The US Consulate has warned that scam letters are being circulated on the Island in a bid to trick people into giving out personal financial details.

The Consulate says a large number of Bermuda residents and businesses have received requests, purportedly from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for details such as passport numbers and bank details.

The fraudsters behind the requests are believed to be targeting non-resident aliens who have income from a US source. The information obtained through the practice ? known as "phishing" ? is then used to steal the taxpayer's identity and financial assets.

In this particular scam which is also affecting Caribbean countries ? a fake IRS Form W-8BEN is sent with correspondence claiming to be from the IRS.

This says that the recipient will be taxed at the maximum rate unless he or she gives personal and financial data, but the genuine form does not ask for such information.

Anyone suspecting that they have received a scam letter should report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration by calling the fraud hotline on 1-800-366-4484.

Police are investigating a report of a break-in at St Patrick's Church Rectory in Smith's parish.

Officers attended the premises at 5.30pm on Monday. They were told by the complainant that some time between 11.30 a.m. and 3.45 p.m. that day, an unknown culprit had entered the office and stolen $10 worth of coins.

Inquiries are underway into the incident.

Bids have been invited from community organisations, individuals and schools for funding in support of environment projects.

The cash has been made available by the UK Government's Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP.)

The programme was launched in 2003 with $5.4million available for projects across the Overseas Territories.

Bermuda made three successful bids in the first two rounds of the funding process including the Somerset Long Bay Nature Reserve restoration enhancement and long-term management plan.

The third round is now ready to receive bids, with the deadline for applications being November 30. Further information, and application forms can be accessed via the OTEP website at www.ukotcf.org.

An underage bike rider was fined $600 for driving dangerously on Church Street.

Jahlaria Samuels, 17 of Princess Street, Pembroke, was also fined $100 for not having a driver's licence on the same date ? July 22, 2005.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said in Magistrates' Court yesterday that at 12.45 p.m., Police were travelling east on Church Street when they spotted a black Honda overtaking traffic on the nearside of the road.

"The cycle popped a wheelie and struck a car in the left lane," Ms Dill said. "It veered into the centre of the road and popped another wheelie."

Traffic in both lanes had to veer away from the centre to avoid him, she said.

When traffic slowed for the traffic lights at the junction of Burnaby Hill and Church Street, she said Samuels nearly lost control of his cycle.

Police stopped him at the traffic lights and discovered he was underage.

Samuels changed his plea to guilty yesterday and Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him a total of $700.

The Minister of Community Affairs and Sport yesterday reminded everyone who works with children to attend a Youth Leadership Course at the Bermuda College today at 6 p.m.

Minister Dale Butler said in a release that the course is designed to provide youth workers with knowledge and skills necessary to develop our young people.

It said the course is a highly interactive one which will discuss issues such as? community leadership in Bermuda, communications and learning styles, critical youth related issues, adolescent and youth development, professional standards of practice, ethics and project development.

Persons interested in taking the course may telephone Calvin Ming at the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation 295-0855 at extension 4299.

"A wide range of participants have registered already for this course?from teachers and youth workers to law enforcement personal," it said.

There is good news for job-hunters looking to spread their wings and take off in a high-flying job at Bermuda International Airport.

Flight bosses are searching for a cheery Skycap ? a vital post in the terminal hub, providing kerb and carousel luggage services for passengers jetting in and out of the Island.

Terminal manager Mike Osborne said it was a key role to fill because the first impressions of visitors were vital.

"Skycaps can be the first and the last Bermudians a visitor will have a conversation with, so it's very important that they have customer service skills," he said. "They are quite rare at bigger airports. But as this is a first class resort island we have to provide first class service."

Mr. Osborn said the post was being advertised because a Skycap had left the team of 12.

A job advertisement states the successful applicant, along with the airport's other Skycaps, would be responsible for ensuring enough baggage carts are available for passengers.

The advertisement, placed by the Department of Airport Operations, added that applicants must have a good academic grounding and a comprehensive understanding of front of house operations at the airport.

Other attributes include excellent customer service skills, reliability and the ability to work unsupervised. The Skycap must also be physically fit ? to lift tourists' bulky suitcases ? and be willing to work holidays, weekends and night shifts.

The successful Skycap will take home $558 per week ? and after that the sky's the limit to a career in tourism.

A Spanish Point boat operator who asked Police to ticket him because his father would have it pulled, was fined over $1000 for failing to have onboard safety equipment.

Kevin John Fox, 20 of Abri Lane, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to six counts of marine negligence on July 3, 2005 in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said at 1.30 a.m. on Sunday July 3, Marine Police saw Fox near Dockyard with a boatload of three people without running lights.

Police issued tickets after they discovered there were no lights, life jackets, oars, bailer, sound producing equipment or flashlight on board Fox's craft, she said.

Ms Dill told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Fox told the officers: "I've had loads of tickets, my father just gets them pulled."

Mr. Warner fined Fox $180 on all six counts, for a total fine of $1080, adding: "I'm sorry I do not know your father nor you."

A Police Service spokesman said yesterday Fox's father was not a Police Officer.