McArthur backs new nuisance calls campaign

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has thrown his support behind a new campaign to tackle nuisance calls, following the latest report of bogus calls to Orkney residents.

The campaign to prevent nuisance calls in Scotland is being led by the consumer rights charity, Which?, who are calling on the Scottish Government to publish an action plan on how it will cut off nuisance calls.

In recent weeks, residents in Orkney have received bogus calls claiming to be from BT. The callers have claimed that there is a computer fault which they need to access remotely.

Mr McArthur said: “In recent weeks I have been made aware of constituents being targeted by callers claiming to be from BT.

“Recent storms have caused phone and broadband problems in various parts of the county and doubtless fraudsters have seen an opportunity to exploit often very vulnerable people in Orkney. This behaviour is absolutely despicable.”

Statistics published by Which? revealed that nine out of ten Scots received a nuisance call on their landline phone and that three quarters had been discouraged from answering the phone as a result.

Mr McArthur added: “Despite various initiatives over the years, this harassment seems to continue unabated and requires further, urgent action. That is why I am backing calls by Which? for legislation to hold board level executives to account and to see Caller Line Identification made mandatory, enabling consumers to report companies of wrong doing.

“These are moves that would command support across the parliament and with the wider public.”