A warning has been issued after an elderly and vulnerable resident paid £99 to fraudsters for a useless and potentially dangerous ‘plug-in' energy saving device [22 June 2012]
The fraudster contacted the elderly woman by telephone claiming to be from her energy supplier.
The caller offered her a plug-in device which they claimed would reduce her energy bills by 40 per cent. This
is a known scam, which has caused elderly and vulnerable customers up
and down the country to give out their bank details over the phone.
The caller always appears to be very
credible because they provide the consumer's details and, on occasions,
some or all of the digits of their debit or credit card. Payment for the
device is taken over the phone.
A few days later, the consumer will
receive a small grey plastic plug-in device, circle on the front with
the following wording: "Intelligent energy saver electricity-saving box
the result is the best".
Be wary of cold callers
This particular fraud happened in
Leicestershire. As fraudsters move and change the geographical areas
they operate in, all UK residents should also be vigilant about this
type of fraud.
David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council's Trading Standards Service said:
"Unscrupulous criminals are using the
rise in energy prices as an opportunity to con people - elderly people
seem to have been deliberately targeted.''
"If a device has been received
consumers should not use it as it poses a potential fire risk. Consumers
should never give out any personal financial information over the
telephone to unknown callers".
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040
