People in Gedling borough are being warned about an alarming new text scam where fraudsters pretend to be your daughter in a crisis.
Scam-busters Action Fraud are urging people to be on their guard when receiving a message from someone claiming to be ‘Sarah’, as it could cost you £20 a time.
One text received read: “Mum I did try and phone from some else phone signal is really bad, there has been a terrible car accident.
“I’m in the ICU ward in hospital my phone ain’t switching on and needs charging.
“I’m on this mobile number please make sure you reply to this number, my friend didn’t make it he died before we got to hospital and his sister’s fighting for her life.
WARNING: Don’t reply to these texts from fraudsters – it could cost you £20 each time
“Mum I had my seatbelt on, I’ve got a head injury but I’m ok.
“Going into X-ray to be seen, please make sure you message me back and don’t phone cause mobile phones aren’t allowed here so please text in case I’m in there.
“I will go outside and phone you mum its really bad I need you to do me favour before it’s too late, as soon as you get my text please reply by text I need you to do me a favour mum, time is running out and i need you to do something mum.”
Once a user responds to the text, they are charged £20 for a mobile top-up code.
Action Fraud warned people to avoid repyling to these messages.
They said: “These messages can quite easily evolve into more elaborate scenarios and are designed to play on your emotions and get you to react quickly without thinking.
“If you receive one of these text messages, don’t send any codes or money, delete it and report it to us.
“If a family member was hospitalised, they would never be forced to use a mobile phone that required credit to activate it.”
We all love to receive a notification or two from our smart phone or Facebook as it makes us feel like we are connected to others. Browsing through apps and other people’s photographs makes us feel like we have an attachment to people or places or that we are vicariously part of events. But what is this doing to our mental health?
Andy Puddicombe put this in a way that resonates with me “It is not what technology does to us; it is what we do to technology. Used skilfully, it can enhance our lives beyond our wildest imagination. Used unskilfully, it can leave us feeling lonely, isolated, agitated and overwhelmed”
Why does technology make us feel both good and bad? The average person incredibly unlocks their phone over 80 times a day. Do you open up anything else 80 times a day?
We don’t use our phone as a phone as it’s so many other things to us now that take up our attention. We have all seen the couple in the pub engrossed in their phone while not even speaking to each other. It’s obviously become a comfort, a distraction and, for some, an addiction. Does it make us feel good? For a short period “yes” but it gets in the way of real relationships, it takes up our time and disconnects us from people and, most importantly, ourselves.
As human beings we need to be connected to others and have attachments. Attachments start when we are born, with our mums or primary care givers and once we realise we are not part of them we attach to that caregiving figure. It’s how we survive and develop in our very early years. If you think of where you hold your smart phone and then think of the distance at which you would hold a new born baby – it’s the same – we are attaching to our phones in the same way we do to our children.
So when we attach to technology we get an instant response/gratification to an object that tolerates us doing whatever we want on it. For some people this is fine and they can define the difference between a real attachment and a virtual one, because they have made secure attachments in their lives as a child. But, for others the affects can be life changing – anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, isolation etc.
People who have made an insecure attachment in early life will then make a similar attachment to technology and for some they use technology as a defence again being with people, by not using the phone for calls but prefer to be part of online communities or self-help groups. They will use technology for self-soothing or a way to retreat from reality and certainly as a way to remain distant from others. For some this results into never leaving their rooms and becoming a recluse.
Our identity gets embroiled in the internet, we need the ‘likes’, we only exist if someone else sees it and we only feel real if it’s on the internet (the selfie-culture!).
For others who did not attach well as young children, the internet is the way to connect and they are unable to be separated from it in case they miss something or someone. They use technology to gain attention , as a cry for help, they stalk others and have no boundaries or sense of self.
For others, the internet is where they can be impulsive by becoming addicted to online gambling or porn, (there are over 4 million online porn sites that make more profit than Hollywood). They can view some pretty disturbing images and expose themselves to harm by joining self-harm or eating disorder communities. They become the trolls and groomers as they pass on their feelings of trauma to others.
For all of us there is the feeling that with technology we are never alone, but we need to be able to tolerate separation to develop our sense of self.
