Shetland Islands Council is warning local residents to be on their guard against scam phone calls about community alarm or home link systems.
“One of our clients alerted us after someone phoned them claiming that they could offer a free community alarm, with the caller saying they wanted to arrange to come out and set this up,” says Charlotte Weaver, Lead Occupational Therapist. “Any contact about an alarm, or other telecare support system, provided as part of a care at home package will come through the Community Health and Social Care Service. If you are unsure about any communication regarding community alarms, you can contact the Community Occupational Therapy team on 01595 744319 to check whether or not it was from us.”
David Marsh, Team Leader – Trading Standards added: “Scam calls of many kinds continue to be a nuisance for folk, with the ever-present danger that one of these criminals may hit upon just the right topic to defraud another victim. The best defence against them is a call blocker unit, which plugs into an existing phone line and can work alongside broadband and any other installed devices such as care alarms. Thanks to national funding, we can put this valuable protection in place for you or someone close to you.”
To request a free call blocker phone Trading Standards on 01595 744887 or email trading.standards@shetland.gov.uk
Notes for editors
- Advice for consumers and businesses, on scams or on any other Trading Standards matter, is always available at www.shetland.gov.uk/tradingstandards, by calling 01595 744887, or in person at the Council’s offices at 8 North Ness.
- Trading Standards have packs containing advice to help people deal with cold callers (whether at the door, on the phone, or by post or email), and to support family, friends or neighbours who may be more susceptible to the high pressure tactics which are often employed.
- The call blocking units available are trueCall Secure+ that filters unwanted scam and nuisance phone calls to prevent them from reaching a landline phone.
- The National Trading Standards Scams Team Call Blocker Project 2019-20 (PDF) concluded that “call blockers are an effective way to prevent scam and nuisance calls and help protect members of the public who receive scam calls. Most importantly, it is evident that installing a unit is an effective way to improve wellbeing and build consumer confidence.”
- Bournemouth University (National Centre of Post-Qualifying Social Work) conducted research (PDF) on wellbeing that concluded that “Older people, those who self-identify as vulnerable, and individuals who live alone are most likely to benefit from the installation of a call blocker….”