25/04/24
Welcome to the latest edition of the Scam Share bulletin.
Stay Scam Aware and please keep sharing any relevant information in this bulletin with friends and family.
As part of the nationwide Shut out Scammers campaign, a Scam Awareness van will be travelling around the country over the next couple of months. There will be a variety of community engagement and information events to raise awareness of doorstep crime. The van will be around the Glasgow area from 15-26 April. Keep an eye on our social media channels to find out when it will be near you!
Suspicious Text Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message you can forward it to 7726. The free-of-charge ‘7726’ service enables your provider to investigate and take action if malicious content is found.
Recently Reported Scams
Doorstep Scams: Reducing Bills
The Scam
This week, the Shut Out Scammers campaign is focused on doorstep scams linked to the cost of living crisis and rising energy bills.
Scammers continue to provide misleading information about services and products, saying that they will save money on energy bills or increase the value of your house.
One couple was visited by a rogue trader who offered to provide thermal roof coating, saying it would save them hundreds of pounds on their energy bills.
He charged them over £2,000 and took a £500 deposit. He then simply power washed the roof and left the property.
He did not provide any contact details and the couple were unable to get in touch to ask for a refund.
Just this week another cold caller told a householder that she could be eligible for a government subsidy for a 'thermal render' on her property. He said this would lower her energy bills and offered her a time-limited deal of £1,200. He implied that he was working on behalf of the local council.
The householder agreed to pay a £600 deposit - the scammer left to get materials and didn't return to carry out the work.
How to Avoid
Any unsolicited trader who offers to carry out work on your property must give you their business name and address.
Don't agree to let a cold caller start work straight away - do plenty of research into their company and, if something doesn’t look right, don’t deal with them
Rather than dealing with cold callers, find traders who have been vetted through a national or local authority approved trader scheme at www.approvedtrader.scot.
If a cold caller says they are working for or on behalf of your local council, ask them to wait and phone the council using a publicly listed number to verify their identity. Genuine callers will be happy to wait while you do this.
Report any suspicious behaviour to Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency. If you have concerns about a purchase that you have made, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or via scamwatch.scot.
Find out More
Find traders in Scotland who have been vetted by Trading Standards:www.trustedtrader.scot
The Scam
There has been a recent increase in cold calls from companies offering solar panel servicing or wrongly telling people that they need to repair or upgrade their solar inverters or renew their warranty.
One man was visited by a company who told him his existing solar panels needed to be replaced urgently due to a risk of fire. The salesperson tried to convince him to agree to have new panels installed, at a huge expense.
The man was worried, but contacted another company for a second opinion before agreeing to have any work carried out. The second company, who were MCS-certified, told him that there were no issues with his existing solar panels and that they did not pose any risk to his property.
Another cold caller offered to complete a free survey of a couple's existing solar panel system. He told them there was a fault with the system and offered to repair it for £1,500. Again, there was nothing wrong with the system.
How to Avoid If a cold caller tells you that your solar panels need to be serviced or that you need a new inverter, double check with the manufacturer first.
If you are concerned about your existing solar panels or any other energy saving measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than cold callers or online adverts. Have an impartial assessment carried out to determine which energy saving measures will actually benefit your home.
You can do this by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visiting www.homeenergyscotland.org - they also offer free and impartial information about energy saving measures.
Always take time to think before making a decision - don't agree to make any payments for goods or services on the spot.
Do plenty of research - get at least 3 quotes and check 3 review sites. Find companies/contractors who are MCS-certified at https://mcscertified.com
The Scam
Several people have recently received letters and leaflets which say that their property's energy performance rating is 'highly inefficient'.
They say that energy efficiency measures such as insulation, solar panels, heat pumps and heating upgrades are available for free to local residents through government grants if they suffer from a range of medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, mobility issues, cancer, cardiac conditions or even high cholesterol.
The letters include a stamp saying 'Trading Standards Approved' and in some cases mention the local council and the ECO4 scheme.
Residents are asked to call an 0800 number or to email their contact details 'to book a free energy assessment'.
These letters are usually designed to collect data and generate leads for companies who may go on to cold call you and provide misleading information about energy efficiency products and available grants. You may be told that you are eligible to receive funding, but be asked to pay a deposit or take out a loan.
How to Avoid If you receive a similar letter or cold call, double check your home's energy performance before agreeing to have a survey carried out or purchasing any energy efficiency measures. Scottish homeowners can find the EPC for their property via the Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register at www.scottishepcregister.org.uk
Many councils do offer funding and grants for energy products to eligible households. If a letter, email or cold caller says that you are eligible for a grant or funding for energy efficiency improvements in your home, such as new boilers, insulation, heating or windows, always verify that their offer is valid before agreeing to any deal.
You can do this by calling Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 or visiting www.homeenergyscotland.org - they will be able to tell you about any funding available in your area. They also offer free and impartial information about energy saving measures.
