Dear Watch Member,
Trading Standards is warning about telephone fraudsters mis-selling insurance for appliances. They claim to be from an insurance company and tell you that the warranty, for example on your fridge, has run out. They say they can renew it for you over the phone. Payment is taken and you may be sent paperwork. However it is a fraud. If your fridge breaks down, there will be no replacement or repair. Next year they will contact you again; what you thought was payment for 3 years was only for one year.
We advise that you don’t buy goods or services over the phone from a cold caller. With no chance to do your own checks, you don’t know if the call is genuine or if the price is a good one. In some cases, it would be cheaper to buy a new item than to buy the warranty.
To help protect yourself from these and similar calls:
For mobile phones, let callers who aren’t in your address book go straight to voicemail.
For landlines, contact your provider and ask for free caller display – if you can see who’s calling and it’s a number you don’t recognise, you will be on your guard immediately.
Contact your phone provider and ask if they offer free call blocking services. BT, Sky and Talk Talk are among providers who offer this service.
Keep your phone on answerphone during the day. Scammers won’t leave you a message. If you’re at home and hear someone genuine leaving a message, you can pick up the phone.
You can buy landline phones with built-in call blockers. Callers must say their name before you speak with them or not. You can also buy call blocking boxes that fit to an existing phone. They range in price, so think about what you need. These are available at all good retailers and online.
For advice on how to protect yourself from different types of fraud, go to www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/.
If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]
Regards,
Lee O’Brien
Pinner Safer Neighbourhood Team
Email: [email protected]