Community / Scam warning after man receives call from ‘Tingwall health centre’
A MAN from West Burrafirth has spoken about his experience of a scam caller in a bid to warn others.
Alan Laurenson, 71, said he was called on Thursday by someone claiming to be from NHS Shetland – and when he answered it there was a “bit of a delay”.
After confirming some basic details – his name and that he was a pensioner – he said the person claimed he was calling all pensioners in Shetland about welfare.
But suspicions heightened when Laurenson noticed it was a London number calling him.
When questioned on this the man on the other end said he was calling from Lerwick Health Centre, but then claimed he was from a “health centre in Tingwall” which apparently opened two weeks ago.
After some more discussion and a “bit of an argument” the man who called hung up, and Laurenson reported the matter to trading standards.
He said the call was “very plausible” and said he was concerned others would be taken in by these types of scams.
Laurenson said he had also received spam calls from mobile numbers as well as ones purporting to be local numbers, which sometimes claim to be from banks.
NHS Shetland encouraged people to be aware of possible suspicious calls involving someone impersonating staff from a health centre calling to do a wellness check.
“NHS Shetland will only phone patients to arrange appointments or to pass on results,” a spokesperson said.
“We do not contact patients asking them to update their personal details or call to conduct a wellness check unless required to do so by a GP.
“If anyone receives a call they are unsure about, they should hang up and contact their local health centre directly.”
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Meanwhile local trading standards team leader David Marsh said in many cases numbers are likely being phoned via “auto-dialling” computer software which may be generating ‘potential’ phone numbers and dialling them in the hope that they might exist.
“However, those initial calls can then enable the scammers to get information which facilitates more targeted follow-up calls, and this could be one of those – since the recipient is of pensionable age and the caller claimed to be calling all pensioners in Shetland regarding welfare matters,” he said.
“Our advice therefore starts with encouraging folk to just hang up if they receive a strange call from someone asking questions about them – don’t engage with such callers, because they are experts at extracting information from us which they can piece together to enable future calls to seem much more plausible and genuine.”
Marsh encouraged people to be “on guard” if anyone receives a call out of the blue, adding that it is extremely unlikely that large organisations would be phoning people like this.
“Never give out sensitive personal or financial information to someone who phones you, no matter who they claim to be or how convincing they seem,” he said.
“Instead, end the call and check that your phone line is clear by calling a friend or relative. If you think it is possible that the call might have been genuine, you can then contact the organisation using a number you trust, such as one from their website.”
He added that if there are things which do not match up – such as the London number, or the reference to a non-existent health centre in Tingwall – that is all the more reason to be wary.
“If you’re not sure about a call, speak to another family member, a friend or a neighbour and see what they think – or you can contact us at trading standards for advice on 01595 744887,” he said.
“If you have been taken in by a scammer and given out personal details or lost money, don’t be embarrassed – these criminals are very skilled at conning ordinary folk, and even the most careful individual can get caught out on a bad day.
“Get in touch with us here at trading standards, or contact the police on 101, and we’ll do what we can to help.”
Marsh said his team is continuing to install free call blocker units for landlines, which stop 90 per cent of scam and nuisance calls at source.
This means that the phone will not even ring, “giving folk time back in their day and preventing the anxiety and worry associated with these calls coming through”.
The unit plugs into an existing phone line and can work alongside broadband and any other installed devices, such as care alarms.
Marsh also said that research carried out by Bournemouth University found that older people, those who feel vulnerable, and individuals who live alone, are most likely to benefit from the installation of a call blocker.
He said trading standards is still keen to hear from anyone who is troubled by persistent scam or nuisance calls and may benefit from this equipment.
To request a free call blocker from trading standards, folk can email the team at trading.standards@shetland.gov.uk or phone on 01595 744887.
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