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Smishing scams – February 2021
‘Smishing scams’
We’ve been made aware of a scam text message targeting Barclays customers by directing them to a fake website. Here’s what you need to look out for.
Fake text messages posing as banks are nothing new – last year we saw a huge rise in the number of people reporting that they’ve received one purporting to be from Halifax.
But this one using Barclays to target victims features another twist to be wary of: it’s managed to successfully drop into people’s inboxes with the sender set as the bank itself:
These types of ‘phishing’ attempts work by rushing people into visiting a fake website, which can go on to request and steal sensitive information, such as bank details. In this case, its victims will be alarmed to read that an ‘unusual payee request’ has been ‘flagged’ on their account. Fortunately some web browsers, such as Chrome in the example below (in red) will warn you that the site is illegitimate: however, there’s no guarantee that everyone will receive a similar warning, and some may believe these convincing phishing sites to be genuine.
Phishing scam 2: ‘Lockdown support plan’ grants
Fake GOV UK communications continue to circulate, with a dodgy ‘lockdown support plan’ text now attempting to catch people out.
Once again fortunately most web browsers, such as Google Chrome in this example, will recognise that the URL is a phishing attempt and provide a warning.
Spotting and reporting phishing scams – what to do if you receive one. Report the fake text to the National Cyber Security Centre (report@phishing.gov.uk). Barclays and the other Banks also say that they will never send a text and ask you to click on a link. If you think you may have handed over your card details to scammers, you should let your bank know what’s happened immediately.
Fun with Languages
Our February meeting was the last of this session on French. We had a lovely meeting and shared pieces we had composed about our imaginary day at work or leisure. It was such an encouragement to see how people were developing in their spoken language skills, so well done all. We also answered questions orally in French on a magazine article about Celine Dion; showing again the development of understanding.
Our next meeting will be Thursday 11th March at 10.30 am on Zoom and we shall be starting back on our Spanish sessions. We will begin with some revision of our drama Mi Vida Loca.
We hope to see you then. The usual zoom ID applies and I will send out a reminder nearer the time. Keep safe and hopefully many will have been vaccinated by now.
Liz and Ann xx
High Street Project
The U3A High Street project was originally designed, in 2018, to research and report on the history and current state of shops in each U3A’s local area. Local groups would then be able to identify trends and speculate on what the future might hold for their High Street.
The project was ‘ready to go’ by March last year, but then of course it was derailed by the arrival of Covid-19, which meant that no on site survey work could be done. By July, it was decided that a national survey was achievable in September, and I went out and photographed all the premises on Hucknall High Street near the end of the month. All the photos, along with descriptions of the use of each frontage, have now been uploaded to the national database. The thinking was that it was a good time for the snapshot; as well as being ‘legal’ to be out and about, it was before the end of the first furlough scheme, after which it was thought that more shop closures would be likely. There are currently some 20,000 premises on the database.
114 individual U3As took part, and a progress report went to the U3A Board last month. This was followed by a national Zoom session for all those who took part, and it was going well until it went slightly wrong, which will be a consolation to all of us who have encountered all sorts of glitches when using Zoom!
The plan is to resurvey all the High Streets during this September and then produce a final report in 2022, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the U3A. As well as producing a comprehensive national baseline of High Streets, it is hoped that individual U3As will be encouraged to run spin-off projects in their own areas. Examples so far include producing new ‘Town Trail’ leaflets and ‘Urban Sketching’ in Manchester. I was pleased to learn from the Zoom session that the East Midlands is well represented, with 69 members of 33 U3As taking part.
For anyone interested, the new Progress report is on the national U3A website.
John Tedstone
History Group Calendar 2021
Meeting dates: 3rd Wednesday of the month except July August & December.
Venue for Indoor meetings: Central Methodist Church.
Time: 2.00 pm prompt.
This year, early meetings do depend on the Covid situation, government tiers and vaccines. All dates have been booked.
March 17th 2021 – Attempting to re-schedule this visit at present for later in the year. July, August or November?
April 21st 2021 – Malcolm Darroch is coming to talk about ‘When the Balloon went up’.
May 19th 2021 Friends of Bennerley Viaduct. (Kieran Lee)Coming to talk about this historic monument past and future.
June 16th 2021 Visit to Doddington Hall & Gardens. Leave Hucknall 9.30 am: Leave Doddington 4.00 pm. Return Hucknall 5.30 pm (ish) Cost £20 Price cut to the bone.
July & August 2021 – holidays.
September 15th 2021 – Robert Mee is coming to talk to us on Bradshaws and an early railway Tour. (He says it is the famous railway timetable and a mystery tour.)
October 20th 2021 – Visit to Sharpes Pottery and The Magic Attic. Leave Hucknall 12.15 pm: Leave Sharpes 4.30 pm, Return Hucknall 5.30 pm (ish) Cost £11. I am still awaiting confirmation from the museum and will book a visit elsewhere if there is a problem.
November 17th 2021 – Members Meeting – Christmas theme.
December 15th 2021 No meeting. Close to Xmas.
I will photocopy this list for the ‘first’ meeting we can attend.