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How to protect yourself and your privacy on dating apps

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Dating apps are great because they can make meeting new people a lot easier, especially in the era of COVID-19 when you might not be able to go out and socialize like you used to. But at the same time, there are some drawbacks to consider if you are thinking about hopping on a dating app to look for love. For example, when using the app, you might end up connecting with someone who isn’t really who they say they are, and who might have bad intentions of stealing your personal information or your money. So, continue reading to learn about a few ways to protect yourself when using a dating app.

Use background check services

One of the many steps you can take to protect yourself when you are using a dating app is pretty straightforward: verify the identity of someone you are interested in.

Before deciding whether you want to go into deep conversations with someone, and before you decide that you want to meet them in person, head to Nuwber and type their name in the search box to see what information appears. You might be shocked to find some negative background information, such as lawsuits and police records, or you might discover that they are not even using their real name when interacting with you.

With scammers using dating apps, you can never be too careful about making sure you are interacting with someone who is legitimate, trustworthy, and safe. So, running a quick background check is a smart move that might help save you from a lot of problems.

Never give out your personal information to someone on a dating app

Your dating profile should be set up in a way that showcases your personality while still being vague about personal details, such as your address and where you work. But even after you begin talking to a match, it is a great idea to continue keeping that personal and private information to yourself until you are absolutely sure that you can trust them.

Again, if you end up interacting with a scammer without realizing it, and you end up giving them your private information, they might be able to use it to steal money or commit identity theft. So, be careful about what you share with others on any dating app you choose to use.

Get to know someone on the app before giving them your phone number

Yet another step you can take to protect yourself when dating online is to avoid giving someone your phone number until you have really gotten to know them via the app. Because the dating app itself should make it easy to communicate with your matches, you shouldn’t feel the need to jump into giving away your personal contact information right away.

By keeping your actual contact details to yourself, you can protect your privacy more effectively. And if it turns out that you aren’t talking to a good match after all, you can more easily cut them off if your only method of contact is the app.

Remember, dating online comes with some benefits, but also comes with some risks. By keeping the tips above in mind, you can keep yourself and your private information more secure. Then, if you’re ready to take your relationship to the next level, you might feel more confident in your decision.

A sign of The Times

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Caitlin Moran in today’s Times (Image: The Times)

By The Editor

Regular readers of the Suffolk Gazette, a purveyor of fine journalism, will know our articles are regularly picked up by the mainstream media. Usually, they do so without fact-checking and end up with egg on their face.

But occasionally, witty and clever writers “get us” and report our uncanny ability to source hard-hitting news that nobody else can find. Tongue firmly in cheek.

That was certainly the case today when best-selling author, broadcaster and journalist Caitlin Moran wrote about us in her column in The Times.

She picked up on our motorhome toilet thief article, and wrote an amusing passage (below), which includes an honorable mention for crime correspondent Hugh Dunnett, and two one of our brilliant Suffolk Gazette mugs from Dirty Old Goat (our partner in crime).

Caitlin Moran in The Times

While it’s always fun when news outlets take our reports as the truth (hello, Eamonn Holmes), as writers of wit (sometimes), it’s nice to be recognised by a proper writer like Caitlin.

Fancy a Bob mug?

You can buy the Norfolk Bob mug that Caitlin mentions, directly from the photo below. Or view all the collections at DirtyOldGoat.com – all mugs come with free UK delivery

How digital marketing can improve your local business in 2021

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Smaller business owners, especially when those are local businesses can become overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks required to remain successful. You may think though that as a small, local business, your customer base can’t or doesn’t need to grow. However, you may be surprised as to how many people in your local area don’t necessarily know about the products and services you have to offer. There are some methods you can employ for your business to maximise your reach in your area and beyond and find greater success. One of the best methods for this is digital marketing, and here’s how this is useful in improving your local business.

Improve Your Reach
As a local business, there’s nothing stopping you from expanding your reach further afield. You could even become a global supplier of products and services fairly easily today, if that’s something you’d be prepared to do. With access to today’s online services, as well as having a great marketing team behind you, you could be shipping your products or delivering quality online services to people all across the world. Digital marketing could turn your small, local store, into a global, online brand if done correctly.

