Bogus computer viruses are the most common reported scam in Redhill.

Citizens Advice Reigate and Banstead is calling for residents of Redhill to be on their guard against scams after the area was revealed as one of the top scam hotspots in England and Wales.

Redhill came in fourth place for scam hotspots after residents reported 71 cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service in the first three months of this year.

Scam methods identified by Citizens Advice included up-front payments, where people were asked to pay for a service which never materialises, and fake services, such as telling people their computer had a virus which can be fixed remotely.

There were ten counts of this latter scam reported in Redhill, making it the most popular scam.

The top three scam types running in the local area were:

● 21 cases of upfront payment fees – Victims pay for a product or service which they never receive.

● 18 cases of fake services – Fraudsters charge people for a service that isn’t real or doesn’t exist.

● 6 cases of subscription traps – People sign up for a subscription that’s hard to cancel after they’re offered a discounted trial.

During Scams Awareness Month, which has been running all through July, Citizens Advice Reigate and Banstead has been informing residents how to spot a scam and what to do if they’ve been targeted. People are being urged to follow a three-step rule – get advice, report it, and tell others about it.

Elaine Parr Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Reigate and Bansteadl, said: “Getting scammed can cost you dearly.

“Fraudsters have plenty of tricks up their sleeves so Redhill residents can’t be too vigilant. Scams Awareness Month aims to give people the confidence to spot scams more easily and speak up to stop others being caught out.

“Any residents who would like a second opinion about an offer they’ve received should contact us on 03444 111 444 or the consumer service. If anyone suspects they’ve been a victim of a scam, they should go straight to Action Fraud.”

A retail worker alleged to have stolen thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from her employer at Gatwick Airport has been charged with theft.

Lavanyah Anandarooban from London is charged with stealing various items of designer jewellery and a Radley purse, to the total value of £12,000, from the South Terminal between January and July.

She is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 10 August.

Two vehicles were seriously damaged following an arson attack at a construction site in Oxted.

The incident is thought to have happened during the evening of Friday and the early morning of Saturday 1st and 2nd July.

A 14 tonne excavator and a 6 tonne dumper were found scroched inside and out with windows smashed in the closed section of roadworks in Tandridge Lane.

The damage is thought to run into thousands of pounds.

Surrey Police urges anybody with any information to call 101 quoting reference number, 45160056901 or you can use the online reporting system found at https://report.police.uk/ and enter the reference number in the ‘Additional information’ section.

A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries following an accident on the M25 on Monday (18 July).

The incident happened on the clockwise carriageway near junction 6 for Godstone around 8pm.

A man in his 30s came off his red Yamaha bike and suffered serious and potentially life threatening injuries.

He was taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting by ambulance.

Police would like to hear from you if you saw anything. It’s possible you may have witnessed the incident while waiting behind a rolling road block following an unrelated incident.

If you saw what happened please contact Surrey Police by reporting it online at www.surrey.police.uk or call 101 and quote the reference number P16162751.

http://surrey.police.uk/news/did-you-see-collision-involving-red-motorbike-on-m25-at-godstone/

Crawley students picked up three major awards at a science festival after examining what effect music had on other students’ heart-rates.

The three girls from St Wilfrid’s Catholic College won the CGG Prize for Mathematics and another for Data Analysis at the Big Bang Fair South East.

Gina Ardines, Vienna Cooper and Naina Trivedi, all 15, submitted a project called “The Effects of Music on School Students,”

They looked at different types of music and its effect on heart-rates and discussed whether music could be used in treating anxiety.

Judges described their work as “superb” and said it had potential for further development, adding that the girls had shown “excellent teamwork and planning.”

Crawley-based CGG, a leader in cutting-edge geoscience, has been the headline sponsor of the Big Bang Fair South East for five years. Processing Group Manager Sharon Howe, who presented the CGG Prize, said it had been “a real treat” to see students’ hard work on display.

“It’s wonderful to see how students start out with an idea, make connections and present results using skills that will last them for a lifetime,” she added.

Big Bang South East Chief Judge Margaret Ajibode said: “The students were very passionate about what they have been doing. Every year, the quality of the entries improves.”

The fifth annual Big Bang Fair South East and the regional Big Bang Young Scientists and Engineers Competition were organised by STEM Sussex, the outreach support department of the University of Brighton.

A complete list of the winners can be found here: http://www.crawleystemfest.co.uk/latest-news/congratulations-3

For further information, contact STEM Sussex, tel. 01273 641874 or email crawleystemfest@brighton.ac.uk

http://www.crawleyhappytimes.co.uk/music-study-wins-students-top-science-awards/