Block the scammers
Residents who are at high risk of becoming victims of telephone scams are being protected by call blockers.
Research has found that, on average, older high-risk residents receive 30 nuisance and scam calls per month – higher than the national household average.
Since 2012, East Renfrewshire Council’s Trading Standards Team has installed 943 truCall call blockers to protect older and vulnerable residents.
The blockers are part of the council’s Confidence at Home package designed to keep residents safe from predatory fraudsters.
A total of 874,067 nuisance and scam phone calls have been blocked to date, with an estimated 994 scams prevented. This is expected to have saved vulnerable households approximately £3,602,652.
Councillor Alan Lafferty, convener for environment, said: “Ca l l b l o c k i n g technology is especially beneficial to our older and most vulnerable residents who may be receiving high numbers of unwanted nuisance calls, or have been a victim of a scam, so it’s great that these intelligent devices have been able to block so many calls since they have been introduced in East Renfrewshire.
“Call blockers are provided free of charge on an indefinite loan and can help many people continue to live independently at home, whilst easing family members and friends’ concerns.”
If you or a family member are receiving high numbers of nuisance calls, visit www. eastrenfrewshire. gov. u k / c a l l - b l o c k e r s, phone 0141 577 8487 or email tradingstandards@ eastrenfrewshire. gov. uk to apply for a free call blocker.