Tis the season to rip off the elderly

THIS is the time of year when scams on the elderly increase – so look out for your loved ones.

A reader called Ken wrote to me this week about his 92-year-old grandad Bill, who has lost more than £500 to a conman.

Bill had a knock at the door from the man, who said he was from the “UK Energy Saving Association”.

He said his organisation was mandated by the Government to help to reduce electricity bills for the elderly and it had a special winter discount scheme running.

He then produced a small black device f rom his bag and said it was an energy saving gadget which would plug into Bill’s electricity meter.

Unravelled

The man then showed Bill a chart and claimed that it demonstrated how the device would reduce his electricity bill by 40 per cent.

Ken, of Lancaster, told me Bill did not understand any of the technicalities the man was saying.

But Ken said his grandad did appreciate the opportunity to save 40 per cent on his bills.

Bill thought the “Government” was giving him the chance to make a huge saving, so he said he wanted to proceed.

He was then presented with a rogue invoice for £149.99, which the conman said had to be paid immediately for the 12- month rental of the device.

Bill was then told that the monthly amount payable was £ 12.99, which he could reduce to £ 10 if he paid 12 months in advance.

So this fraudster took off with £269.99 of Bill’s pension.

In return, Bill saved nothing on his electricity bill. But this story gets worse. A year after his first visit the same man called on Bill and sold him another 12 months rental, taking another £269.99 off him.

The next day Bill’s electricity provider came his house to do a meter reading, during which the representative spotted the device Bill had taped to the meter.

From here the whole scam was unravelled and it transpired that the “energy saving device” was really an internet router.

So please tell your elderly friends and family never to buy anything from someone who arrives on their doorstep.