No one ever dies on the internet, so the grief process which requires us to withdraw and reconnect with life is prolonged, and the reminders will continue when we log on to cyber space.
Our identity gets embroiled in the internet, we need the ‘likes’, we only exist if someone else sees it and we only feel real if it’s on the internet (the selfie-culture!).
We become more narcissistic (who hasn’t googled themselves or changed profile photos as the next one makes us look better).
We live a split life, the real one and the one we have in Second life or Warcraft and from there we can become confused which is reality and which is the one we want. We begin to question which the best life is.
What we say and do, or allow others to say and do, on the internet is ‘ok. Its virtual, our boundaries dissolve and we don’t respect other’s boundaries, as we are not attached to others, only to the technology, so others don’t feel like fellow humans. I have been threatened and abused online but I know these trolls would not say this to me face to face.
Our children are affected by internet addition too, if they are exposed to technology too early they see true and false information on the net, how do they learn the difference? They access news and events on line that we would not let them watch with us on the TV. This can lead to PTSD, and they aren’t safe from the groomers and trolls unless parents are vigilant. There is cyber peer pressure; and we all know the plea for the latest IPhone etc. There is no break from cyber bullying, we have information overload, and there is anxiety from trying to be in contact with everyone or the depression when no-one contacts them.
The internet is a force for good too, as we have created a global village, we meet partners on dating sites, we have access to some much knowledge and we can become informed about life changing events almost immediately.
How do we know if we have an issue?
We spend too much time with technology, more than we do with others
We have no real sense of our boundaries
We lie about how long we spend on Facebook or Instagram
There is a feeling of compulsion to check our Smartphone if it doesn’t ping for a while or check every notification.
Feeling like we can’t cope without technology, becoming panic struck at the thought of losing access even for a day
Self-esteem becomes dependant on likes, comments or other cyber space ‘strokes’
Our online life is nothing like our reality
Our online friends are more important than our real life ones
So what can we do?
Getting rid of our smart-phones and technology isn’t the answer as it is part of our everyday life. It’ about putting technology back to a tool we use not a life we lead..
Don’t use your phone as an alarm clock; it gives us access to the outside world and others without giving us time to concentrate on our own well-being.
Turn it off, go to airplane mode or silent at least 1.5 hours before you go to sleep, the light from the screen sets off melatonin production in the brain that controls and wake and sleep function, so we need to normalise it before we try to sleep.
Disable the apps you don’t use as this results less pings notifications and distractions.
Disable email on your phone, do you need to check everyone that comes in?
Find things to do that aren’t internet based – read a book, go running or walking
Set a timer for your internet use and stop when it goes off
Internet addiction is a growing issue for each generation and is beocming a recognised mental health diagnosis. Like all addictions it is a hard one to break once it has taken hold. It’s an area I specialise in so please contact me if you need support.
A council has nearly doubled its fitness class timetable at two of the borough’s leisure centres following an upgrade in new technology that will allow customers to choose from hundreds of different virtual classes on demand.
Gedling Borough Council has fitted New WEXER TV screens and high definition projectors at Carlton Forum and Redhill leisure centre so fitness fans can do anything from group cycling to Pilates at a time that suits them. Customers will have more freedom and choice over what exercises they want to do and will no longer have to worry about classes being cancelled last minute.
Gedling Borough Council say the upgrade will save money by reducing down time, increasing the use of fitness studios and provide better value for money for customers.
Leader of the Council Cllr John Clarke said: “I’m really impressed with the new technology, it’s easy to use and there’s something here for everyone. We’re constantly working to upgrade and improve our centers to offer as much to customers as possible.”
The virtual sessions offers hundreds of classes at a touch of a button, including traditional classes from Aerobics, Yoga and Group Cycling to surf board work out or a contemporary dance class. Customers can also tailor the class to the length and intensity that suits them allowing customers to do a quick warm up before hitting the gym or ten minutes cool down after a workout session.
Plans to improve a play area in Colwick have moved a step closer thanks to a £49k funding boost from grant-giving body WREN.
The money will be used to revamp the play area on Valeside Gardens and pay for new play equipment and also the refurbishment of the current facilities.
Work on the new play area will begin in October and should be finished in time for Christmas.
