MEETING: It was a spring-like afternoon when the ladies of Caerleon WI gathered for their March meeting. The first plant stall of the year was full of lovely perennials such as hellebores and anemones, in good time to start a colourful growing season with plants that will give pleasure year after year.

This month’s speaker was Kerry Griffiths from Barclay’s bank to warn about financial scams that everyone should be on guard against.

The scale of financial fraud is huge, and is the reason banks now require so much information from anyone who wishes to open a bank account. There were the usual warnings about never giving your pin number to anyone, but what caused the group to gasp with horror was the plausibility evinced by some fraudsters. One ruse is for the scammer to pretend to be from your bank saying that a fraudulent payment has been spotted on your credit card. The fraudster suggests that you then ring the phone number on your card. Convinced that it must be genuine if you ring your bank, you comply, but the fraudster keeps the line open so that when you think you are talking to your bank or card supplier, you are in fact talking to the scammer, who then gets the information he wants. Sometimes the scammer suggests that for your protection you key in your pin, but this still gives them the information.

Another plausible scam is for you to be contacted, by phone or in person by someone purporting to be from your bank or the police, saying someone in your bank is a fraudster, perhaps passing forged notes, and asking for your help in identifying them. Kerry told us this actually happened. An elderly gentleman was visited by someone in police uniform, warning him against forged banknotes. The “policeman” then left, only to return days later to inspect banknotes. Again he left. Next time he returned, by now a familiar face, he asked the victim to help identify the dishonest employee by withdrawing a substantial amount from his account and handing it over to be taken away for testing. Needless to say, he saw neither “policeman” nor cash again! This tale drew gasps of horror from listeners!

The internet is fraught with traps for the unwary. We were warned never to open an attachment from an address we did not know. But fraudsters can easily hack into emails to find contacts. Then an email is sent which apparently comes from a friend or acquaintance but the site from which the email is sent will not be authentic. Attachments should not be opened.

We are frequently bombarded with emails with special offers, or saying we have won a prize, or other lures to encourage us to investigate further. If you have not entered a competition, you cannot have won a prize!

Another very clever ploy is for a scammer to offer an entry to a competition or some other lure and request some information, eg your date of birth, innocuous in itself, but then, through a different site, gain a different piece of information eg mother’s maiden name. Put together these pieces of information give access to bank details or similar. The plausibility and variety of fraudsters all eager to separate us from our money is quite alarming, and judging from the audience response, the information came as quite a shock!

The conclusion was always be on your guard, and never give information, particularly not your PIN, unless you absolutely know and trust those in communication! Not only was Kerry’s talk full of essential information, it was very interesting and provoked a discussion afterwards.

After this eye-opening talk it was time for a welcome cup of tea. And, as a belated St David’s Day celebration, Welsh cakes too! Thus fortified we were ready for pleasanter topics!

There are many varied events to look forward to. At the end of March is the WI Fair 2017 at the Alexandra Palace, and two full coachloads from Gwent are leaving in the early morning for a full day’s visit. Also near the end of March is the Gwent Federation WI quiz. Another major highlight is the Gwent Federation annual council meeting, to be held this year at St Julian’s High School in April. The guest speaker among others is television gardener Christine Walkden. Several Caerleon members are going.

Other events in April include a visit to Cheltenham WI, and a visit to the Dolman Theatre to see 42nd Street. Nearer home, one of our members will lead a workshop on sugarcraft at the town hall on April 6, and another member will lead a workshop on flower arranging on April 27, also at the town hall. We are also hoping to start a choir. Further events are planned for later in the year, of which more details will be given.

Every year Gwent Federation runs a competition involving a co-operative display of crafts. This year’s theme is “Space” and we intend to submit an entry. Less welcome was the reminder that Denman College which is the WI’s own college is experiencing financial problems. It would be a very sad loss if these problems mean the college’s closure.

Next month’s meeting is on April 10 in Caerleon Town Hall at 2.30pm when we hope to have a bakery stall as well as a plant stall.

Caerleon WI

Val Thomas