Beware of People Exploiting Those Trying To Protect Themselves

During this period of uncertainty regarding Covid-19, it has become apparent to Neighbourhood Watch Scotland that there are some people who are taking advantage of the situation and are targeting the most vulnerable. Although we appreciate the concern that is being caused by the outbreak, please continue to be cautious when dealing with callers at the door, unwanted phones calls and emails.

If everyone can tell 2 people about the following recent developments in their next phone conversation with a friend or neighbour, the message will soon reach all corners of the community.

This is a worldwide pandemic and no legitimate organisation will contact you out of the blue and ask for payment for information or access to treatment which does not exist. We are hearing reports of emails and phone calls asking for donations to help those in need during this time, or offering miracle cures, and door to door campaigns offering testing. Also, please be aware that the Red Cross are NOT doing door to door testing as has been suggested in some areas. Continue reading “Beware of People Exploiting Those Trying To Protect Themselves”

Fraudsters claiming to be from BT

Some BT customers are being contacted by individuals fraudulently claiming to be from BT or acting on behalf of BT.
Please be very careful as criminals have been trying to trick customers into giving out their bank details.

• They might try to convince you that you owe money on your bill and threaten to disconnect your phone line immediately if you don’t pay them over the phone. BT will never disconnect a phone line during the call
• They might say that you have a fault or virus on your computer and then try to scare you by suggesting that your computer will stop working if you don’t take action. They then try to persuade or coerce you into installing software, or ask you to perform commands on your computer with the intention of gaining remote access to your device
These fraudsters ‘spoof’ the number they’re calling from so if you dial 1471 you might see a fictitious number that masks the real destination. They may also offer you a call-back number to confirm the legitimacy of their call and will then answer as if you’re calling BT.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a phone scam or are concerned about the security of your accounts, please see BT Scams advice to see who to contact.