Warning as bogus callers use local numbers

Following reports of a number of telephone scams today, Orkney Islands Council’s trading standards team is advising the public to be aware of bogus callers.

Callers have claimed to be phoning on behalf of BT and Lows Solicitors and the calls may carry the 01856 prefix on caller identification.

Trading standards has issued advice, telling the public to be wary about disclosing any personal or financial information over the phone as it is very rare that any legitimate business will want this.

BT is warning their customers that the scammers may try to convince you them that they have a fault or virus on their computer and may try to scare them by suggesting that their computer will stop working if they fail to take action and sign up for the services they’re offering.

BT is advising customers never to give out any banking details over the phone unless they are absolutely certain who they are dealing with and , if there is any doubt, the customer can call into BT via the number on their most recent bill.

Lows Solicitors has also advised that they do not cold call clients and would only contact someone from their main office number, 873151.

Some top tips from trading standards, regarding bogus callers, are:

• Ask to call the business back and see what number they give you. Do not phone them back immediately, wait a minute or so, to get around the bogus callers who do not hang up when the initial call is terminated in the hope that the consumer will immediately phone the number they have been given.

• If money is requested be extremely careful particularly if it is asked for by bank transfer or via agencies such as Western Union or Moneygram.

• Be wary of “local rate numbers” which are numbers which appear on caller displays with the Orkney STD 01856, usually followed by 47. People answer these thinking the caller is in Orkney but the caller can be anywhere in the world.

• Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and Silent Callguard. Trading Standards can supply their details on request.

• Consider a call blocking service or device. Again Trading Standards can supply details of these, and indeed for the most vulnerable in our community they have a small stock that we can supply and install free of charge.

• If in doubt, report the call to Trading Standards on 873535, who will check it out.