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26 - Beat the bogus caller
Residents in Dudley are being urged to help beat the bogus caller by following a few simple steps.
Dudley Council’s trading standards officers are making the appeal as part of the national Rogue Trader Week.
In recent months, trading standards officers at Dudley Council say police have informed them of 18 incidents of people knocking on doors across the borough claiming to be water board officials.
Officers are keen to highlight the importance of checking identification cards before people enter the property. Residents should also keep a list of official telephone numbers for utility companies so they can verify callers’ visits.
Water companies such as Severn Trent and South Staffs operate password schemes as a security measure against unofficial cold-callers.
Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environment and culture, said:
“Unfortunately many people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, do become the victims of bogus scams operating across the country.
“There is no such thing as a water board and it would be highly unlikely that a water company official would need access to the house as it can be controlled from outside.
“People can help protect themselves from becoming a victim by taking a few precautionary measures such as checking identification of anyone calling at the property, or signing up to one of these password schemes with the individual water companies.”
Figures show between April 2007 and March 2008 there were 90 bogus caller incidents across Dudley. Between April this year and mid June there have been 18.
The council also has a bogus caller hotline where people can ring to report incidents. The number is 01384 812045 and is available 24 hours a day.
Trading standards works closeley with West Midlands Police, housing officials, social services representatives and charities on the distraction burglary network group.
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