December 2025 – Page 23 – The NEN

Insurance scam warning: fake delivery driver jobs this Christmas

Job seekers are being warned of fake delivery driver work being listed over the festive period, enabling insurance details to be stolen by fraudsters.

Stolen identities are highly valuable to fraudsters, who use them to carry out harmful scams such as Crash for Cash and Ghost Broking. Cases of identity theft reported to the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) have risen annually, with a sharp 42% increase in the past year alone^[1]. Amid this trend, several insurers have told the IFB they’re finding more people are having their personal information stolen through fake delivery driver roles for insurance scams.

With Christmas and the January sales bringing a rise in courier vacancies, job hunters are being urged to be extra vigilant and report any evidence of insurance fraud to the IFB’s CheatLine.

Nicola Smith, Intelligence and Investigations Manager at the IFB, said: “We’re concerned that more people are being caught out by fake delivery driver jobs and having their insurance details stolen for organised fraud.

“With more of these roles appearing in the run-up to Christmas and January sales, it’s crucial for those looking for delivery work to be aware and stay vigilant.

“Victims are misled into believing they’ve secured a job and are encouraged to hand over copies of their insurance certificate, driving licence and other sensitive documents. The consequences are serious – fraudsters may take out multiple insurance policies in victims’ names, third parties can pursue them for costs, and their credit scores can be badly damaged.

“Young people may also be more vulnerable to this scam, as fraudsters exploit their need for work and they may be less aware of how important it is to protect their personal information.

“We want everyone to recognise the value of their personal information and protect it at all costs. We’re working closely with the industry and law enforcement to tackle this issue. If you believe your details have been stolen for an insurance scam, report it to our confidential CheatLine.”

Mike Haley, CEO of Cifas, added: “The rise in fake job adverts targeting delivery drivers is part of a broader trend of identity fraud that continues to dominate the fraud landscape.

“In the first half of 2025 alone, Cifas members reported a record 217,000 fraud risk cases, with identity fraud making up 118,000 (55%) of all filings.

“These figures underline how quickly criminals adapt to exploit seasonal opportunities. Our advice: apply only through official job sites, seek a second opinion on offers, and never share sensitive details under pressure.”

How does the scam work?

Insights show that fraudsters advertise courier roles on social media and classified ad websites. Applicants are told their application has been successful and are then asked for personal details – including their name, address, date of birth, car insurance information and a copy of their driving licence – supposedly to set them up as delivery drivers.

Fraudsters may use this data to take out policies in the applicant’s name and resell them as doctored policies, by posing as fake insurance brokers in a fraud known as Ghost Broking. This is a scam that tricks people who struggle to afford cover into buying fake car insurance online.

The fraudsters may also hijack genuine insurance policies to stage fraudulent claims in a scam known as Crash for Cash, which involves causing deliberate collisions for compensation. A type of this activity known as moped scams – which has been rising across London and Home Counties – is often driven by identity theft.

In such cases, the fraudster will use details stolen from the job seeker to fraudulently admit liability in their name, while the fraudster or an accomplice of theirs acts as the injured party. Doctored images and documents are then used to support the claim, often exaggerating damage, injuries and costs to inflate the payout.

The warning comes as the IFB recently announced cases of ID theft linked to organised insurance fraud have risen year on year, with levels in the past year now over seven times higher when compared with 2021. To help tackle the issue, the UK’s top policy fraud hotspots were revealed following an analysis of 2.4 million insurance policies, to highlight areas where people appear to be at greatest risk.

The rise also follows a recent announcement by Cifas, a not-for-profit organisation which protects public, private and voluntary sectors from fraud, reporting a 25% increase in insurance fraud linked to identity theft and false applications.

How can I protect myself?

People who are looking for delivery driver roles are encouraged to be vigilant, apply to reputable companies and ideally through their website to help ensure personal information is kept secure.