Affordable Advertising
One of the great things about the digital age is that advertising your business is no longer an overwhelmingly expensive task. Using the power of websites, social media platforms, and email, you can deliver effective marketing campaigns to your target audience without spending a small fortune. There are even exceptionally talented businesses out there that can deliver digital marketing campaign for you, saving you time and effort that you can put into other aspects of your business. If you’re looking for a luxury digital agency, click here. 303 in London is a talented group of experts that create and deliver marketing content for businesses to boost brand awareness and ultimately their success.

Targeting Your Audience
Possibly the best part of marketing your business’ services online is that you can better choose who sees your ads so that those advertisements aren’t wasted on people that would likely have no interest in what you have to offer. For example, putting an advert for a bakery in London in a national newspaper would have much reduced effectiveness if it was seen by people in Manchester compared to people within a mile radius around that business. Luckily, ad campaigns on social media can be delivered to specific locations and can also be directed towards particular demographics too such as genders and age groups.

Analytics And Measuring Results
Another great benefit to online digital marketing, is that you can make good use of quality analytics software to identify the demographics of your website and social media visitors. You can use these platforms to get a good understanding of who is making use of your services or buying your products, allowing you to better tailor your business to these groups. You’ll also be able to use analytics software like Google Analytics to see how impactful your campaigns are, and this then allows you to improve your future campaigns.

How tracking crypto will gradually evolve as we head to 2023

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Cryptocurrency is all about information. If you think about the nature of blockchain itself, it is built as a decentralized ledger that stores an infinite amount of specific data. Hence, either you are a holder or a trader, tracking your portfolio is crucial. For example, if you decide to buy ethereum on Paybis, then you can easily track its performance, and hence, see the ups and downs of your investment.

As we are headed to 2023, there are lots of crypto tracking tools gradually evolving, so users must pay attention to make the best choices and select only the best among the best tools available.

In this article, you will discover the most promising crypto tracking tools as the market keeps moving towards 2023.

Portfolio and Asset Tracking Tools

Blockfolio

Blockfolio is probably the most used portfolio tracker on the market right now, and that’s for a good reason. It’s highly intuitive, has excellent UX, and features over 8 thousand options of cryptocurrencies.

Interestingly, it also has a messaging feature that allows teams to connect directly with communities formed within the platform. Messaging in general is a big part of Blockfolio’s repertoire as it also allows for integration with various messaging applications.

Blox

While not as well known as Blockfolio, Blox is another excellent portfolio tracking application. Used for accounting, tracking, and management, it targets corporate players with features such as CPA financial tools and transaction accounting and control.

Blox is a slightly more advanced tool, but veteran investors will certainly gain a lot from it in terms of next-level crypto tracking.

CoinTracking

CoinTracking is one of the most advanced crypto trade-tracking platforms. The platform provides real-time information of all users’ data, including reports and tax returns – featuring adjustable parameters depending on the country, professional assistance, and analysis of market data.

Cryptocompare

If there’s a crypto tool that can compete with CoinTracking for the title of the best crypto tracker, it’s Cryptocompare. While it doesn’t have all the next-level features offered by CoinTracking, this tool works well for novice investors and crypto enthusiasts in general.

Cryptocompare provides full assessments and analysis of various crypto exchanges. Plus, it’s used by some of the top names in the market, such as Refinitiv, Investopedia, Etherscan, and Pantera.

Statistics and Graphics Tools

Graphics and statistics play an important role for those who want to invest in the market with a serious approach. If even the projections and graphics used in traditional financial markets can be confusing, cryptocurrency analysis it to an entirely different level.

If you’re just a holder or don’t plan on day trading, you don’t really need these charting tools. Mostly, they are used by technical analysts to track the movement of cryptocurrency prices.

TradingView

TradingView is one of the most popular tools for all types of crypto traders. It provides an interesting set of tools for trading in all markets, including stocks, cryptocurrency, and others.

When compared to other similar tools, TradingView stands out for its technical indicators, and chart analysis dashboards.

Coinigy

Coinigy is a trading tool designed especially for cryptocurrency traders. Premium versions are for professionals and include unlimited API accounts.

Linked to more than 45 exchanges, the platform offers spot trading, so you can also freely sell or buy Ethereum, Bitcoin, USDT, etc. Besides, it has a varied set of tools to get the most out of cryptocurrency graphics.

Market Data Tools

Whale Alert

Whale Alert is a Twitter-based service that announces whenever a big transaction is performed on a set of different blockchains. As its name suggests, it is a fundamental tool to track and identify whale-related activity in different networks, anticipating market movements and securing strategic positions.

