To open or not to open

This e-mail came over the weekend - well written, good English, apparently genuine. Except that Google Mail, i.e. gmail, does not send these kind of messages. We didn't click on the link because common sense told us not to. So use your common sense and bin it.

Robbery incidents on the increase?

JIMENA We were told this morning that a lady who lives out in the campo had visitors earlier in the day. Apparently, they were in a white van and took something from her front yard. She was there but was unable to get the van's number plate down before they disappeared. This incident was not yet reported to the police (Guardia Civil 956 640 009; Policía Local 956 640 064), as we were able to ascertain a few minutes ago These kind of incidents are on the increase, if news reports are to be believed. As we have warned in the past, the good times are over: you can't leave your door unlocked any more, alas. But any such incidents needs to be reported, and not just for insurance purposes: the more such denuncias, the better policing we should expect.

WARNING: ARE THESE 'BOGUS PLUG-INS' BEING SOLD IN SPAIN?

(Photo: UK Trading Standards Authority)

(EXCLUSIVE) An article in The Guardian last year pointed out that the claims about these plug-in devices claim to save users anywhere between 15% and 40% on energy bills, but actually pose a risk of fire and electrocution. They were being sold over the phone by 'rogue fraudsters targeting older people', it said. (See similar reports on BBC, Moneywise, and the UK Trading Standards Authority (TSA), the source of the original warning.)  Various trading standards authorities in Britain had received complaints about them; one of these came to the conclusion that the companies involved in these scams are not actually located in the UK and that the call centres they use are based abroad and the appliances appear to be distributed by a number of individuals in the UK. Among the companies mentioned in the article are 1 Stop Marketing Solutions, ITC Development Corp, Power Saver, and Athico Ltd, but the fraudsters could be using other names as well, according to the TSA. There is no way of knowing whether these or any other such companies are operating in Spain, but there seems to be a surge of these so-called 'energy-saving' devices appearing in the English-speaking press in Spain, often in full page colour ads. We did come across a Spanish forum about Power Saver, though, with much the same derogatory comments as we mention below.>>>

Google privacy policy changes to reveal all about you

(From: CampoPulse) It's all over the internet with positive and negative comments. It's been there for a while so we have to apologize for not bringing you this earlier (we -that is, Prospero- can't be everywhere at all times!). Still one of the best articles we found on the subject of Google's new privacy policy changes (there are thousands) comes from ZDNet (UK Edition) Google: No opt-out of mix-and-match data, which is dated on January 25. Since then, there have been many more. Given that the change date is March 1st (that's the day after tomorrow!) the Daily Mail online chooses (as usual) to put the wind up everyone with 'Google will know more about you than your partner': Uproar as search giant reveals privacy policy that will allow them to track you on all their products. Typical. In any case it's worth looking at the comments on that one. Another article on ZDNet (US Edition), though, is titled Google's new privacy rules: get over it already. We're no experts at all and rely on big friendly people to help us out with even the most basic tech stuff, but we have taken precautions and did what we described below - but please don't blame us if they don't work!>>>

Watch out for this scam!

We got this from one of our Gmail e-mail accounts. It looks good but we are pretty paranoid about these things so we went to Google Help, where we posted some of the content of the e-mail, plus the address it had come from, starting it with ''Is this a scam?" In less than forty seconds we had the following reply  Yes! This mail is scam. Mail from Google only comes from @google.com domains, e.g. googleemployee@google.com. How's that for the internet?! Anyway, if you get one -and in our experience Gmail is the best in protection, but not invulnerable, like everything else- trash it immediately!

GIBRALTAR (Press release) The Royal Gibraltar Police has received information to the effect that a Credit Card scam is currently being carried out on members of the public in Gibraltar. The scam involves the victim receiving a telephone call from somebody claiming to be from Microsoft. The victim is then informed that there is a serious virus on their computer and that they have a programme which will remove it for a standard fee. The caller, who calls himself James Smith then asks for the credit card and personal details. Once they have this they are able to use it to make illegal purchases on the Internet.The RGP says it wishes to bring this to the notice of the public. Microsoft, a reputable company, would not call up and ask for credit card details in such a manner. The RGP urges members of the public not to give out any information regarding their credit cards to anyone who they do not know.The RGP also wishes to highlight the need to protect personal data relating to credit cards. Documents such as account statements and even transaction slips will contain card details, which the fraudsters can use to scam their victims. Therefore due care should be taken when disposing of these types of items to prevent them coming into the hands of criminals.If any member of the public requires advice on this matter they can contact the Financial Crime Unit of the RGP on telephone No. 20072954.

Firecrackers are illegal until New Year's Eve

Local police warn that letting off fireworks or firecrackers of any kind are illegal until New Year's Eve. Sales are also illegal unless by a properly authorized establishment meeting stringent standards and requirements. Fines can be up to €3,000 for illegal sales. If you can identify someone either letting off a firecracker before the time, or identify someone selling them illegally, you can make a denuncia at the Local Police station. (Note: It may be illegal but the law also needs to be applied.)

Power cut tomorrow, Wednesday

JIMENA The Local Police issued a warning notice for tomorrow, December 15, from 8am to noon, that a power cut will take place for the following area: El Aguila, Carretera Algeciras-Ronda, Lomas de Cámara and Avda. los Deportes (does not specify how far up).

Property Registries fraud

SPAIN The College of Property Registrars has issued a warning of an Internet fraud using the name and image of the college. In the 'Subject' box appears 'Registro de la Propiedad' and -the giveaway- a sender address (registradores@reg.org). The email tells the receiver that it is imperative that they register their property, giving a false data base address and referring to a false new law. The College says that this e-mail is not, nor has anything similar even been issued by them and is best eliminated by the Spam or Delete button, but on NO ACCOUNT CLICK ON ANY LINKS. These ask for personal and banking details, and we know what can be done with these. If your Spanish is not up to much, please contact someone who understands enough to help.