Simple measures can also protect personal information:

Create strong, unique passwords for personal accounts.
Avoid sharing personal details on social media.
Shop only on legitimate retailers’ websites and never give bank details to unknown parties.
Keep devices secure by installing software and app updates promptly and enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Watch out for phishing and vishing attempts – never click on suspicious links, open unexpected files, or reveal personal details to unsolicited calls or text messages.

Report insurance fraud

The IFB is a not-for-profit organisation which leads the insurance industry’s collective fight against insurance fraud. Evidence of an insurance scam can be reported to the IFB’s confidential CheatLine online or via its phoneline (powered by CrimeStoppers) on 0800 422 0421.

Advice is available for anyone who believes their identity has been stolen in an insurance scam.

Poverty Alliance: Manifesto

In Scotland, we believe in justice and compassion. We want to see everyone with enough to live a decent life – and the opportunities to flourish – through an economic system that prioritises people and the planet.

We know that this is possible.

That is why the 2026 Scottish Parliament election is so important. With one in five people in Scotland held back by poverty, the time for action is now.

We are proud to present our 2026 Scottish Parliament election manifesto. We are clear that tackling poverty must be given the priority it deserves in the commitments of all political parties.

Our overarching ask of the next Scottish Government and Parliament is to progress the delivery of a Minimum Income Guarantee for Scotland. We believe that the delivery of this bold idea would provide us all the freedom to create a more secure life for ourselves and our households, and a better society for everyone.

To make this progress, we need to see action to deliver:

Fair, well paid jobs;

Accessible public services;

Strong social security;

Reformed devolved taxation;

Fair funding for community and voluntary organisations; and

Just climate action.

You can find our full manifesto here:

The-Poverty-Alliance-2026-Scottish-Parliament-Election-Manifesto Download

Cladding levy Bill carries significant risk to Scotland’s housing market, says Holyrood’s Finance Committee

A Bill to raise funds towards Scotland’s cladding remediation programme carries “significant risk” to the housing market, says a parliamentary report published today.

Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee says it is “unconvinced” that the Scottish Government has fully considered the implications of the Bill on the nation’s ‘housing emergency’.

The committee has decided, therefore, to make no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill – a first time for this committee – and says it hopes the government will respond positively to its findings.

The committee is also calling on the government to carry out market ‘sensitivity analysis’ prior to deciding levy rates and reliefs, and to monitor the effect of the new tax on the housing sector.

Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson said: “Our committee understands the Scottish Government’s intent behind this Bill, but we believe the introduction of the levy carries significant risk.

“We have concerns regarding its potential impact on the housing market, and on the delivery of houses in areas where the viability of building sites is already challenging.

“We are unconvinced that the government has fully considered the implications for its self-declared housing emergency when designing the policy approach for this levy. We also believe the policy design has been focussed on the arbitrary figure that the levy could raise, and not sufficiently focussed on developing a good, well-structured levy that is sustainable.

“On the basis of the evidence received, our committee makes no recommendation on the general principles of the Bill. We trust that the Scottish Government will respond positively to our recommendations to inform further discussion of the general principles during the Stage 1 debate in the chamber in January 2026.”

Calling for regular reports on the housing market impact, Mr Gibson said: “Our committee recommends that the reporting requirements in the Bill be strengthened, so that the government is required to report every three years on how the levy is working. That report should include an assessment of how the levy is impacting the Scottish housing market in practice.”

Mr Gibson went on: “Our committee does not consider the levy to be fully reflective of the sensitivities of the housing market in Scotland.

“We therefore recommend the government undertakes a sensitivity analysis, to assess in more detail, the impact of the levy on the housing market – in particular on rural sites and on SME developers.

“The analysis should be published in time to inform the government’s decisions in setting levy rates and, where applicable, any reliefs, through secondary legislation.”