Children from local school St John the Baptist were invited to contribute to the consultation on the play area and took part in a colouring competition to help shape the design of their ‘dream playground’.
Cheryl Raynor, WREN’s grant manager for Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire said the group were delighted to be able to support this community project.
She said: “We are pleased that our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for the local community in Colwick.
“WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”
NEW LEASE OF LIFE: The current play equipment is to be refurbished
Alison Nunn, Chair of Colwick Parish Council said she was looking forward to seeing local children enjoy the new-look park.
She said: “Colwick Parish Council have long wanted to improve the facilities on Valeside Gardens Playground and are thrilled that we have secured the WREN funding to do so, with the assistance of Jane Richardson, Gedling Borough Council’s Parks team and the Community Of Colwick Village, who got behind this WREN funding application.”
Councillor Peter Barnes, Portfolio Holder for Environment said: “We’re delighted with the funding for the much needed upgrades at Valeside Gardens play area.
“The Parish Council have been working closely with our officers to get this bid together and we would like to offer our sincere thank you to WREN for supporting so many of our parks, we simply couldn’t do this without their support and we are very grateful as are the children who can enjoy the new facilities.”
Police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an assault in Front Street, Arnold.
The incident took place at around 1.45pm on September 4.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “A man approached a group of teenagers who were listening to music. An altercation then took place, however no one sustained any injuries.”
If you have any information that might help us, please call 101, quoting incident number 403 of 4 September 2017.
A woman has died following a fire at a flat in Carlton.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue are currently investigating the cause of a flat fire that took place yesterday (Monday 2 October) on Walton Crescent, Carlton, with firefighters being called at 7.45am.
Crews from Carlton, Stockhill and Arnold attended and entered the property wearing breathing apparatus. A body of a woman was found in the flat and pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokewoman from Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue said: “The incident is not being treat as suspicious.”
Residents in Netherfield and Carlton are set to benefit from the launch of a new customer contact point being opened by Gedling Borough Council at a nearby fire station.
The new contact point is to open at Carlton Fire Station this Wednesday (4) and will give residents access to council services and also the chance to speak to council officers closer to where they live.
Previously people in these areas would have to travel to the Civic Centre in Arnold to access these services.
The contact point will be open every Wednesday from 8:45am – 12:30pm and 1:30 pm – 5:15pm from October 4.
A member of the council’s customer services team will be on hand every Wednesday at the station to offer advice on a number of council services including:
Face to face advice on council tax, housing benefits and planning applications
Booking bulky waste collections or ordering a garden waste bin
Plus many more council services on your doorstep
Customers will be able to do most of the things they could do if they visit the main council offices except making cash and cheque payments and taxi licencing enquiries, which will still need to be done either at the civic centre or online through the council’s recently launched new website www.gedling.gov.uk
Leader of the Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We promised the residents of Carlton and Netherfield that we would provide them with more council services on their doorstep. By having this customer contact point in Carlton it means that residents who can’t always get to Arnold can to speak to one of our dedicated customers services staff at a place that is easier for them to get too.
“With both the Fire Service and the Police Service operating out of the fire station it is another great example of our partnership working with our public sector colleagues”
Police have arrested two men after a number of people were left injured following a ‘dispute’ in Netherfield this afternoon (1).
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “Two men have been arrested after a serious assault in Netherfield this afternoon (Sunday, October 1, 2017).
“Three people were injured following a dispute, which took place at an address in Curzon Street at around 3.30pm.”
Witnesses told Gedling Eye they saw an air ambulance attend the scene this afternoon.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 604 of October 1.
Food lovers in and around Netherfield can now get their hands on traditional English grub every Friday night courtesy of one of the town’s top takeaway establishments.
Bon Appetit Sandwich Bar – which currently offers a popular Sunday dinner takeaway service- is now giving those shattered after along week at work the chance to enjoy some traditional English dishes without having to turn the cooker on.
COLLECTION: Bon Appetit in Victoria Road, Netherfield
Each week, the venue, based on Victoria Road, will give food fans the choice of three traditional English dishes which they can then takeaway and enjoy in the comfort of their own home.
The service began last week and is already proving popular with locals.
Bon Appetit’s new ‘TFI Friday’ service is available each Friday between 4pm to 8pm.
