Officers in the Clay Cross area issue advice on nuisance, scam and unwanted phone calls
Our officers who work in Clay Cross, Wingerworth, Holmewood, North Wingfield and the surrounding areas are raising awareness about how to deal with nuisance or unwanted phone calls following concerns from some of their local residents.
It is after a number of people have said they regularly receive phone calls which cause them worry and distress, some of them scams and some from marketing companies.
Recent telephone scams reported to us have included telephone calls from a scammer claiming to be a Derbyshire police officer, and demanding money for an unpaid tax bill which would lead to their arrest if it was not paid.
There have also been reports of people receiving calls from NHS workers, who have been asking people for their personal details.
PCSO Mario Montisci said: “There are very few people who don’t own or have access to a mobile phone or landline, and I think most people would say they have received nuisance or unwanted calls or messages at some point.
“For some of our residents, especially older or more vulnerable people, they cause quite a bit of concern, with calls ranging from unsolicited sales call through to fraudulent phone calls where they attempt to get the victim’s personal details and money.”
When answering the phone to someone who you don’t know and are not expecting to call, you should:
Never give out personal or financial information (such as your bank account details or your PIN) over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from your bank.
Hang up if you feel harassed or intimidated. If the caller talks over you without giving you a chance to speak, end the call. It may feel rude, but you have the right not to be pressurised into anything.
If you're unsure whether the caller is genuine, you can always ring the company or bank they claim to be from. Make sure you find the number yourself and don’t use the one provided by the caller.
Don't be rushed. Scammers will try to rush you into providing your personal details. They may say they have time-limited offer or claim your bank account is at risk if you don't give them the information they need right away.
There are also some steps you can take to avoid getting nuisance or unwanted calls. The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free service which allows you to opt out of any unsolicited live telesales calls. This should reduce the number of cold calls you receive but may not block scammers. You could also talk to your phone provider about any call blocking or privacy features that they offer.
PCSO Montisci added: “By sharing some advice and information on how to handle calls we hope to prevent people from becoming a victim of crime, and also help to potentially reduce some of the distress caused.”
To register for the Telephone Preference Service visit www.tpsonline.org.uk and click register, or for a mobile phone text 'TPS' and your email address to 85095.
If you are concerned that you have been contacted by a fraudster, or have been a victim of a scam phone call please contact us on 101, and report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 20 40 or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
Age UK offer more advice and information on the issue online at www.ageuk.co.uk.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| New Belper Community Recovery Space opens to offer additional support Derbyshire County Council is funding a new Belper based recovery space to give people a place to get additiona read more | |
| Chester Zoo and DCG Offer Apprenticeship Opportunities For Tomorrow's Wildlife Champions Following the ongoing success of an innovative Level 3 Keeper and Aquarist Apprenticeship Pr read more | |
| News Have you seen missing girl Megan From Ripley Have you seen Megan? The 15-year-old has been reported missing from her home in Ripley. read more | |
| A night at the museum for the 5th Dronfield Hilltop Cubs Great British Car Journey, the award-winning classic car museum in Ambergate, Derbyshire, hosted the pack for a very special read more | |
| Alfreton chapel with planning for redevelopment as two homes goes under the hammer The former Methodist chapel in the village of Westhouses near Alfreton is to go up for auction thi read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Cold Callers claiming to be working on behalf of Derbyshire County Council Policehave seen and increase in reports of 'cold callers' where people are claiming to be working on behal read more | |
| Subscriptions For Amber Valley Borough Councils 2024 Garden Waste Service Are Now Open The garden waste collection service is available to all residents in Amber Valley except for r read more | |
| Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley Mobile networks are being improved in Ripley boosting the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area. read more | |
| Trent Barton Buses - Extension Of The £2 Single Fare Cap Trent Barton Buses have confirmed their participation in the extension of the £2 single fare cap until the end o read more | |
| Crich Tramway Village Looking For An Engineering Manager The successful candidate for this post will have excellent management skills gained whilst working in a practical workshop e read more | |
