In the last week we have received calls for cold callers attending properties across the Warrington area.
In Latchford individuals claiming to be from British Gas attended 2 addresses claiming they were there to service the occupant’s boiler, in both instances the residents contacted their landlord to confirm they had arranged any work, after confirming that no services had been booked the individuals were denied access to the properties.
In the Fearnhead area, a male attended the address of an elderly lady claiming to be a rat catcher working for the local housing trust, the has offered to check to lady’s drains and charged £128 for the service. After checking with the housing trust, they confirmed there were no contractors working in the area and this was a scam.
We always advise residents to be wary of unexpected visitors, if someone claims to be acting on behalf of a utility company, housing trust or landlord and you are not expecting them, refuse access to your property and contact the organisation directly via a number found on their website (not one given by the caller) to confirm their legitimacy, if they are not legitimate please let us know via 101.
Please remember to always check ID if genuine appointments have been made before letting anyone into your home.
Cold Callers often target elderly or vulnerable people, for this reason we would also ask residents to keep an eye on neighbours as this is a crucial step in protecting vulnerable individuals from scams.
Residents can help their neighbours by using the Nominated Neighbour Scheme, this helps vulnerable residents by having a trusted neighbour verify callers and accompany them into the home. This scheme aims to deter doorstep crime and scams, providing a layer of safety and security.
Residents can also set up a Neighbour Watch within their community to help reduce crime, for more information go to: https://orlo.uk/T8iuy
We also have a number of No Cold Caller stickers available, please DM if you would like one. |