If you are thinking about installing energy efficiency measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than trusting cold callers or online adverts.
The Scam
Citizens Advice Scotland has warned that people have recently received cold calls from someone posing as an adviser from their local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). The caller offers debt advice and asks for bank details.
How to Avoid The Citizens Advice network in Scotland doesn’t cold call people. They will only phone people they are already supporting or those who have left their details to ask for advice.
If you receive an unsolicited call supposedly from a Citizens Advice Bureau, it is a scam.
If you receive an unexpected call from Citizens Advice Scotland, hang up and do not give the caller any details. If you are unsure whether or not the call is genuine, phone the CAS helpline on 0800 028 1456 or find your local CAB contact number on their website.
The Scam
There has been a huge rise in reports of rogue traders who cold call and offer a 'free' loft survey, then go on to provide misleading information about the safety of householders' existing insulation.
One couple was visited by a salesperson who told them that having spray foam insulation installed would make their home more energy efficient.
They agreed to go ahead with the work, but when independent experts later inspected their loft, they found that the spray foam was poor quality and incorrectly installed, trapping moisture in the roof boards and causing them to rot.
They also warned that the roof could collapse if the foam was not removed as soon as possible. Watch their story here.
Another woman in her 80s was cold called and offered a free loft survey. The salesperson told her that her existing insulation was causing lethal black mould, that could have contributed to the recent death of her husband. He showed her videos purporting to be of her loft, which had actually been recorded in another property. She felt pressured into agreeing to have the insulation installed and is currently trying to obtain a refund from the company after contacting Home Energy Scotland, who told her that spray foam insulation was not recommended for her loft. Watch her story here.
Some consumers who have had spray foam insulation installed are also now being targeted by cold callers who say they are working with the government to do checks on the work carried out. They say they will check for dampness and will make sure the insulation has been installed correctly using the correct materials.
How to Avoid Don't deal with cold callers who offer a 'free' loft inspection - they may try to sell you energy saving or home improvement measures that you don’t actually need and which won’t provide any benefit.
If you are shown pictures of mould in your roof space, or are told about serious defects in your house, get a second opinion before starting any work.
If you are concerned about your existing insulation or any other energy saving measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than cold callers or online adverts. Have an impartial assessment carried out to determine which energy saving measures will actually benefit your home.
Always take time to think before making a decision - don't agree to make any payments for goods or services on the spot.
Do plenty of research - get at least 3 quotes and check 3 review sites. If you need to call a trader for emergency repair work, find someone who has been vetted through a national or local authority approved trader scheme.
Home Energy Scotland offer free and impartial advice on energy saving measures and information about funding available in your area - call them free on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.
The Scam
There are regular reports from across Scotland of cold callers who say they are selling goods door-to-door as part of an 'ex-offender rehabilitation scheme'.
Some callers say they have just been released from prison or a young offenders institution and are selling goods to try and make some money before starting a college course.
Others claim that they are ex-servicemen suffering from PTSD and are selling items on behalf of the British Legion.
They typically offer goods such as household cleaning products, gardening equipment or craft supplies. Some may ask for donations for ex-prisoners. If a householder does not have cash, the cold caller may provide bank account details so that they can transfer money.
Although some of these cold callers show some form of ID card, they often don't have a pedlar's certificate or a licence from the police to allow them to sell door-to-door in the local area. The goods they offer are usually of poor quality and overpriced.
How to Avoid
Never feel obliged to answer the door to a cold caller – it is your home and you should not let anyone in unless you feel comfortable.
If you do answer the door, verify that the person is genuine and take a note of the company’s details. ID cards can be faked – close the door and, rather than phoning the number on the ID card, look up the company’s number on their official website or in an official phone directory to check their identity. Legitimate callers will be happy to wait while you perform these checks.
If you feel uncomfortable or suspicious about a cold caller in your local area, phone Police Scotland on 101, or call 999 if you feel threatened.
Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland Alerts to stay up to date with what is going on in your community: www.neighbourhoodwatchscotland.co.uk
App - short for 'application', refers to a software program for computers or other devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Malware - malicious software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorised access to a computer or other device.
Phishing - the practice of sending fraudulent emails which often appear to be from well-known organisations or companies and ask the recipient to provide personal information or to visit a particular website.
QR Code - a square barcode that a smartphone camera can scan and read to provide quick access to a website or app.
Ransomware - malware that makes data or systems unusable until the victim makes a payment.
Remote Access - the ability to access a computer or device from another location. Anyone with remote access to a device can access all files stored on it.
Smishing - the same as phishing, but carried out via SMS (text) messages rather than emails.
Software - the set of instructions and programs that tells a computer how to operate.
Virus - a computer program designed to infect and damage legitimate software.
Official Contacts
If you feel threatened or unsafe, contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