Other findings and recommendations:

there is a strong case for exempting remote rural areas from the scope of the levy. While recognising the challenges in developing an appropriate definition for remote rural developments, this should not be a barrier to introducing this important exemption.
the Bill should be amended to include a sunset clause to provide an opportunity to robustly review after 15 years how the levy is operating and for the Scottish Parliament to then decide whether the law should remain in place. This, we consider, should provide much-needed reassurance to the industry that the levy is not intended to become a permanent tax on housebuilding.
the committee is concerned about the potential for the levy to contribute to the loss of historic buildings in Scotland. It recommends the government considers a targeted broadening of this exemption for conversions, which will help to protect historic buildings that may otherwise remain abandoned.

Minister Ivan McKee announced in November 2025 that introduction of the levy rates will be pushed back by more than a year to April 2028.

The Stage 1 debate on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill is expected to be debated by Parliament in the new year.

Read the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill

Read the committee report

From apps to AI search: how the UK goes online in 2025

OFCOM’s latest Online Nation report explores how adults and children in the UK experience life online. From the sites and apps we use every day, to how people feel about what they do and what they encounter online.

We’re spending even more time online as a nation

Adults now spend an average of four and a half hours online a day – up by 10 minutes on last year. Women spend 26 minutes a day longer online than men, with a daily average of 4hrs 43 mins.

Most of time online is spent on a smartphone, where adults use an average of 41 apps a month. WhatsApp, Facebook and Google Maps are the three most commonly used apps among adults.

Half of all time online is now spent on Alphabet and Meta-owned services

Two major tech firms now account for more than half of the time people in the UK spend online.

YouTube is the most used Alphabet-owned service, used by 94% of adults. Time on YouTube is increasing, reaching an average of 51 minutes a day, not including the TV set. The combination of Facebook and Messenger (93% adults) is the most widely used Meta service, followed by WhatsApp (90% adults).

AI is shaking up search

Google Search is used by four in five (82%) adults. It is by far the most used search service in the UK, with 3 billion searches a month.

AI is changing the UK’s search experience. About 30% of searches now show AI overviews, and more than half (53%) of adults say they see these summaries often. In most cases, they aren’t seeking these but finding them now included by their search services.

Generative AI services are gaining traction, with more people actively seeking them out. ChatGPT had 1.8 billion UK visits in the first eight months of 2025, up from 368 million in same period of 2024.

Adults are less positive about the impact of the internet

This year, only a third of adults (33%) said they feel the internet is good for society – down from 40% last year. And while nearly two-thirds (65%) of adults believe the personal benefits of being online outweigh the risks, this figure has declined steadily from 71% two years ago.

Fewer adults feel freer to be themselves online than offline this year (25%, down from 30% last year), and only 35% feel they can share opinions more easily online than offline.

What the UK’s children are doing online: social media, schoolwork and spending regrets

Younger Gen Z and the eldest Gen Alphas are mobile-first, video-native internet users. Children aged 8–14 spend almost 3 hours online daily, rising to 4 hours for 13–14-year-olds and about two hours for 8–9-year-olds. This only counts time on smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers – not games consoles.

YouTube and Snapchat lead the way when it comes to screen time. Across 8–14s, children spend about 48 minutes a day on YouTube and 45 minutes on Snapchat – together making up around half of their total online time. Almost all 8-14-year-olds use YouTube (96%) and Google Search (95%). WhatsApp (63%) and TikTok (58%) also rank highly.

Late-night scrolling is common. Across four of the main services used by children – YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp – 15-24% of the time spent for the whole 8-14 age range happens between 9pm and 5am. 4–10% of usage happens after 11pm, depending on the platform.

Most children are happy with their online lives

Overall, nine in ten (91%) children aged 8-17 say they are happy with the things that they do online.

Teenagers use social media and messaging apps to stay connected. Almost three-quarters (72%) of 13-17s who use these platforms say they help them feel closer to friends. Girls aged 13-17 are more likely than boys of the same age to see being online as good for helping to build and maintain friendships (71% vs 60%).

Overall, seven in ten (69%) 13–17-year-olds go online to support their wellbeing, mainly to relax (45%) or lift their mood (32%). Nearly eight in ten (78%) say the internet helps with schoolwork, and more than half (55%) use it to learn new skills.

