Types of scams

Here are some of the scams that you’re likely to hear about – or may even be affected by – as peoples’ purse strings are tightened and increasing financial pressures. The list is by no means exhaustive, as fraudsters are highly adept at keeping abreast of unfortunate situations with very convincing and persuasive messages.

·  Texts purporting to be from ‘Gov.org’ or the ‘DWP’ inviting applications or claims for cost-of-living payments. In fact, payments are made automatically so there’s no need to make such a claim.

·  Bogus emails, texts or calls claiming to be from the local council requesting bank or card details so that the £150 council tax rebate can be paid. Again, this is not necessary to receive the payment.

·  Fake messages about energy payments relief purporting to be from Ofgem, the energy regulator. Payments are actually being overseen not by Ofgem, but the Treasury.

·  Emails, texts, or calls claiming to be sent by energy suppliers offering switching deals, cheaper tariffs, discounts on prepayment meters or rebates.

·  WhatsApp scams where you receive a message from someone on a number you don’t recognise claiming to be a family member or friend, informing you they have changed their phone number. A short while later, they request money to solve ‘a problem which needs payment’ (made more believable by the cost-of-living crisis), also known as the ‘Friend in Need’ or ‘Mum and Dad’ scam.

·  Advertisements, emails, texts or social media posts offering either non-existent loans or those with incredibly high interest rates, to help you through a period of financial hardship.

·  An invitation to join ‘get rich quick’ schemes or jobs, with seemingly (so probably) impossible returns. These range from supposed high return pension and other investment schemes to being paid for the use of your bank account – the latter almost certainly resulting in money muling, a criminal offence in its own right.

·  A general increase in ‘traditional’ scams offering great deals on tickets, holidays, vehicles, consumer goods, fashion, and other things you purchase online. What you buy is either non-existent or not as advertised.

Protect yourself

·  Do your research: never send money to anyone you don’t know personally or buy anything you’re not entirely sure of.

·  Look out for spelling and grammatical errors in emails and texts, not being addressed by your name and poor layouts.

·  Never reveal personal or financial data including usernames, passwords, PINs, or ID numbers.

·  Don’t open email attachments or click on links in communications from unknown sources.

·  Make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a scan before opening anything you’re suspicious of. Always update software, apps and operating systems when prompted, or set them to update automatically.

·  Think before you click: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

·  To check whether a website is likely to be legitimate or fraudulent, enter its address at getsafeonline.org/checkawebsite.

·  Access more local information via www.westsussex.gov.uk/staying-safe-online and national information via www.getsafeonline.org.

Also a reminder of the upcoming scams awareness webinars relevant for both residents and professionals: 

·  Wednesday 23 November 2022 10.00am-11.30am. Reserve a space.

·  Tuesday 7 February 2023 2.00pm-3.30pm. Reserve a space.

Visiting Details of Exhibition – All Welcome

The exhibition at The Grange starts from Weds 5 Oct – starting at 3.30pm – that afternoon until 7.30pm there will be a couple of people to answer questions. They will remain there for 2 weeks. People can comment on postcards there or all the info will be on our website from 5 Oct and you can comment there too midhurstvision.org until 28 Oct.

This Sunday – All Welcome!

Please donate fruit, veg, or tinned fish, meat, beans, soups or dried food to the church on Saturday or before the Harvest Service. All food will be forwarded to Rother Valley together, a UK Reg. Charity supporting elderly in Midhurst area.
Any queries please ring Sheila Ryan at 01730 813971

Beatrice has kindly shared her recordings of feeding time in one of her two her owl boxes

From Beatrice

” I first put up barn owl boxes about 20 years ago. For a number of years both boxes have cameras and I have been able to follow the highs and lows of barn owl live ever since.

Two very low points stand out. The first was when a weasel made a meal of the eggs and left the female owl cowering in a corner. The second was after a disastrous decision by the owls to lay eggs in August. Only one made it near fledging in early November. However late one evening at about 10 p.m. the owlet was screeching for food and an adult flew in and killed it with a single peck to the head. We retrieved the corpse having ascertained that no owl was present as it is illegal to disturb them. The owlet was perfectly formed but would not have survived fledging so late in the year.

Last year five owlets fledged which was a record, however sadly one fell victim to a collision with a car on the Bepton Road. This year the female laid four eggs but only two owlets have made it. Probably a combination of the drought conditions which do not help the voles etc. reproduce. The heat does not do them any good as owls can only pant and it was a close call with the owlets in July. One was lying on its side.

The Barn Owl Trust have told me that reports show the average number of fledging owlets to be two in 2022. Not enough to ensure the replacement of adult Barn Owls. Of the two only one might make it through to 2023….

Birds are in dire straights at the moment due to the continuing decimation of species through bird flu and also habitat loss. The RSPB reports that 70 bird species found in the UK are now on the Red List…..”

Bepton Parish Council joins with the residents of Bepton in mourning the loss of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II.

The official Book of Condolence for Bepton will be available at St Mary’s Church, Bepton between the hours of 9am and 5pm. You can also visit https://orlo.uk/royal_uk_Gg838 to sign the online Book of Condolence. The Book of Condolence at St Mary’s Church, Bepton, will close by the morning of Tuesday 20 September, unless we receive any new instructions.

Our thoughts and prayers are with King Charles III and the Royal Family at this difficult time.

Being online has fast become integral to people’s everyday lives, and as we do more using the internet, we need to ensure we do so safely. Whether you feel you are digitally savvy or are rather overwhelmed about how to stay safe online, there are a range of resources available for you and your friends and family that you can utilise. It is good to remind ourselves about the ways we can protect ourselves online, and stay up to date with the latest news and scams. Take a look at and please share the following offered by West Sussex County Council: 

Scam Awareness Webinars – Register to join below

Staying Safe Online 23 Nov 22

Staying Safe Online 07 Feb 23

Although Bepton and the surrounding areas are served by Southern Water, the recent Temporary Use Ban (TUB) does not cover their complete area of operation. If you go to the link below and enter your postcode at the end of the page you will see the drought restriction status for your location.

https://www.southernwater.co.uk/drought-restrictions

Here is an example for Severals Road, Bepton

COMMUNITY EVENT

Please support The Parish Church of St. Mary’s, Bepton

ANNUAL GIFT DAY

Come to Bepton (Severals) Green (opposite the former Country Inn) on

Wednesday 10 th August 2022 between 10.30am and 1.00pm to show your support for Bepton

Parish Church, a Grade 1 Listed Building.

Keeping the Church and churchyard at the heart of the community costs money. We do not
receive any money from Church of England. Please help us to keep it open for you.
So please consider supporting the church this year. You can do this by
(a) Making a gift to the church in cash or by cheque (payable to Bepton St
Mary’s PCC) and handing it to the Rector who will be on the Green from
10.30am until 1pm.
(b) Buying something from our Produce stall on the Green. There will also be
a Raffle.
If anyone is willing to make a cake or preserves or bring fresh fruit & veg
for this stall it will be much appreciated. Bring a Prize for the Raffle.
Please let me (Sheila) know Tel.01730 813971
If you are unable to come to the Green on Wednesday 10 th August please
send or deliver your gift to me or to our Treasurer, Alan Sadler at
Stickledown, Severals Road, Bepton GU29 0LR . Or for bank transfers
please phone Alan Sadler 01730 812571.
Hope we will see you on Bepton Green, Severals Road. Do drop in for a

free coffee we will be delighted to see you.

Sheila Ryan (churchwarden)
Bayleaves, Bepton, Midhurst. GU29 9RB