This platform proved to be a particularly valuable service, displaying countless high-volume negotiations (including from project creators).

BitInfoCharts

BitInfoCharts provides a variety of information across multiple Blockchain networks, including the average number of transactions per hour, the average transaction amount, and the number of tweets per day.

As it’s plain to see, it is a valuable metadata provider about the Blockchain universe and its particularities.

CryptoMiso

CryptoMiso ranks cryptocurrency projects based on their development activities. For example, you can check which project was the most active in the last year (2020). This is important, as cryptocurrency projects are products of technology whose milestones can be traced to indicate progression or stagnation.

Conclusion

Until 2023, there will be several innovations that will change the face of the industry, such as Ethereum’s layer 2 evolution, countless parachains developed on top of Polkadot’s ecosystem, and the rise of blockchains focused on interoperability.

Given the ever-innovative nature of cryptocurrencies, it is fundamental to have reliable tracking tools to adjust and fine-tuning investments and positions along the way.

The crypto market is extremely volatile, so proceeding with due diligence before buying or selling digital assets is simply a must – regardless of if you are a crypto executive, a retail investor, or a crypto trader.

Government buys new equipment to deal with Insulate Britain protestors

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Boris Johnson has ordered five new steamrollers to deal with annoying Insulate Britain protestors once and for all.

The newfangled pieces of kit will be sent to any busy junction that the self-righteous eco-warriors are blocking off.

Highways spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “These Insulate Britain people say they want to leave a lasting impression.

“Well, when they come up against one of our rollers, they will be ingrained into the tarmac forever.”

Motorists were held up in London today when the protestors blocked the road at the Blackwall Tunnel and Wandsworth Bridge.

One driver, Steve Walshe said: “These new steamrollers can’t come soon enough.

“I can’t wait to see how these idiotic protests fall flat.”

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Drivers hunting fuel tail slurry tanker, get covered in manure

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Slurry tanker
Potato farmer Maurice Piper’s slurry tanker covered tailing motorists

By Ian Bred, Norfolk Correspondent

Drivers who thought a Norfolk slurry tanker was carrying petrol were covered in manure when they followed it into a field.

The motorists got a filthy shock when they were sprayed with the foul slurry just outside Dereham.

Cops say they had been following the tanker for three miles, thinking it was full of fuel and on its way to supply a local garage.

But even when it turned into a field, the Norfolk drivers still didn’t cotton on.

Potato farmer Maurice Piper said: “My tractor driver hadn’t seen the cars behind him and turned on the muck spreader.

“Very quickly, four cars were covered in you-know-what. Three managed to drive away, clearing the windscreen as they went.

“But one got stuck in the field. It was a convertible Audi and the driver was covered from head to toe.

“We towed her out once we had finished work.”

One of the hapless drivers was Bubba Spuckler, who lives in Downham Market with his sister and their seven children.

He told the Suffolk Gazette: “I didn’t mind, buh. I quite like the smell.”

Petrol Association spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “There are still some fuel supply problems in Norfolk.

“In some cases, motorists are driving around searching and this is what seems to have caused the slurry confusion.”

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How online bingo impacts the casino industry

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With a nearly 500-year history to call upon, it is fair to say that the iconic game of bingo has truly stood the test of time as a mainstream entertainment activity.

Bingo has evolved massively since it first saw light of day as an Italian lottery game during the 16th century to become a global phenomenon.

It was not until just before the First World War that bingo surfaced in the United States, but it soon found favour with millions of people.

The United Kingdom quickly latched on, and the game soon became the national pastime with bingo halls opening in towns and cities across the country.

Bingo was particularly popular with working class people, with many viewing the game as their main social activity each week.

Thigs began to change as the new millennium approached, with people turning away from the game as more exciting activities emerged.

However, the launch of the internet came just at the right time, allowing operators to develop bingo websites that have since gone from strength to strength.

The shift towards online bingo

Towards the end of the last century bingo’s reputation suffered a bit of bashing, with many land-based venues failing to move with the times.

The smoking ban and high taxation also impacted the industry, forcing many operators to rethink their business strategy moving forward.

The most innovative brands leveraged modern technology to their advantage by developing online sites that introduced the game to a new demographic.

While the first incarnations of bingo sites were fairly basic affairs, this did not stop them from becoming hugely popular with millions of players across the world.

People no longer had to rely on visiting bingo halls to play their favourite game, with digital devices providing them with easy access.