But they’re mindful of doomscrolling – and ‘brain-rot’

Some of the children we spoke to reflected on the negative impacts of spending too long scrolling on their smartphone. They used the term “brain rot” to describe both the type of content and the feeling it leaves behind. This content is fast-paced, chaotic, and often nonsensical and can leave viewers overstimulated and disoriented.

Reclaiming their online space – Gen Z are more likely to act on harmful content

While we found that seven in ten 11-17 year olds had seen or heard harmful content online in the last four weeks, we also found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of them had taken action after encountering such content.

Actions included using platform tools like the ‘dislike’ button (15%), reporting content (11%), blocking the person who posted the content (10%), or telling an adult (10%).

Importantly, we spoke to children about this before our Protection of Children Codes of Practice came into force in July 2025. Under our new rules, sites and apps must take steps to prevent children from encountering the most harmful content relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. These steps include age checks and ensuring this content doesn’t appear in children’s ‘for you’ feeds, and they must also have improved reporting tools for children to use. They must also act to protect children from misogynistic, violent, hateful or abusive material, online bullying and dangerous challenges.

Online retail remorse – younger users regretting their online purchases

Almost six in ten (58%) children aged 8-17 said they had spent money online in the past month, whether on social media sites, video-sharing platforms, or while they were gaming.

Children tell us that they were encouraged to spend money in various ways online, including character customisation (30%), adverts (27%), recommendations from friends or family (23%) and influencer content (22%).

But a third of children (32%) regretted the purchases they’d made in-game, and 43% regretted purchases made on social media. While 42% were unclear on what they even were buying in games.

Flu cases on the rise: Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics across the city

With flu cases continuing to rise, NHS Lothian has organised a number of pop-up vaccinations in community facilities across the city:

TODAY (THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER)

HAYS COMMUNITY HUB, (PLACES FOR PEOPLE) HAY AVENUE

Tron Kirk Moredun-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

TOMORROW – FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER

TRON KIRK MOREDUN CHURCH, CRAIGOUR GARDENS

Royston Wardieburn-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

MONDAY 15 DECEMBER

ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE, PILTON DRIVE NORTH

Craigentinny (1)-1-Vaccination 1 (2)Download

THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER

CRAIGENTINNY COMMUNITY CENTRE, LOANING ROAD

Gorgie Church-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER

GORGIE CHURCH, GORGIE ROAD

Richmond Craigmillar Church (1)Download

TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER

RICHMOND CRAIGMILLAR CHURCH, NIDDRIE MAINS ROAD

Increased support for carers

People who care for more than one disabled person may be eligible for a new Scotland-only payment.

Carer Additional Person Payment, worth up to £520 a year, will be available from March 2026.

Carers may be eligible for more than one Carer Additional Person Payment if they are caring for more than one additional person.

This is the latest in a series of improvements being made to support for carers from Social Security Scotland, which will come into effect in March.

The time Carer Support Payment is paid following the death of the cared-for person will also be extended from 8 to 12 weeks, while Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be replaced by Scottish Carer Supplement which will be paid weekly alongside Carer Support Payment rather than in two annual payments as it is currently – meaning carers receive extra support more consistently and regularly.

Social Justice Secretary @S_A_Somerville visited @Lan_Carers to highlight improvements to Scottish carer benefits.

These improvements are planned for March 2026 and include a new payment for carers who look after more than one person.

Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/u9Z2Bwp0gB pic.twitter.com/HTFLtR3hEb
— Social Security Scotland (@SocSecScot) December 10, 2025

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We’re making changes to benefits for carers to recognise the important contribution they make and to help ease some of the pressures that can come with a caring role.

“Scotland’s carers are better off than anywhere else in the UK, and the upcoming improvements will make sure that this remains the case.”

