The con typically begins with a text message or even an AI-generated phone call from someone pretending to be a son or daughter in urgent need of money.

Knowing how this scam works could help you to avoid it.

Scammer using smartphone and fake messages as thousands are lost to Hi Dad and Hi Mum scams (Image: Getty Images)

There are two main stages to the “Hi Dad (or often “Hi Mum/Gran/Grandad” scam:

1. Asking you to save a new number – this is the first stage of the scam. The victim is asked to save a new number for their child and delete the old one.
2. Asking to borrow or to be sent money – this is always to a third party, not their usual bank account. There will often be an emergency that needs an instant loan or gift or money to solve.

Criminals are exploiting busy parents who may act quickly without verifying who they are speaking to, with victims handing over thousands of pounds after believing they were helping their child.

The bank’s latest figures also reveal that men lost the equivalent of £100,000 every day to scammers during the first half of the year, with investment and purchase fraud among the biggest causes of losses.

Chris Ainsley, Head of Fraud Risk Management at Santander UK, warned that fraudsters deliberately target people when they are distracted or under pressure.

He said: “Whether it’s an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, or a text or phone call out of the blue from your child asking for money, we are urging people to stay alert and stay safe ahead of this Father’s Day.”

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Hannah Bingle, Financial Crime Awareness Specialist at Yorkshire Building Society, adds: “Scams where the sender pretends to be a loved one can be really unsettling.

“If you receive a message claiming to be someone you know using a new number, don’t take it at face value. Try to call them on their existing number – you can quickly find out if the real person knows about the messages.

“If you’re still not sure, you can ask something the genuine person would know but a scammer couldn’t guess. Something simple like where you last met, the name of a pet or someone you both know.

“Don’t be rushed into sending anything. A real family member or friend wouldn’t mind you checking their details before handing over your money or information.”

The supermarket giant has said some shoppers will be able to order groceries until midnight through the retailer’s delivery services.

Asda announced it will be extending delivery by up to two hours at selected stores for customers ordering through Deliveroo, Just Eat, and Uber Eats.

Some branches will now accept orders until midnight instead of the usual 10pm cut-off.

Others will extend deliveries until 11pm, in anticipation of increased demand during the World Cup.

Asda extends delivery hours for customers

Along with the extended hours, Asda has introduced several delivery-only deals aimed at at-home football fans, including two pizzas for £10 and discounted beer promotions through Deliveroo.

Just Eat customers can enjoy up to 50% off selected breakfast items, while Deliveroo users can take advantage of discounts of up to 40% on soft drinks, party food, and other snacks.

Retailers have made these adjustments because FIFA has expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams this year.

Additionally, many matches will be televised later than usual, prompting a predicted increase in rapid delivery service demands.

Reportedly, supermarkets expect many fans to watch matches at home rather than in pubs or fan zones.

Beyond the football-focused promotions, Asda has tapped into one of the year’s most significant food trends by launching its own Cereal Milk Cookies.

These have been introduced at £2.24 for a pack of four, forming part of a broader bakery range.

The bake-at-home treats have previously developed a considerable following on social media, with one enthusiast referring to them as the “best on the market”.

The cookies are making a comeback in an expanded bakery range which includes 16 new patisserie-themed products inspired by food that has gained popularity on social media platforms.

Will you be taking advantage of Asda’s extended delivery hours? Let us know in the comments.

The only fan zone in the US host city has been shut down to bad weather, according to a spokesperson.

The FIFA Fan Zone in Boston has been shut down amid fears over stormy weather.

The fan zone at Boston City Hall Plaza – the only fan zone in the city – will be closed on Thursday, June 18.

A spokesperson for FIFA Fan Festival in Boston said the official World Cup spot is shut due to bad weather.

The spokesperson said: “Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, the FIFA Fan Festival Boston at City Hall Plaza will be closed today, June 18.

“It’s our priority to ensure the safety of fans, staff, volunteers, and emergency services personnel.

“Additional operational updates will be shared as needed.”

This is a breaking news story. Follow along for updates.

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Achieving the perfect jammy egg can be a bit of a challenge

When it comes to breakfast, eggs are a popular choice for many Brits. Whether you’re tucking into a full English fry-up, avocado on toast, pancakes or crumpets, eggs provide a tasty accompaniment and are rich in healthy fats and protein.

Boiling them is one of the easiest preparation methods, but getting the perfect result is all about timing. While hard-boiled and runny eggs are fairly simple to master, nailing that ideal jammy yolk can prove far more challenging.

Thankfully, a food expert at Good Food has shared one crucial step that home cooks should take to nail the perfect jammy egg every single time.

What you need to do

The essential tip that the expert emphasises is to make sure the eggs are at room temperature instead of coming straight from the fridge. This allows the eggs to cook more uniformly and minimises the chance of cracking.

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Placing a fridge-cold egg directly into boiling water can cause the shell to crack owing to the abrupt temperature shift, potentially compromising both the texture and the cooking duration needed to produce a perfectly jammy yolk.