Yellow alert for rain and high winds

The whole of the province of Cádiz, and most of the Western side of Andalucía is on a yellow weather for high winds and rain for tomorrow, Wednesday through to Thursday, according to the national meteorological service AEMET.

Weather alert for province today

AEMET today

PROVINCE The state weather service, AEMET, has issued a warning for today  in the provinces of Huelva, Cádiz, Sevilla and Córdoba, where heavy rain is expected to accumulate 40 ml in 12 hours. The yellow alert started at 06.00 this morning and lasts until 21.00. The flatlands of these provinces, and the Strait of Gibraltar area, should be especially vigilant, says AEMET. Although the warning is expected to be lifted this evening, heavy rain is expected in the area until, and maybe including, Saturday.

Gibraltar pharmacy withdraws Nurofen alert packets

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle / Press releases) GHA has followed a notification of a drug alert UK by issuing a statement yesterday in regard Nurofen Plus tablets. One local pharmacy, Ocean Pharmacy, has withdrawn six packages from one of the batches identified in the alert, officials said. The alert was sent by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This medication is not prescribed by GHA doctors, but rather it is an over the counter preparation available in pharmacies. The GHA immediately notified each of the Gibraltar pharmacies of the recall of the product and the affected batch numbers (below).>>>

Campo de Gibraltar under yellow weather warning

AEMET, the weather agency, has issued a wind warning for most of the country for today and tomorrow. The Campo de Gibraltar is under an orange alert ( Important Risk) out at sea but a yellow one ( Risk) inland. As we write, there doesn't seem to be anything much going outside weatherwise, but we may as well be aware... It's all over by Wednesday. You can always check our WeatherWidget on the sidebar for a mid-range forecast. (Prospero note: anyone sending in a comment about beans will be immediately ostracized.)

ORANGE WEATHER WARNING for Cádiz, Sevilla and Málaga, from midnight tonight

PROVINCE  The Spanish weather agency AEMET, has issued an orange weather warning for the provinces of Cádiz, Sevilla and Málaga, and parts of Catalonia and Valencia, that begins in the South at midnight tonight and ends at 15.00 tomorrow. Heavy rain storms reaching up to 30 litres per m2 per hour are expected with a probability of between 40 and 70%, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Much of the rest of the country is under a yellow alert, as you can see in the image.

New heatwave coming our way

A heatwave arrived today (you hadn't noticed?) that will impact most of the Iberian Peninsula, and of course, the Campo de Gibraltar and the Province of Cádiz, which remain on a yellow alert until after next weekend, according to the national weather service AEMET. It is caused by a mass of hot air (i.e. a massing of politicians?) coming from North Africa and the Sahara desert (photo). Local temperatures are expected to reach at least 42ºC on Saturday and Sunday. (This item also appears on CampoPulse)

Oh, yeah? Watch out for e-mails like this one!

Typical example of fraudulent e-mail. Check grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. And if it sounds too good to be true, it is!

Good day, First, let me introduce myself once more, I am barrister Collin Shands . I am married and
a father of four children. I am a senior advocate here in Malaysia. My jurisdiction is Civil Law and Property Consultant. Though my proposition was rather self-explanatory but for purpose of clarity, let me use this medium to further brief you, particularly on the modus of actualizing this laudable project. My contacting you does not suggest that you are biologically related to the deceased,i will fix up your name as the next of kin as the lawyer to convince the Bank that a relationship exist between the two of you by extension of family lineage., the death certificate and other documents regarding this transaction will be sent to you in due time.and all i have been avoiding is all about scam in the internate. (There's more, lots more!)>

Two moons on August 27? It's a hoax!

Two moons in August hoax

We have received numerous e-mails and even been stopped in the street by breathless believers that Mars gets so close to the moon on August 27th that it will look like two moons. Indeed, most of the e-mails are titled Two Moons in August. Well, we're sorry to tell you that it is a hoax. The picture shows a screen shot of the best demystifying web site in existence, http://urbanlegends.about.com (click on it to enlarge). However, Googling 'Two moons on 27th August 2010' will get you some 256,000 results, many of which say that it will be happening. How do we really know? Prospero will be out and about taking photos on that night - not of two moons but of the people peering into the sky.

Heat wave alert for 20 provinces throughout Spain

The state weather agency, AEMET, this morning issued an alert for some 20 provinces throughout the country, warning of temperatures reaching above 40ºC in some places, and over 36º in others, including Cádiz. The latter  province is also on alert for heavy wind and water on the coastline. The national capital Madrid is on an orange alert for heat, while in Cáceres, Badajoz, Toledo, Córdoba, Huelva, Jaén and Sevilla, temperatures over 40º areexpected over the next few days. (This item also appears on CampoPulse)

WARNING! 'New' e-mail scam in progress

We received this e-mail supposedly from Marshall Gillibrand, whom many of us in Jimena know and have in our contact list. This is a scam: someone has got hold of his address and is using it to send out this message, (click image to enlarge) similar to the one that used another friend's e-mail, and which we reported here. All you have to do is delete it but DO NOT reply under any circumstances.

Yellow heatwave alert

The national weather agency has issued a YELLOW ALERT for a heatwave in Cádiz, Sevilla, Córdoba and parts of Jaén and Málaga. Particularly affected will be inland Cádiz and Sevilla, with temperatures of around 40ºC forecast for these. Our weather widget doesn't reflect these temperatures yet, but check it (on the sidebar) to see how long the heatwave is due to last... It seems amazing that only a couple of weeks ago we had the fires lit!