Hedworth 9 January, the woman was in bed when Miller walked into her home with another man and strangled her several times to the point where she could not breathe, the prosecutor again shouted he would kill her and said he was going to get a knife to stab her to death with, the court heard, before leaving when the woman managed to hide in her a statement read to the court, the woman said she had been "left in fear of [her] life" and she "genuinely believed" he would kill said she had told multiple lies to friends and family to "justify black eyes and injuries" during the couple's relationship, and was scared to be at home because she "knows what he is capable of".The woman said she used to be described as the "life of the party" but no longer liked going out and socialising. 'High risk' In mitigation, Shaun Routledge said Miller had developed a "problem" with alcohol and cocaine as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by his time in the Army, in particular during a period in which five comrades were killed in combat and some 30 others had to undergo amputations."We can only imagine how it affects those people who we send to fight on our behalf," Mr Routledge said, adding Miller was sacked from the military for using cocaine, which he did "because of some of the operational duties he undertook".Miller had been in prison since the incident in January and had been using his time inside to better himself and help others, the court Carolyn Scott said Miller had been assessed as posing a "high risk of serious harm" to others but the Probation Service could provide an "onerous package" to "rehabilitate" part of that he must complete a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement and complete 150 hours' unpaid work.A restraining order banning him from contacting his victim for 10 years was also made. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