How to make a jammy egg

To prepare perfectly jammy eggs, begin by filling a medium-sized saucepan with water and bringing it to a rolling boil. Next, gently lower the eggs into the boiling water using a spoon and cook them for approximately eight minutes to obtain a softly set, jammy centre.

Once the timer sounds, promptly move the eggs to a bowl of cold water to halt the cooking process and make peeling easier. After a minimum of three minutes in cold water, remove your eggs, peel them, and serve.

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Exact cooking times for boiled eggs

For a runny egg that’s ideal for dipping toast, cook it for five minutes to achieve a just-set white and a flowing yolk.

If you prefer a slightly firmer egg, six minutes will deliver a liquid yolk with a softly set white that still has a touch of wobble.

A soft-boiled egg with a rich, sticky yolk can be accomplished in seven minutes, making it a favourite option for salads and breakfast dishes.

For a traditional hard-boiled egg, leave it in the water for 10 minutes, until both the white and yolk are completely set but still moist.

Alternatively, preparing a fried egg is nearly as straightforward. For crispy edges and a gooey centre, start cooking by warming the oil in your frying pan over a medium-high heat until it starts to shimmer.

Carefully crack the eggs straight into the hot oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Tilt the pan towards you so the oil gathers at the edge, then use a spoon to repeatedly baste the egg whites with the bubbling oil.

Avoid the yolks to ensure they stay perfectly runny. Within just 45 seconds to one minute, the eggs will puff up nicely, developing crisp edges and fully set whites. Transfer to a plate and serve immediately.

Officers in Durham pulled over drivers at random during Thursday (June 18) morning’s rush hour and carried out roadside breath tests, warning that celebratory drinking the night before could leave motorists over the limit by morning.

Sergeant Sarah Manser, of Durham Constabulary, said: “We come out this morning to give that message that alcohol still might be in your system the next morning.

“We’ve had a couple this morning already who haven’t blown over the limit, but they have had alcohol in the system.

“Please just don’t drink-and-drive; it’s just as simple as that.”

While no drivers tested positive for being over the legal limit, one was shocked to find they were close to the limit.

The targeted checks come as police warn that evening kick-off times, due to the World Cup being held in North America, increase the risk of motorists being unfit to drive the following day.

Sgt Manser continued: “If you do feel affected the next day, just don’t risk it.

“Don’t get in the car, don’t make that decision, because it does absolutely rip lives apart.”

Durham Constabulary highlighted that crashes increase by around 20 per cent on England match days.

Driver Louis Renwick, who passed the test with no alcohol in his system, said: “There are too many deaths on the roads through drink-driving.

“More power to the police, all these drunk drivers should be taken off the road.”

In her personal statement, the victim said “the trauma does not end with the conviction; I live with the consequences every day”

A “predatory” rapist, who ignored a woman’s pleas for him to stop, has been sent to jail. Lindsey Smith, of Coolidge Gardens, Cottenham, would regularly pressurise the woman for sex.

On two occasions between December 14 and 17, 2024, he ignored her pleas to stop and raped her. Smith was arrested on February 4, 2025, after the victim came forward to police.

The 31-year-old denied the allegations but was found guilty of two counts of rape, sending indecent communication and escaping from lawful custody following a trial at Peterborough Crown Court. On Friday, June 12, he was sentenced to six years in prison at Huntingdon Law Court.

In her personal statement the victim said: “The trauma does not end with the conviction; I live with the consequences every day”.

DC Lloyd Davies said: “Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the incredible courage of the victim for coming forward. It is thanks to her bravery Smith’s predatory behaviour has been exposed.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they might’ve been a victim of a sexual offence to contact us. We take all reports very seriously and have a dedicated team of specially trained officers ready to investigate allegations promptly, fully and professionally, and a network of partner agencies and support services to offer assistance and support.”

Sitting too long can leave many at risk for obesity and raise your risk for cancer and heart disease.

But sitting too little could also be immensely risky for some peoples’ overall health, a new decade-long study from Chinese researchers suggests.

The study of more than 41,000 Chinese adults showed that the lowest risk occurred when people sat for an average of four hours. Sitting for less than two hours or more than six hours was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes.

So why is this the case?

The researchers say there are different benefits and drawbacks for different individuals, including a lower risk of sitting in active people. This is especially true for those who engage in physically demanding work and could benefit from reduced musculoskeletal strain or recovery time.

“While excessive sitting remains harmful, our findings suggest that the relationship between sitting and health is context-dependent,” the researchers explained in a statement. “In highly active individuals, a moderate amount of sitting may not be detrimental and could even be beneficial.”

Further evaluation revealed that peoples’ average time sitting each day could determine what may best benefit their health and lower their risk of death from any cause.

More than half of Chinese adults sit for less than four hours a day. Those people saw positive effects when they replaced 30 minutes of physical activity with sleep or sitting over the course of 11 years. Their risk of death dropped by between 4-6 percent.

