Countywide cold caller warning

25 January 2012

Police are urging residents to be cautious when dealing with telephone callers after a 90-year-old woman received a call from a woman claiming to be from an alarm company who was offering to install burglar alarms free of charge.

The 90-year-old, who lives in the Suffolk  Coastal area, received the call on Monday 23 January and the cold caller said the company was installing them in the area this week.

The 90-year-old was suspicious and continued to question the woman who then stated that they would require a payment of £119 and they would like to visit her. The smart 90-year-old told the woman calling she thought it was a scam and ended the call.

She then alerted police to make officers aware of the call as she was concerned others may fall for similar offers and be hit with hidden charges.

Police are praising her actions and are urging all residents to be cautious when dealing with cold callers.

Crime reduction officer Bruce Granger said; “This does sound like a scam or at the very least sharp business practice. Any offer of free installations are suspicious and should be treated with some caution. Companies do not generally operate for free. At the very least a free installation will be subject to a contract for ongoing monthly or annual payments.

If you are considering installing a burglar alarm there is a National Register of NSI (National Security Inspectorate) approved security installers which will give details of installers in your area – see www.nsi.org.uk if you have internet access or contact your local crime reduction officer, by calling police on 101, who will be able to advise.”