Cllr Roy Gerstner – Community Activist

Those using the platform Booking.com to book their holidays or accommodation are being warned they could be targeted with emails or messages requesting payments from hotels who have had their account taken over by fraudsters. Between June 2023 and September 2024, Action Fraud received 532 reports from individuals, with a total of £370,000 lost.

Insight from Action Fraud reports suggests the individuals were defrauded after receiving unexpected messages and emails from a Booking.com account belonging to a hotel they had a reservation with, which had been taken over by a criminal. Using this account, the criminals send in-app messages, emails, and WhatsApp messages to customers, deceiving them into making payment and/or requesting credit card details.

The specific account takeovers are likely to be the result of a targeted phishing attack against the hotel or accommodation provider, and not Booking.com’s backend system or infrastructure.

Adam Mercer, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said:

“With more than 500 reports made to Action Fraud, those who have booked a holiday on the Booking.com platform should stay alert to any unexpected emails or messages from a hotel using the Booking.com platform, as their account could have been taken over by a criminal. 

“If you receive an unexpected request from a hotel’s account you booked with using Booking.com, asking for bank details or credit card details, it could be a fraudster trying to trick you into parting ways with your money. Contact Booking.com or the organisation directly if you’re unsure.

“Remember to report any suspicious emails by forwarding it to [email protected], or if you receive a fraudulent text message, you can forward it to 7726.”

How can you protect yourself?

Booking.com and Action Fraud are providing the following advice on how to spot signs of fraud and protect your Booking.com account:

• No legitimate Booking.com transaction will ever require a customer to provide their credit card details by phone, email, or text message (including WhatsApp).

• Sometimes a hotel provider will manage their own payment and may reach out to request payment information, like credit card details – before providing any information, always verify the authenticity of communication between yourself and the hotel’s account.

• If you receive any urgent payment requests that require immediate attention, like a booking cancellation, immediately reach out to the Booking.com Customer Service team via the details on the official Booking.com website and/or app to confirm.

• Any payment requests that do not match the information in the original booking confirmation should also be double checked and confirmed with Booking.com Customer Service before proceeding. 

• Any messages purporting to be from Booking.com that contain instructions to follow links and/or open/download files should be treated with caution.

• If you have any doubts about a message, contact Booking.com directly. Don’t use the numbers or address in the suspicious message and use the details from their official website.

• For more information about how to protect your Booking.com account, please visit: Safety Tips for Travellers | Booking.com

If you receive any suspicious emails or text messages, report them by forwarding emails to: [email protected], or texts to 7726.

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

WARNING: Suspected ‘Nottingham Knockers’ have been reported in your area!

Since Monday, we have received 13 reports of men knocking on doors in Fenland, telling residents they have recently been released from prison and are selling goods to raise much needed funds.

Two people have handed over money to these salesmen, with one paying £500 using a combination of cash and bank transfer.

If you have someone knock on your door trying to sell you things:

• Double check their credentials. If what they present to you doesn’t put you at ease, you can call the number of the company to verify their identity. When doing so, please use the number you find online rather than the one on their ID.
• Do not pass on any personal details
• Talk to them through a closed door
• Be courteous but firm. You have every right to tell them you are not interested and ask them to leave.

If you continue to feel unsafe, then please report it to us by calling 101 or online.

If a crime is in progress, or someone is in immediate danger, please call 999.

You can read more about it on our website.

Below is just a small part of the document – in many cases, not good reading in statistical terms – I make it clear – I am NOT apportioning blame on anyone – much is historical and most was known before – however some items have got worse.

(click in the bottom left corner to advance/retard pages.

Scoping Report Part
©FDC

(RG Note) The link will take you to Fenland District Councils Website and explains further.
The document is 4MB and contains some very interesting statistical information.
The whole document is a long read.

www.fenland.gov.uk/sascopingreport

We would like to inform you that Fenland District Council has today launched a new consultation: Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report.

What are we consulting on?

Fenland District Council is currently developing a new district wide Local Plan, which will set out the planning policies to guide the development and use of the land in the district up to 2050.

A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is an integral part of the plan making process which local authorities must carry out by law. It ensures environmental, economic and social factors are considered in the preparation of the Local Plan.

A Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report is the first stage in the SA process. It sets out the Council’s approach to the sustainability appraisal, including the key sustainability issues facing the district, objectives for sustainable development, and the framework that will be used to assess the Local Plan’s policies and proposals.

While primarily a technical consultation for key stakeholders, including Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency, views are welcome from other interested bodies and individuals.

Consultation dates

The consultation runs from: 14 January 2025 to 25 February 2025

Have your say

Visit our consultation webpage to find out more and take part:

www.fenland.gov.uk/sascopingreport

Help raise awareness

Whittlesey Community Movie Evening @

Queen St Church – Saturday 18th Jan.

Doors open 6.30 for a 7pm start.

“Grow Your Own”
A Feel Good Movie – cert PG
With a host of familiar faces!

The film centres on a group of gardeners at a Merseyside allotment, who react angrily when a group of refugees are given plots at the site, but after they get to know them better, soon change their minds.

These regular winter events are free with refreshments served during an interval. Donations are much appreciated to offset our operating expenses. Card transactions now available if preferred.

 If you value “cinema” events in your Town and would like them to continue, please try to come along.

Your smiling faces when attending encourage us to continue!
We really value your support!

A really cold morning, but 20 members still attended including two new members. Welcome to Meecha and Matt. After a brisk walk around town, we still managed to collect 29 bags of litter, although the Street cleaning team must be commended for their 6am start ,clearing the majority of the rubbish before we arrived. A special mention to Ben, who goes above and beyond to help us clear the town after such an event.

Saturday 25^th January -10am -The Manor Field – Meet in the car park pool end.

©SP.

A new episode of the popular Channel 4 documentary 24 Hours in Police Custody follows investigations into the dealing of crystal meth and cocaine across the eastern region.

The episode, which will air at 9pm on Monday (13 January), begins by following our detectives as they investigate a class A drugs case.

The investigation began in June 2023 after our Neighbourhood Support Team officers discovered a £10,000 stash of drugs – including crystal meth and cocaine – in a car on the A47 near Peterborough.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) was uncovering a major operation that led to the seizure of drugs worth more than £1.5million over the border in Norfolk.

After finding drugs hidden in secret compartments in equipment being shipped into the UK, detectives realised they had the potential to break an international South American cartel by exploiting their discovery.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Birch, from ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), said: “Crystal meth is an incredibly dangerous and addictive substance. It’s vital that it doesn’t make its way into our communities, and we’re committed to targeting those looking to profit from the misery of others by selling such perilous substances.”

24 Hours in Police Custody: The Norfolk Narco Cartel will be shown on Channel 4 at 9pm on Monday, 13 January.

If you’ve got information about drug supply in your area, you can report it online via our dedicated drugs information webpage.

AO Whittlesey.

(Click on picture to enlarge)


Thanks to RB & AO