The Cabinet Secretary met with a group of carers from Lanarkshire Carers in Hamilton to mark the December payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement and upcoming changes to social security support.

Barbara McAuley, Chief Executive Officer at Lanarkshire Carers said: “We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Lanarkshire Carers Centre for an engaging visit with carers and staff.

“During the session, the Cabinet Secretary listened to carers’ experiences and participated in meaningful discussions on key issues, including social security benefits, working carers, older carers and carers’ rights.

“We are grateful for this chance to ensure carers’ voices are heard at the highest level.”

From March 2026, in addition to Carer Support Payment, eligible carers will be able to receive:

Scottish Carer Supplement – replaces Carer’s Allowance Supplement for carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment, an extra, more regular payment for carers which replaces Carer’s Allowance supplement for carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment (£11.29 per week).
Carer Additional Person Payment – an extra payment of £520 per year, paid weekly, available to people caring for more than one person. Carers may be eligible for more than one Carer Additional Person Payment if they are caring for more than one additional person.

The switch from Carer’s Allowance Supplement to Scottish Carer Supplement will happen automatically for current recipients. Information on accessing the Carer Additional Person Payment will be provided in the new year.

In November, Young Carer Grant was extended to include 19-year-olds – potentially benefiting an additional 1,200 carers next year and allowing young carers to get up to four payments from the age of 16.

Over 95,000 carers received Carer’s Allowance Supplement in December with a payment of £293.50.

Young people demand more action to reduce the impact of poverty at school

School Shouldn’t Cost: Young People’s Poverty and Education Manifesto 2025-31 was published on Tusday and over the coming weeks will be presented to MSPs and candidates ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election in May 2026.

This manifesto sets out what thousands of young people across Scotland say should happen to reduce the impact of poverty in their schools.

The calls

Young people say the next Scottish government must:

“End child poverty. Make sure our families have what they need so we can come to school ready to learn”
“Fund every school to fully remove cost pressures from our families and help us overcome poverty-related barriers to learning”
“Help us with the basics we need to learn, take part and feel included at school – free school meal expansion, uniform support, devices for all and continued funding for curriculum costs”
Create opportunities for all. “Help us all benefit from life changing school trips and from activities in our communities”
“Involve us! We can help make our schools and Scotland better”

Young people’s message to politicians

In a letter to Scottish party leaders the young people, members of the Cost of the School Day Voice network shared why this work needs to happen:

“There are great things happening in lots of our schools to help with costs and support us. But poverty is still affecting our education in so many ways. Poverty can affect how ready we feel to learn, what equipment we have for classes, basics like uniform and food and access to school trips that spark passion for subjects. Poverty can have a detrimental effect on our learning and can hold us back.”

Network members stressed the urgency of taking action on poverty in schools:

“The cost of the school day is such an important matter that we think it needs to be fixed everywhere for everyone as soon as possible. It’s important that you listen to the calls we are making because your decisions affect our lives. This can help us have equal opportunities and equal chances and a better future.”

More needs to happen

Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland reflects on what’s happening in Scotland’s schools and local authorities: “There has been so much progress when it comes to reducing costs and poverty-related barriers at school, but there’s more we can do.

“Politicians across the political spectrum need to pay attention to the calls young people are making loud and clear because these are the things young people say will help support them to thrive and achieve at school, no matter how much money they have at home.

“Investment in equity has been making a difference to young people’s experiences at school but while young people are still experiencing poverty and while financial barriers to education remain, we can’t afford to lose focus.”

Throughout “School Shouldn’t Cost” young people are clear that further change is needed in schools, and that it needs to be happening in all parts of the country.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Sierra (S6) from Levenmouth Academy in Fife describes why this manifesto is important: “When we talk about child poverty, we’re not talking about numbers on a page. We’re talking about the child who pretends they’re not hungry because there’s no food left at home.

“We’re talking about the young person who avoids school trips because their family can’t afford it and they’re too embarrassed to say why. We’re talking about parents who go without meals so their children can eat and about the silent worry that sits in so many homes every single day. The cost of the school day should never cost a child their confidence, dignity or dreams.”

