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New alert issued as Action Fraud reveals staggering rise of extortion phishing email reports in March

Source: Action Alert published on this website Thursday 8 May 2025 by Jill Powell

Action Fraud are urging the public to look out for phishing emails that relate to extortion as the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) received over 2,924 reports in March 2025, a staggering increase compared to only 133 reports made in February.

The reported phishing emails received by the National Cyber Security Centre’s SERS relate to a type of extortion referred to as ‘Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion’ (FMSE).

Detective Chief Inspector Hayley King, Head of Prevention in the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) said:

“Criminals will go to great lengths to make these types of extortion scams more convincing, including using a leaked password or home address in the phishing email to make it seem genuine.

“Follow our advice if you think you’ve received one of these phishing emails: forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and delete the email after that. If you spot genuine personal information in an email, it is likely it came from an historic data breach – you can check if you’ve been affected by one in the past.

“Please contact your local police force if you have been a victim of extortion. Even if you have concerns someone may possess of intimate images of you, you should tell the police by calling 101.”

Reports suggests the phrasing of the email and subject lines can vary, but the theme remains consistent: the phishing email claims to have installed malware on the recipient’s computer and recorded them visiting adult websites. The sender will then coerce the email recipient to pay a ransom demand by threatening to release the videos. The ransom is usually demanded in a form of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin.

In order to make these phishing attacks convincing, emails will often include genuine pieces of personal information relating to the victim, such as a password or home address. It is likely these would have been obtained from historic breaches of personal data.

Analysis shows that many people who received these emails also later reported becoming victims of online account hacking.

In 2024, a male victim in his thirties received numerous extortion emails that contained a password he used for one of his online accounts. The emails demanded a ransom of $500. Having correctly identified the emails as a scam, he deleted them. However, shortly afterwards he noticed that he was unable to login to one of his social media accounts. After some checking, he realised that one of his bank accounts and multiple social media accounts had been hacked and he was locked out of them.

What to do if you receive an email like this:

As with other phishing emails, do not to engage with the phisher, forward the email to report@phishing.gov.uk, which is the NCSC's Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), and then delete it.
If you are considering paying the Bitcoin ransom, you should be aware that doing so, you will likely become the target of more scams, as the phisher will know they have a ‘willing’ customer.
The inclusion of genuine passwords or other personal information in phishing emails is a strong indication that you may have been affected by a historic data breach. You can use this service to check which of your online accounts were affected: https://haveibeenpwned.com
If the phishing email includes a password you still use, then change it immediately. Advice on how to create suitable passwords and enable other factors of authentication is available here: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/protect-yourself-from-fraud/protecting-against-online-fraud/improve-your-password-security/

If you have been a victim of extortion or concerned that someone may be in possession of intimate images of you, you should report it to your local police force by calling 101.

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud:https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of any phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report-phishing or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral, Diocese of Bangor, Church in Wales Safeguarding Audit Report Published.

Source: Church of Wales published on this website Wednesday 7 May 2025 by Jill Powell

A statement from the Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend Andrew John on the Church of Wales website includes:

“In the autumn of last year, I commissioned two exercises in connection with Bangor Cathedral. The first of these was a visitation and the second a safeguarding audit by the independent organisation thirtyone:eight. I asked that those who conducted these exercises on my behalf undertake a thorough review of the quality of life, faith, discipline, behaviour and culture of the Cathedral.

“Those who undertook these exercises did so on the condition that any sensitive and personal information which might be disclosed by participants (including safeguarding disclosures) would not be released into the public domain. This was to give confidence to anyone who participated. I am upholding their request for confidentiality and therefore releasing today summary reports prepared by the reviewers and their unabridged recommendations.

“It is evident that in recent years great progress has been made at our cathedral. We have seen the fruit of hard work: improved attendance, increased bilingual worship, a raised public profile and an enhanced musical life. These are signs of vitality and growth that we rightly celebrate. But we also know that growth is not just about what is visible—it’s about what is true, just, and safe at the heart of our shared life.

