Call blocking equipment has prevented almost 100 scams

Blocking equipment installed on phones belonging to older and more vulnerable Angus residents has prevented 81,643 nuisance calls from getting through.

Angus Council installed 154 trueCall units free of charge to phones since 2013, with the aim of preventing scam calls from reaching their intended targets.

The protected phones received around 41 calls per month, two times the national average, with 99% being blocked.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with families saying it has allowed elderly relatives to live in their own homes for longer, reduced their fear of cold calls and improved their quality of life.

It is estimated the project has prevented almost 100 scams and made estimated savings of £327,739 in Angus.

When savings to households, NHS and health and social care costs is taken into consideration, the council said the call blockers will deliver a saving of £1,518,531 during their five-year lifespan, against an outlay of £23,870.

Mark Hodgkinson, adult protection and review officer for the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The scale of the problem with scammers is massive.

“We’re proud of what we have done locally. Angus Council is still the only local authority in Scotland to have a formal policy on financial harm. The savings made by the installation of the trueCall devices represent a very clear indication of our determination to do all we can to protect people from this persisting menace.”

If you know of any vulnerable adult at risk contact the AccessLine 03452 777 778.