Source: Department of Works and Pensions published on this website Wednesday 15 October 2025 by Jill Powell

Pensioners are being warned to look out for Winter Fuel Payment text message scams following a surge in activity from opportunistic criminals ahead of next month's payments.

New data from HMRC shows reports of scam texts more than doubled in the last week of September when compared to the previous week

These scams – which see fraudsters exploit pensioners by posing as government officials processing Winter Fuel Payment applications – had begun to drop off after a peak in June but are now increasing again ahead of payments being made next month.

This warning comes as the DWP ramps up its social media campaign in partnership with Action Fraud to raise awareness of these scams across Facebook and Twitter. This is alongside DWP’s continued work with trusted partners and charities such as Independent Age to ensure accurate and timely information is available.

Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically, and the government will never ask for bank details by text. Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it and instead forward it to 7726.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:

“If you get a text message about Winter Fuel Payments, it’s a scam. They will be made automatically so you do not need to apply. These despicable attempts by criminals to target people are on the rise. We are raising awareness to make it harder for fraudsters to succeed. If you receive a suspicious message about Winter Fuel Payments, don’t engage - forward it to 7726 and delete it immediately.”

Source: UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) published on this site Friday 3 October 2025 by Jill Powell

Safer Internet Day 2026 will take place on the 10 of February 2026, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI’.

Everyone’s talking about AI, and with many children and young people hearing about and using AI online, it’s important they have the skills and confidence to make safe choices when they are using smart technology.

This Safer Internet Day we are exploring the impact of AI on all of our lives, looking at how AI can be used for good, and giving advice and guidance that empowers people to use AI safely and responsibly.

Our free educational resources will help schools and youth groups talk about this issue with young people of all ages, covering a range of issues from looking at voice assistants and chatbots, to exploring some of the ethical considerations in responsible use of AI technology. We will also produce top tips and advice for parents, carers and grandparents covering how to talk about AI, helping them to use new technology in safe and responsible ways.

What you can do now

Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre, the celebration sees thousands of organisations get involved to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. 

Schools and organisations are now able to register as a supporter to share what they are doing for the day! If you don’t know you plans yet, then don’t worry – you can still register by sharing your logo and organisation name.

You can join organisations from across the UK by signing up to the Safer Internet Day Supporters List and sharing what you are doing for #SaferInternetDay. 

Once registered you will receive a certificate to show your support for the day and, following review, your logo, organisation name and supportive statement will appear on the UK Safer Internet Centre Website. 

About Safer Internet Day

Over the years, Safer Internet Day has become a landmark event in the online safety calendar. Starting as an initiative of the EU SafeBorders project in 2004 and taken up by the Insafe network as one of its earliest actions in 2005, Safer Internet Day has grown beyond its traditional geographic zone and is now celebrated worldwide.

Paedophile posed as teenage boy to sexually abuse children online

Source: National Crime Agency (NCA) published on this site Tuesday 6 October 2025

A man who incited and recorded thousands of children engaging in sexual activity online from his Croydon home has been jailed following a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation. 

IT specialist Robert Chown, 49, captured photos and videos of the abuse and shared them with like-minded paedophiles.

He appeared at Croydon Crown Court on 3 October where he was sentenced to 25 years, with seven to be served on licence, having pleaded guilty to 41 charges at a previous court hearing. 

Chown was also handed a lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and will be on the sex offender for the rest of his life.

In April 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched an investigation into a private online messaging forum dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children.

It was named ‘The Sanctuary’.

Chown was identified as a key contributor to the forum and the individual behind the ‘FredHasFiveToes’ username.

Upon joining the group in 2019, his introductory message read:

“Preferences…girls 8-11”.

And: “as soon as I spot teasing, I’m all over them with compliments”.

He went on to share hundreds of abuse images in the forum that he’d captured over years of sexually exploiting children online.

Chown also posted an indecent photo of a 12-year-old girl that he had taken in person. She was identified and safeguarded by the NCA and child protection services.

From his home in south London he masqueraded as a teenage boy online to target thousands of children across the world.

Girls and boys as young as six-years-old were groomed by Chown to live stream sexual acts at his instruction, which he would capture and share with other paedophiles on ‘The Sanctuary’ and the dark web. 