“The reviewers identified some concerns which needed to be addressed. Taken together, the reports described areas where we needed to do better to ensure that the cathedral is truly safe, inclusive, well-governed and thriving.

As reported to the reviewers, these concerns were:

A safeguarding approach that did not meet the standards expected across the Church in Wales.
Management practices that lacked transparency and rigour, with some appointments made without proper paperwork, inadequate oversight arrangements and concerns raised about exclusion due to favouritism.
Weak financial controls, unclear reporting lines, and spending decisions that were insufficiently scrutinised.
Conduct in some areas—relating to alcohol use and sexual behaviour—that did not reflect the professional standards expected in a Christian church.
The presence of hurtful gossip, both in person and online, which caused pain and division.

I acknowledge that these findings are hard to hear—but they must be faced if we are to move forward with integrity.

To read the full statement click

The Audit, Safeguarding Review was undertaken by Thirtyone:eight

In the Confidentiality Statement they state:

“This summary report is the property of the Diocese of Bangor and was commissioned by the Archbishop of Wales (also Bishop of Bangor). This agreed Summary report has been prepared for the Archbishop of Wales for the purpose of communicating our findings to those that participated in the Safeguarding Audit undertaken by Thirtyone:eight. Whilst we have taken reasonable measures to maintain confidentiality and to limit access up to this point, we understand the Archbishop of Wales wishes to publish this Summary so that all connected to Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral have access to the key findings of this Review and the full recommendations.”

And the Referral Summary & Context states

“In response to safeguarding concerns being raised in relation to Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral, the Archbishop of Wales invited Thirtyone:eight to offer its safeguarding expertise in relation to this situation. In the context of these safeguarding concerns, a decision was made that an independent safeguarding audit should take place. The aim of this audit was to review the safeguarding procedures in the Cathedral. It was decided this would run alongside an Episcopal (i.e. Bishop’s) visitation to understand the spiritual culture and life of those connected to the Cathedral."

Richard Burrows: Paedophile who fled to Thailand 27 years ago jailed for 97 offences

Source: Crown Prosecution Service published on this site Friday 3 May 2025 by Jill Powell

An 81-year-old child abuser who escaped justice by fleeing to Thailand in 1997 ahead of his trial has today been jailed for 46 years for a catalogue of horrific sex offences against 24 boys in his care from the late 60s to the mid-90s.

Richard Burrows carried out the earliest attacks while working as a housemaster at Danesford Approved School in Cheshire. He also abused boys through his involvement in the scouting community and radio clubs where young boys were keen to learn about radios and obtain their badges. The victims were all aged between 10 and 15.

Burrows accepted he was a paedophile but denied committing the most serious offences.

In March, a jury at Chester Crown Court found him guilty of 54 offences, including four counts of “buggery” which, if the attacks had happened today, would have been charged as rape. Before the start of his trial in January, Burrows pleaded guilty to 43 counts, including five counts of having indecent images of children, and four counts related to having passports under a false name.

His guilty pleas included possessing 655 indecent photos of boys in magazines which were found sewn into the lining of a tweed coat during a police search in 1997. Seventy-five photos were classed as being in the most serious category.

Four of the 24 victims had died and did not see Burrows finally face justice. The Crown Prosecution Service relied on the accounts they gave to the police in the 1990s or later to build the case against him. Some of these were provided through video recordings which were played to the jury. Many of the surviving victims wanted to face Burrows in court, but for others the CPS arranged for them to give evidence remotely, including from their home, via video link. One victim gave evidence from his hospital bed.

Samantha Thompson from the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“I’m pleased that many of Richard Burrows’s victims were in court today to see their abuser get justice.

“He will very likely never leave prison.

“Burrows is an unrepentant paedophile who used his position of trust to sexually abuse boys over three decades. When faced with a trial and public exposure he fled to Thailand.

“His victims suffered horrendous abuse made worse by many of them not being able to tell anyone for fear that they would not be believed. This was borne out in some cases, where boys did speak up but were dismissed, and Burrows was able to move on.