However, people who sat more than four hours a day saw a similar or greater benefit when they replaced 30 minutes of sitting with physical activity.

“These findings are consistent with current recommendations to reduce excessive sitting and increase physical activity,” the Journal of Sport and Health Science noted in an accompanying release.

Notably, the study builds on years of research that says sitting for too long can be incredibly harmful for health, even in active and young adults.

Sitting for eight hours a day, like more than one in four Americans, increases body mass index and raises cholesterol, according to researchers at U.C. Davis.

And sitting for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity raises peoples’ risk of death similarly to risks from obesity and smoking, the Mayo Clinic says.

The average American sits over six hours a day.

“Studies have shown that sitting for more than 6-8 hours a day is associated with a 125-150 percent increase in risk of cardiovascular events,” Callie Davies, a sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic, said in a statement.

Marcus Rashford no longer looks certain to leave Manchester United this summer but questions remain when it comes to the forward’s future

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand appears to have changed his mind on Marcus Rashford. Ferdinand previously suggested Rashford had no way back at Old Trafford but now believes the England international could benefit from embracing a different role at his parent club.

Rashford spent the last season-and-a-half out on loan, first at Aston Villa and then at Barcelona. The Catalan club had an option to sign him permanently for around £26million but let that option expire earlier this month.

A goal for England against Croatia on Wednesday put his future back in focus, though. Ferdinand now seems to believe the ‘finisher’ role for England – and one he occupied at times with Barcelona – could be a way for Rashford to revive his career at the club where he made his debut as a teenager more than a decade ago.

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In January 2025, Rashford’s treatment by then-manager Ruben Amorim left Ferdinand convinced the player’s United career was over. “If I was the player the manager said that about, my heart, my pride, my ego – it’s embarrassment,” the former England international said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.

“For someone to question your application, to question you giving 100 per cent for the team, saying you’re lacking effort and taking shortcuts, that’s a damning comment. There’s no way back for Marcus after that. If he did come back that means other players can take their foot off the gas and have a way back into the team and take shortcuts.”

In the latest episode of the same YouTube show, however, Ferdinand put forward his new argument. “Manchester United might have to reevaluate Marcus Rashford’s situation,” he said.

“It seems like he has matured; the time away from the club may have done him the good that he needed, and it has cleansed both parties. Is it time to shake hands and come back?”

He argued the year under Hansi Flick in Catalunya has helped the player better understand his role, adding: “He was given a role at Barcelona, told he would be an impact player at times, to come on and change games. At England, that is his role, and that’s a huge asset to the squad in this competition.”

Rashford has now scored in back-to-back World Cups, having netted three times in Qatar in 2022. He will be pushing for a start against Ghana in England’s second match but has already given United and potential buying clubs some food for thought.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

Fans of The Wombles have been waiting years for a reboot of the programme

An iconic BBC children’s TV show is set to make a stunning return to screens 28 years after it last aired.

Recent years have seen many stations turning to the past in an attempt to find a new series which will captivate younger viewers. Earlier in the year, the BBC released the first season of Balamory in 21 years,

Originally airing from 2002 to 2005 on CBeebies, the series follows the lives of the residents living in a fictional small island community off the west coast of Scotland. The reboot was such a success that two new seasons have been announced.

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The past few years have also seen the likes of Wizards of Waverly Place, iCarly, The Fairly OddParents all brought back to life. However, a series from the 1970s is now being readjusted for modern eyes.

Based on the characters who were created by children’s author Elisabeth Beresford, The Wombles is a stop motion animated series which premiered in 1973. The goal of the show was to teach children about the importance of recycling and environmental issues.

The Wombles followed the adventures of a group of creatures that live underground, collecting and recycling human rubbish. Originally coming to an end in 1975, a generation was raised on repeat episodes.

The series first returned with a revival in 1997, which sadly only aired for two years. However, it did introduce three new Womble characters that were a hit with fans.

Fans have spent a long time waiting for new episodes, after a new series was announced back in 2013. Sadly, none of the episodes which were due to air on Channel 5 were released.

After years of waiting, The Wombles are coming back in a global revival which will blend original 1970s episodes with contemporary live-action and influencer-led shows. Rather than needing a TV station, the content will drop on YouTube.

Neil Blair, founding partner and agent at The Blair Partnership, which now manages The Wombles’ rights, said: “The Wombles is an iconic British brand with strong cultural appeal, distinctive characters with core values that translate and resonate globally.

“It is a rich content opportunity and, with rights now aligned plus a clear development pipeline in place, the property is ideally positioned for expansion across multiple platforms and categories.

“We see significant potential to build The Wombles into a multiplatform international franchise for a new generation of audiences.”

The new YouTube Channel will see beloved characters Orinoco, Wellington and Alderney all return. Digital animation will show them in a brand new light, they may even become the new Bluey!

The Blair Partnership are also developing audio productions featuring celebrity casts, new storybooks, expanded merchandise and an interactive digital game based on The Wombles.