NCA officers arrested Chown at his home address in September 2023 and seized two mobile phones from him.

Across both devices, investigators found over 2,000 indecent images and videos of children in categories A-C.

They also discovered 204 entries into Google Translate of sexual instructions translated from English into Russian and Polish.

These phrases were used by Chown on live streams to incite children around the world to perform sexual acts on themselves.

In interview he admitted to using the persona of a teenage boy online to watch live streams involving children, directing and instructing them to carry out those acts.

NCA Senior Investigating Officer Phil Eccles said: 

“Chown poses a significant danger to children, and our thorough investigation exposed him as a prolific offender who carried out depraved sexual abuse over a number of years. While this case is extremely distressing, we hope it reassures the public of our commitment to unmasking paedophiles who think that can operate anonymously online. Work with our international partners in the FBI and Europol has been key to this investigation. Today’s result is testament to the hard work of our investigative team and it is only right that Chown received a lengthy custodial sentence given the severity of his offending.”

Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Thursday 2 October 2025 by Jill Powell

Five money launderers have been sentenced/jailed for exploiting victims including through a so-called ‘romance’ fraud worth £2.37 million. Fawaz Ali, 27, Ebenezer Tackie, 42, Michael Quartey, 28, were found guilty of money laundering offences after trial and sentenced to four years and 10 months imprisonment, four years and six months imprisonment, and five years and six months imprisonment respectively at Guildford Crown Court today.

Kwabena Edusei, 37, who had previously admitted conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, supplying articles for use in fraud and possession of ID documents with an improper intention was sentenced to seven years and 10 months imprisonment. George Melseaux, 40, who admitted money laundering and possession of ID documents with an improper intention was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment. 

To run the romance fraud, Edusei and others created fake profiles and fictional biographies on dating websites to trick their victims. They used flirtatious language to manipulate people into thinking they were entering into a genuine loving and caring relationship. 

But this all was a build up to the fraudsters asking victims for money for fake reasons including loans to pay for business trips gone wrong, fines being incurred in remote locations or a stolen wallet and urgently needing money to pay these off.  Victims transferred money to the bank accounts of the men or even sent cash in the post. This romance fraud was repeated many times until the victims had no money left or become suspicious and stopped making payments and alerted the authorities. 

Payments were then laundered through the bank accounts of the criminals. There were 40 confirmed victims of romance fraud but the total number of suspected victims of fraud was 99.  The total amount of funds lost by all victims through romance fraud is estimated to be around £1.8 million.

Jane Mitchell, a Specialist Prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“The criminals here showed complete disregard for their victims who were met on an online dating website for the sole purpose of exploiting and scamming them out of money.  They used grooming tactics to gain trust, which caused terrible emotional distress to victims. None of them had any of the money repaid.  We want to encourage all those who think they’ve been a victim of romance fraud not to feel embarrassed or ashamed, instead please report it. A fraud like this only succeeds if there is a willing network to launder this criminal money through their bank accounts. We hope these sentences offer some comfort to the multiple victims in this case.”

Surrey Police Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Shaw said:

“This was a very lengthy and complex investigation which involved victims who all fell prey to the manipulation and cruelty of this organised crime group. While only 40 victims reported the fraud and went on to provide statements, our enquiries show that there wear at least another 59 who were conned. Romance fraudsters gain their victim’s trust and build a relationship with them. They make everything about the romance feel normal, but their aim is to get money or personal information.”

Stop! Think Fraud. Fraudsters aren’t fussy. They’ll pick on anyone.

Nobody is immune from fraud. The criminals behind it target people online and, in their homes, often emotionally manipulating their victims before they steal money or personal data.

But there is something we can do. By staying vigilant and always taking a moment to stop, think and check whenever we’re approached, we can help to protect ourselves and each other from fraud.
 

Members of the public are encouraged to:

- Stop and think before parting with your money or information in order to keep you safe;

- Challenge whether the information or request you have received could be fake. It is ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests as only criminals will try to rush or panic you;

- Protect yourself by reporting any scams you think you have fallen for to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and to your bank immediately.

The CPS is committed to working alongside the government and law enforcement to provide a multi-agency response to combat romance fraud and money laundering.  CPS prosecutors work to seek justice in a variety of cases including those that cause the greatest harm to the public especially vulnerable victims.