Telephone scams

Our research has shown that the main type of scam experienced by our older people is telephone scams. Almost three quarters of attempted scams start with a telephone call.

Fortunately, there are some common ways that you can spot and avoid a telephone scam.

Top tips to spot a telephone scam

• You are being asked for money for what you are being offered.
• You are being pressurised to respond quickly.
• You are being asked to transfer money into someone else’s bank account, or into an account abroad.
• The offer sounds too good to be true, such as winning the lottery.
• You are being encouraged or pressurised to do, or to buy, something that is different to the original offer.
• You are being contacted by unknown or foreign phone numbers.
• You are being encouraged to keep your conversation a secret from family and friends.
• You are asked to provide personal and / or secret information such as your PIN.
• You are called, but when you answer the message is pre-recorded.
• You are being asked to make an investment.

Top tips to avoid a telephone scam

• Never give out any personal information or your bank details.
• Say “no” to people who pressurise you and hang up the phone.
• Do not answer the phone when a withheld or unrecognisable phone number is displayed on your screen. If you have an answerphone on your landline, or voicemail on your mobile, you can use it to screen your calls.
• Get a caller ID device. This will help you to avoid unrecognised calls, but it is important to remember that some scammers can appear as a legitimate company or organisation.
• Use a call blocker. Some phones have call blocking features to stop unwanted calls. If yours doesn’t, you can use a separate call blocker which comes pre-programmed with known nuisance numbers. Some call blockers allow you to add numbers to that list when you get a nuisance or scam call.
• Join the free Telephone Preference Service (TPS). This should cut the number of cold calls you receive, though it won’t necessarily block all scammers. TPS has a free service to stop cold calls to mobile phones too. You can learn more at tpsonline.org.uk or by calling 0345 070 0707.
• Report any scams. Forward unwanted texts to 7726 for free so that your mobile phone provider can flag potential scams.