BLOCKED
SHOCKING RESULTS OF COLD-CALL CRACKDOWN Trial of device in vulnerable people’s homes intercepts 355k phone pests in 10 months
Nuisance callers bombarded vulnerable people with more than 355 ,0 0 0 unwanted approaches in the first 10 months of the year.
Cowboy traders hit the elderly and infirm with a series of cash cons, marketing campaigns and sales pitches, a shock Trading Standards probe has revealed.
Investigators analysed data collected from call blocking devices installed in the homes of more than 1000 victims in Scotland.
Their research revealed 355,788 calls were blocked between January and October this year.
The blockers, which cost around £100 each, were funded by the Scottish Government.
Specialists analysed a sample of just over 62,000 of calls intercepted during the eight months from January to August to reveal a disturbing upward trend.
Firms offering funding for energy efficiency measures under the Government’s defunct Green Deal scheme were the most persistent. They continue to promote boilers, double glazing, solar panels and insulation despite the Government pulling the plug on the scheme in 2015.
Age Scotland chief executive Brian Sloan said: “This figure is unfortunately not surprising.
“We know from calls to our helpline that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated deceptions to trick people into handing over personal details or money.”
Green Deal calls accounted for 47 per cent of the sample – a total of 29,472 calls from 102 different companies.
Repeat callers included the Home Savings Centre – who also used the name Warmer Homes Scotland.
A total of 6502 calls from these firms were registered by the blockers. Home Solutions – also called First Home Solutions – were responsible for 1805 calls. Home Efficiency Service –also called Home Efficiency Centre– registered 826 calls. Trading Standards said the callers were in breach of strict cold calling rules enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Fiona Richardson, chief officer for Trading Standards Scotland, said: “We’re working hard to stamp out the repeat offenders and protect the most vulnerable. “They’ re primarily calling numbers registered with opt-out scheme the Telephone Preference Service and that’s against the law.
“We believe they’ re simply generating sales calls for other firms who sell double glazing, boilers and the like.”
A shocking 18 per cent of the sample consisted of purely scam calls.
Investigators detected a Microsoft computer fraud which registered 2088 calls – a 19 per cent share of the sample.
A similar internet connection scam – where the caller advises that a target’s internet connection has been hacked – was responsible for 15 per cent of scam calls, a total of 1745.
Steve Smith of trueCall, who manufacture the call blocking device, added: “We believe that the blockers installed by Trading Standards will bring savings of £23million to the Scottish economy.
“The user simply collates a list of the numbers of people they want to talk to.”
Consumers will now be given the choice to opt-in to be contacted by companies offering to sel l payment protection insurance or settle personal injury claims. Previously they had to opt out. Businesses who call customers without their consent face fines of up to £500,000.
Cal l blockers are instal led routinely in East Renfrewshire for those living with dementia or a cognitive impairment.