BOGUS Olympic lottery letters are being sent to Bristol residents

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Published on Thursday, 29 March 2012 14:53

Written by Allan Keen

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Bristol Trading Standards are warning people to look out for the scam letters which illegally use the Olympic and London 2012 logos and tell recipients they have won a prize of £525,000.

The letters claim that all recipients have to do is return a payment processing form, by fax, with their personal details to receive the full sum of money. However, these personal details are actually being forwarded to criminal gangs operating abroad.

“They use the information residents send to claim their non-existent prize to carry out identification theft” said Phil Parkyn, Principal Trading Standards Officer. “The letters use false names and addresses, usually of large office blocks, and they have bought ‘0207’ telephone numbers to give the impression they are based in London when they are probably somewhere in Africa. This scam has all the hallmarks of a 11 advance fee fraud and I suspect that the operators are certainly overseas”.

Bristol Trading Standards is issuing the following advice and guidance:

- It is unlikely that London 2012 will be asking individuals to pay for goods or services, whether directly to it or through agents, other than ticket sales and official London 2012 merchandise. Therefore such lottery letters are almost certainly going to be bogus.

- Bogus Olympic information will typically use poor quality reproductions of the Olympic logos.

- Trading Standards do not know of any official lottery operators who ask for fees to collect winnings - any request for a fee payment is a good indication that someone is a fraud.

- Never respond to these lottery letters – this will only lead to further contact.

Cllr Guy Poultney, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “People should be aware that it is very likely that Olympic related scams will be on the increase. So it is vital that people remain extra vigilant around this time. It is important to trust your instincts as if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”

Scams can be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506

Mayoral Referendum Information

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Published on Sunday, 29 April 2012 19:30

Written by Allan Keen

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Community Message from Councillors Mark Bailey and Alf Haavok:

"Royal Mail were contracted by the council to deliver a plain English guide to the referendum. Although the Royal Mail are insistent that all of the guides have been delivered we are still receiving enquires from residents who appear not to have received one.

We are therefore resending the attached PDF of the leaflet in an effort to make sure that as many of our constituents receive this information as possible."

Download the attachment below for more information. There is also detailed information and a copy of the leaflet on the Council's dedicated website at www.bristol.gov.uk/mayoralreferendum

Polling takes place on Thursday 3rd May 2012

Attachments:

Mayoral Referendum Info

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Concert with Choir and Handbell Choir

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Published on Sunday, 13 May 2012 18:51

Written by Totterdown Methodist Church

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Thursday 7th June at 7.30pm in the Methodist Church Bushy Park, there will be a concert given by about 30 young people from Norman Oklahoma USA . The McFarlin United  Methodist Church Choir and Handbell Choir. We seldom have the opportunity to hear a Handbell Choir in Bristol, so we are hoping that it will be well supported. Tickets are not needed, tea and coffee will be available in the interval, and there will be a retiring collection for church Funds. 

An Audience with Dame Clara Butt

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Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 18:50

Written by Suzanne Audrey

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“A Victorian superstar is brought to life” (Bristol Evening Post)

Wednesday 2nd May

8.00pm

at The Thunderbolt,  Bath Road, Totterdown

FREE entry

A blue plaque marks the house in Bellevue Road, Totterdown, where Clara Butt lived as a child in the 1880s. Clara sang in churches and halls across the city before winning international acclaim. Over six feet tall, and with a voice some said could be heard across the channel, Clara Butt was an imposing figure. Her story is told in a 45-minute performance that includes music by Elgar and Saint-Saens, imagined conversations with her contemporaries and an opportunity to join in with her 'smash hits', Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. Alexandra Denman, who sings and directs with Bristol and Bath Operas, will be taking the lead role. She will be accompanied by pianist John Bowen and actor Ian Bouncer, who plays a number of characters including Queen Victoria and composer Edward Elgar. An exhibition about the contralto will also be on show.