SCAM CALLERS!

There were reports of ‘bogus’ callers in Cookhill last month. The workmen told residents that they were calling on behalf of Severn Trent Water and, although they showed identification, the lack of prior notification caused some concern, particularly as they were requesting access to property. These visits were reported to the Police, who investigated and ascertained that the callers were, in fact, genuine.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case, so West Mercia Police have issued the following advice, should you be suspicious;

Anyone who calls at your door should have some form of identification. You are well within your rights to ask for this and make a note of their details.
Never give out banking or personal details to anyone you’re unsure about. If you can’t be certain if a visitor is genuinely who they say they are, ask them to come back at a later date. This gives you time to verify their identity and perhaps also arrange for a relative or friend to be there.
Remember, it’s ok to tell visitors you’re not interested or ask them to leave if you aren’t comfortable. Legitimate visitors will understand.
Finally, if you suspect fraud, please contact the Police. The methods fraudsters use can be extremely clever – there’s no shame in having been caught out!

Online Scams

There are also a number of scam calls doing the rounds, these request access to your computer remotely, claiming that BT will shut down your connection if you do not do this. Another reports that your internet connection will be terminated if you do not click through to another department.

Please remember that if a caller asks to access your computer remotely, or asks for personal information and bank details, you should end the call immediately and use another method to verify the request.

For more information on how to stay safe online, and to report fraud and cyber crime, please visit the Action Fraud website.