The 21st century bingo boom

It was estimated that around half a million people played bingo each day during its land-based boom years, highlighting the impact it made.

The shift towards online sites had a devastating impact on the industry, with around three-quarters of bingo venues in London alone forced to close their doors.

However, the online boom has been truly staggering, with analysts forecasting that the global market will be worth around $2 billion by 2022.

Interestingly, this has sparked a resurgence in people visiting brick-and-mortar venues, with the sector piggy-backing on the rise in interest in bingo.

The game has also infiltrated other entertainment areas such as bingo cruises and bingo raves, further heightening its popularity.

Marketing to a different audience

One of the most notable ways bingo has made an impact in recent years has been to power a significant growth in the number of females playing games online.

Many operators have expertly used gender specific marketing such as colour branding and tone of voice to specifically attract female players.

Although this can be viewed as tapping into traditional stereotypes, the marketing tactic has still proved to be hugely effective in recent years.

It is now estimated that around one-third of players at online casinos are female and that figure jumps significantly on bingo sites.

Slots are also particularly popular with female players, while poker and roulette are seeing a rise in the number of female players.

Embracing the social side of bingo

As previously mentioned, socialising was a hugely part of bingo when it gained traction in the US and UK during the last century.

Online operators recognised this at an early stage by incorporating chatroom facilities alongside all different games on their bingo sites.

This opened the door for friends or family to meet up online, or for players to interact with other like-minded individuals on the site.

Chatrooms are now part-and-parcel of most online casino games, with players able to engage with others on table games like poker and blackjack.

Live casino games also take their inspiration from the social element of gambling, allowing players to chat in real-time with other players or the dealer.

A new look for iGaming sites

Advancements in technology have provided iGaming operators and developers with the tools to push the boundaries of what is possible online.

It does not seem too long ago that gambling sites were split by genre – if you wanted to play bingo you visited a bingo site. For poker it had to be a poker site and so on.

Fast forward to today and the best brands incorporate different games into one site. For instance, 888ladies offers bingo, slots and more, making the site appealing to a wider audience.

Within that offering is a wide range of bingo games including exciting variants such as Flash Fives and Swedish Bingo.

Modern bingo and casino sites are effectively a one-stop-shop for your iGaming needs, providing you with endless hours of fun.

Bingo and the casino industry in the future

With online bingo on track to become a $2bn business in 2022, it is fair to say that the industry has never been in better shape.

As with many other sectors powered by tech, the landscape will undoubtedly to continue to evolve rapidly over the next few years.

Many operators have already experimented with virtual reality (VR) technology, and the hardware that supports this finally looks ready to live up to expectations.

Developers have worked tirelessly to create headsets that deliver a truly immersive experience, which could be an exciting development for bingo.

VR could be used to offer players the chance to play bingo in a virtual venue of their choosing, taking the gameplay experience to a whole new level.

Bungling fuel thief siphons motorhome toilet into his mouth

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Motorhome lavatory

By Hugh Dunnett, Crime Correspondent

A thief who tried to steal fuel from a motorhome got a shock when he put a hose in his mouth and siphoned off the contents of the toilet instead.

The culprit got a mouthful of the lavatory’s weekend contents rather than the diesel he was expecting to transfer to his container.

It is believed the thief was desperate for fuel after finding all local garages emptied by panic buyers.

Police were called when the owners of the motorhome, which was parked up in a private spot near Bawdsey, awoke to sounds of a man screaming and being sick in the layby outside.

Officers say the thief thought he was inserting one end of the hose through the fuel tank filler cap.

But in the darkness, he put it through the lavatory outlet cap instead.

“I think it’s fair to say he got a bit of a shock when he started sucking on the hose in order to begin the process of syphoning the fuel tank,” Sgt Lorraine Fisher, 34, of Suffolk Police, said.

“He got a load of human waste and chemicals and was sick instantly.

“What makes it worse – if that’s possible – is the couple inside the van had enjoyed a spicy curry and a few beers the day before.”

The couple, who were believed to be holidaying in Suffolk from Warwickshire, grabbed a torch and tried to catch the thief.

But he ran off through woods before police could arrive.

“He may have got away on the night, but we’re sure we’ll get to the bottom of it,” the police spokesman added.

The vehicle owner said: “I had a look around but he had gone. Had I got hold of him, I would have given him a real mouthful.

“People like him deserve everything they get – and he certainly got a taste of his own medicine.”

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers.