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As the name suggests, Gift Cards are a handy way to send a gift to a friend or relative. However, they are an equally handy way for Fraudster to extract money from an unsuspecting victim, and there is very little chance for a victim to get any reimbursement of the money lost.
Some retailers are now placing warning notices at Gift Card sales points, or restricted the value of Gift Cards made in a single purchase, but the reports of losses through Gift Card scams continue to come in.
What are the commonest types of Gift Card Frauds?
1.
Emails claiming to be from Government Agencies such as HMRC, DVLA, or a Utility company demanding overdue payments with immediate reimbursement of the sums due by Gift Cards – would such an organisation really accept payment by Gift Card?
2.
Urgent email or text from a person claiming to be a family member or friend by cloning their identity. They may spin out a hard luck excuse for a reason they cannot get out and buy the Gift Card themselves so ask you to purchase the card, then pass on the code off the back of the card. Always double check with that person by contacting them on a trusted number to make sure they had actually made that request.
3.
Romance Fraud victims are often asked to send money via Gift Cards after the Fraudster has spun out some hard luck story to gain the victims sympathy, and once again asks them to then pass on the code off the back of the card. The Fraud Bulletin MAY 2025 Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest frauds
4.
Fake Prize Draws/ Competitions – you have won a major prize! You are then asked for a payment by Gift Card to cover the delivery costs of this fake prize, and once again your money is lost.
Always remember.
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The criminal does not need the actual card to redeem the money, just the code scratched off the back of the card.
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Never make payments by Gift Card to someone you have never met.
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Always check that the Card has not been tampered with when you purchase and always ask for a receipt for the value of that card. Unscrupulous retailers may also switch the card at point of payment and hand over a valueless card.
•
You can always report the fraud to the Gift Card company, but you are only likely to have any chance of reimbursement if the fraudsters have not used the card details and drawn down the funds using the code sent to them.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
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If you’ve fallen for fraud
Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk
Fake Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.
Forward Fake Emails received to
If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number – 159 – to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.
Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
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If you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.

See attached document.

PERKINS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AWARDS TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER BODIES TO ASSIST YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 25

In furtherance of its charitable remit, the Perkins Educational Foundation invites applications from schools and other bodies working with young people under the age of 25 living in Salford Priors, Bidford-on-Avon and Broom, Harvington and Cleeve Prior. Applications by organisations for financial assistance from the Foundation should be made by 31 March each year.

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS

1. Applications in the form of a letter attached to an email should be made to the Clerk of the Governors, at . There is no specified application form, but applications should be received by the Clerk by midnight on 31 March each year.
2. Applications should identify why funding is sought and what will be done with any funds awarded; and should provide detailed costs.
3. Applications should identify how exactly the funding will benefit young people under the age of 25, and what impact it will have on the young people for whom assistance is sought.
4. Applications will be considered at a meeting of the Governors of the Foundation after 31 March, and all applicants will be informed of the outcome soon afterwards.
5. Applying bodies and organizations should have a remit to provide education or training or facilities solely or predominantly for young people under the age of 25 living in the specified parishes.
6. Applications should be for particular items of equipment or material items of a stand-alone nature, rather than for salaries or for any other funding need with a recurring aspect to it.
7. The Governors do not specify a lower or upper financial limit for applications.
8. Applying bodies and organizations should also provide details of any other funding being applied for, or already secured, in connection with their application.
9. The Governors reserve the right to make no award in any given year, and reserve the right to ask applicants to attend a meeting to clarify any aspect of their applications.
10. The Governors will not pay any on-costs such as VAT or insurance.
11. The Governors will only make awards directly to applying organisations and bodies. They will not pay invoices from third parties such as contractors.
12. The Governors request that where appropriate, bodies or organizations successful in their applications should acknowledge the assistance of the Perkins Educational Foundation in a visible way (e.g. a plaque or other permanent marker).

www.williamperkinscharity.org

Information from survey done in 2021.