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20/04/2011

Consumer news with Winifred Robinson. The fraudsters who are targeting deaf people via Facebook, the rising price of silver and shortening the school day to save money.

Consumer news with Winifred Robinson.

Fraudsters are targeting deaf people [and the Facebook friends of deaf people] via Facebook. Victims receive e-mails which appear to be from their Facebook friends [written in the way that deaf people speak] inviting them to invest money in companies claiming that they can guarantee impressive returns. The fraudulent e-mails say that the RNID and the World Federation for the Deaf endorse these companies. In US, 14,000 people have already been defrauded of $7million in this way. Shari Vahl reports.

Silver prices are going through the roof because gold has become so expensive, oil prices are uncertain and banks are giving poor returns.

Last month, South West Trains admitted that 59% of people do not fit into their train seats when elbows are taken into account. And this month, it has been revealed that our children are bigger than their parents were at the same age. Mark Stevenson muses on why spaces getting smaller even though we are getting larger.

Coastal areas in eastern Australia are suffering from a spectacular population growth fuelled by migrants and exasperated residents forced out of some of the world's most expensive cities. The prediction is that more than 6 million people will move to seaside communities over the next 40 years - an increase of almost 95% on present figures. A rapidly ageing population is also driving the rush to the coast. Seaside councils are already feeling besieged and under equipped to cope with demands on health, housing and social services. Phil Mercer reports.

From September 2011, Tewkesbury School will close an hour early every Friday to save money. Headteacher John Reilly joins Brian Lightman from the Association of School College leaders to discuss school budget cuts.

Men suffering from eating disorders who need hospital treatment are being placed on psychiatric and other medical wards rather than in one of the NHS's 85 specialist in-patient units. This is a consequence of the ruling last year which banned mixed gender wards in hospitals. Generally, there aren't enough men to justify separate wards and some Trusts are refusing to offer them any in-patient treatment at all. The charity, Beat, which campaigns on behalf of people with eating disorders wants the NHS to make an exception in their case and allow mixed wards for people with eating disorders.

Available now

57 minutes

Last on

Wed 20 Apr 2011 12:00

Chapters

  • Facebook Criminals

    Deaf people are receiving fraudulent e-mails via Facebook inviting them to invest money in companies which - it is claimed - will give them impressive returns.

    Duration: 08:02

  • Silver Prices

    In times of economic uncertainty gold prices tend to rise but, in the last 8 years, silver has outperformed gold and has nearly quadrupled in value since 2008. Is silver a good investment?

    Duration: 07:54

  • No room to swing a cat

    It has been revealed that our children are getting bigger but that train seats are getting smaller. Mark Stevenson muses on why spaces getting smaller even though we are getting larger.

    Duration: 03:16

  • Australian Coastal Areas

    Coastal areas in eastern Australia are suffering from a spectacular population growth fuelled by migrants and people forced out of some of the world's most expensive cities. Phil Mercer reports.

    Duration: 08:04

  • School budget cuts

    Tewkesbury School is going to close an hour early every Friday to save money. How will this affect the pupils and how are other schools coping with enforced budget cuts?

    Duration: 07:16

  • Men with eating disorders

    Because mixed gender wards are no longer allowed in hospitals, men with eating disorders are being placed on psychiatric and other medical wards rather than in specialist in-patient units.

    Duration: 07:16

Broadcasts

  • Wed 20 Apr 2011 12:00
  • Wed 20 Apr 2011 12:04

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