CPAG_Cost_of_the_School_Day_Manifesto_v3_Screen (1)Download

Scotland’s first helpline for women experiencing economic abuse

Purple Phone helpline launched

Scotland’s first confidential helpline for victims and survivors of economic abuse has been launched by Financially Included, an organisation that supports women to recover from a controlling and often hidden form of gender-based violence.

As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign draws to a close, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan visited East Renfrewshire to find out more about Financially Included’s Purple Phone Helpline, part of a new economic abuse pilot project supported by Scottish Government funding.

The helpline provides advice, emotional support and financial guidance to women experiencing economic abuse. She heard about the help they gave to one woman, Caroline*. After leaving an abusive relationship, the mother of four was supported by Financially Included to claim a range of benefits and payments she was entitled to, helping Caroline to work towards financial independence and a stable future for her family.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Financially Included’s pioneering Purple Phone Helpline will be an invaluable source of advice to women across Scotland who need help to escape or recover from economic abuse.

“Tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms is one of our key priorities, with investment of £21.6 million this year through the Delivering Equally Safe fund, to support specialist services like Financially Included, making a real difference to women’s lives.”

Councillor Katie Pragnell, Chair of East Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board said: “We’re proud to lead the way in collaboration with other local organisations as part of the East Renfrewshire Violence against Women and Girls Partnership and we are committed to making sure no one faces abuse alone.

“This helpline is more than a phone number – it’s a lifeline. It means women and children trapped by financial control now have somewhere to turn.”

Amber Cully, Project Manager at Financially Included, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this partnership in East Renfrewshire to build on the vital work in tackling economic abuse and to strengthen specialist support for women affected across the area.

“Through this partnership, we will deliver training on recognising and responding to economic abuse, provide a second-tier advice service for frontline workers supporting victim-survivors.

“Using additional funding from the Scottish Government this year, we are expanding our work nationally, with East Renfrewshire the first area to commit to working with us in this way.

“Our vision is to grow this into a Scotland-wide network, ensuring a consistent, sustainable and trauma-informed response for victim-survivors across the country.”

The confidential and free Purple Phone Helpline number is 0343 841 0132. It is currently open Monday 16:30–19:30, Wednesday 10:00–13:00 and Thursday 13:30–16:30. Translators are available on request.

Financially Included is a pilot project led by Greater Easterhouse Money Advice Project in partnership with Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership.

The project focuses on improving the provision of money advice across gender-based violence sectors through training and toolkit resources.

Caroline’s story

Caroline* was referred to Financially Included by Glasgow Women’s Aid two years ago. A survivor of sustained physical, emotional and economic abuse, Caroline is a single mother of four children, two of whom have since been diagnosed with autism. When she first came to the service, Caroline was a full-time student, working part-time and managing multiple health conditions linked to years of trauma and injury.

Despite the abuse, Caroline remained financially tied to the perpetrator through a jointly owned home, shared benefits and mounting debt. She faced benefit complications, mortgage insecurity, damaged credit, and serious housing disrepair including damp and mould. Her situation was made even more complex by ongoing stalking, threats from her former partner, and significant barriers to accessing affordable legal support.

Financially Included provided intensive, trauma-informed support across benefits, housing, debt and energy advice and supported Caroline to secure disability benefits for herself and her son, challenged incorrect benefit decisions and assisted with a Criminal Injuries Compensation application.

They also provided emotional support to Caroline while she completed these processes, acknowledging the trauma involved in revisiting her experiences. She was also supported with council tax exemption, rising mortgage pressures, household debt directly linked to economic abuse, and energy advice to address unsafe living conditions.

While Caroline continues to face serious challenges around housing security and legal protections, she now feels more confident managing as a single parent and navigating complex systems. She continues to receive multi-agency support, including from Women’s Aid, schools, health services and her employer.

*Name changed to protect identity.