Oxford News
‘Cruel fraud’ targeting Oxfordshire owners of lost pets
Scammers have been using information about missing pets posted online to trick heartbroken owners into paying vast sums of money for things like made up vet surgeries.
After monitoring vulnerable pet owners using social media posts, posters and online adverts for lost animals, the scammers will contact owners pretending to be veterinary staff.
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The callers will pretend the pet has been found, but say it is seriously injured and requires urgent surgery, pressuring the owner into paying a large vet bill over the phone before they can be reunited.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We’ve been made aware of this particularly heartless scam affecting people who are advertising their missing pets.
“This is a cruel tactic that preys on the emotional distress and love people have for their pets.”
Police advised that people never make payments over the phone to caller who has contacted them unexpectedly, and to verify any claims made independently, for example, by contacting the vet surgery they claim to be from using a trusted phone number.
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The force also advises that people should ‘be wary’ of pressure tactics, like being rushed into making a payment, ask for proof from any caller and never share personal or financial details with unknown callers.
Any instances of fraud or a suspected scam should be reported to Action Fraud.
The police added: “Scammers are exploiting people at their most vulnerable – let’s not give them the opportunity.”
The former Top Gear and Grand Tour host delivered the update via social media this evening (Tuesday, June 16) ahead of the release of the final two Clarkson’s Farm episodes.
The fifth series of the highly popular show premiered on June 3 and has already seen Mr Clarkson battling a major health scare and embrace high-tech farming.
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Set at his 1,000-acre Oxfordshire farm Diddly Squat, in addition the latest season has shown the television host planning for the first festive period at his pub The Farmer’s Dog.
However, the next two episodes – which will be released tonight – are set to be very downbeat.
On Instagram, he said he had “sombre news”.
He added: “Ordinarily we try to keep the show bucolic and charming and cheerful.
“But the final two episodes which drop in the middle of the night tonight are none of those things really. They are a difficult watch.
“They’re really, really difficult.”
Reiterating that, the episode titles are ‘Reaping’ and ‘Sickening’ and may show the bovine TB outbreak that occurred at Diddly Squat in 2025.
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It led to the deaths of several animals.
The first series of Clarkson’s Farm premiered in 2021 and was an instant hit with viewers making stars out of its cast which include Mr Clarkson’s partner Lisa Hogan and farm assistant Kaleb Cooper.
It has been renewed for a sixth series.
AA is reporting that a truck has ‘rolled over’ and fuel is spilling on a major junction connecting the M40 and A43.
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Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is due to visit the prestigious debating hall in St Michael’s Street tomorrow (June 16) to take part in a debate.
The ultra nationalist figure’s invitation to the society, to debate a motion on whether the West is ‘right to be suspicious of Islam’ alongside Laurence Fox and Sir Jacob Rees Mogg, has been highly criticised.
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But it’s not the first time the Oxford Union has invited controversial figures to its hall, to take part in discussions on some of the most divisive topics of the day.
From the Prime Minister of Pakistan to representatives of Palestinian and Israeli interests, to divisive British politicians and more light-hearted visits from popular sportspeople, the society has hosted a number of interesting voices over the years.
Look through this picture archive to see some of the famous faces who have visited the Oxford Union in days and decades gone by.
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