“But this case shows that neither the police nor the CPS are deterred by the passage of time, and we will do all we can to bring sex offenders to justice.

“There is more support available for victims than ever before and I encourage anyone who has ever been abused to go to the police.”

Burrows was arrested a week before his 80th birthday when he arrived at Heathrow Airport in March last year. In 1997 he was charged with a number of child sex offences but fled to Thailand ahead of a court hearing in December that year. He left the UK after getting a passport issued under a false name.

Prosecuting offences going back 60 years

The earliest offence for which Richard Burrows was convicted happened in March 1966 and the last sex attack was in September 1996.

The was no forensic evidence, such as DNA left on clothes. The bulk of the evidence against Burrows came from the testimony of his victims which showed a pattern of behaviour and were sometimes supported by other children, now adults, who they had confided to or who had seen the victims being upset after an attack.

The sex offences were prosecuted under the Sex Offences Act 1956 because they occurred before the law was updated in 2003.

Ugandan judge sentenced to over six years for modern slavery offences

Source: Crown Prosecution Service published on this website Tuesday 6 May 2025 by Jill Powell

Lydia Mugambe, 50, has been sentenced to six years and four months at Oxford Crown Court for:

Conspiring to do an act to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law by a non-UK national
Arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation
Requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour
Conspiracy to intimidate a witness

She will also pay the Victim compensation totalling: £12,160 and an Indefinite Restraining Order preventing Mugambe from contacting the victim directly or indirectly has been granted.

Eran Cutliffe, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said: "The victim showed tremendous bravery in speaking out and supporting the prosecution of the powerful woman who exploited her.

"I hope the Jury’s verdict provides her with some closure and ability to rebuild her life."

Lynette Woodrow, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor and national lead for modern slavery, said: “Lydia Mugambe took advantage of the young victim’s lack of understanding of her rights to properly paid employment.

“She exploited and abused the victim, who was hidden in plain sight through forced labour working as a maid and providing childcare for free. As a qualified lawyer, a Ugandan High Court judge and a United Nations Criminal Tribunal judge, Lydia Mugambe understood the rule of law and chose to overlook it. Modern slavery offences such as this one are incredibly serious and can have a profound effect on the lives of victims.

“The CPS is determined to tackle modern slavery, and we will continue to work hard alongside our partners to bring offenders to justice.”

Regulator launches strategy to maintain standards, quality and trust in qualifications in a ‘changing world’.

Source: Ofqual published on this website Thursday 1 May 2025 by Jill Powell

The regulator of qualifications in England has pledged to ensure qualifications can be trusted for years to come by students, employers, and wider society.

The Ofqual Strategy 2025 to 2028, published today, sets out the organisation’s approach as a guardian of the qualifications system, driving economic growth and protecting the value of qualifications that students take.

The regulator has described this approach as “stewardship”, an approach to regulation that is gaining interest around the world and takes a long-term, proactive view.

It comes at a time of change for education in England, with the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, reform of vocational and technical qualifications and reform of apprenticeship assessments.

Chief Regulator Sir Ian Bauckham CBE said:

Ofqual’s focus will be on ensuring that qualifications are high-quality and fair for students, unlocking future opportunities for them while supporting a productive and growing economy.

Our stewardship approach will enable us to respond flexibly and with agility to a changing world while maintaining the stability that underpins England’s world-leading qualifications system.

During the next 3 years, Ofqual also aims to improve the quality and efficiency of its regulation by ensuring its rules and procedures are fit for purpose and necessary.

The strategy has 5 aims:

steward – secure the safe, fair, and resilient delivery of qualifications and assessments
innovate – oversee the improvement and reform of qualifications
strengthen – strengthen the performance, capacity, and resilience of the qualifications market
engage – build confidence in qualifications
develop – develop the skills, processes and systems needed for effective and efficient regulation

Background information

Ofqual is the regulator of qualifications, examinations, and assessments in England
The Ofqual strategy 2025 to 2028 can be read in full here