How To Protect Against Doorstep Scams
July 30 2020
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Most people are aware of phone scammers or phishing emails, but what happens when a fraudster turns up at your front door? It can be far more intimidating, and trickier to deal with than just hanging up or pressing ‘delete’.
Before we get to what you can do about it, let’s look at some of the ways scammers get into your home, and what they’re trying to achieve.
How they do it
Some fraudsters will try to smooth-talk their way in. They’re well-versed in saying all the right things, for example that they’re ill or in danger, or it’s crucial they use your phone.
Others might pretend to be from the council or a well-known company and turn up complete with a uniform and fake ID.
Then there’s rogue traders who push to do sub-standard work on your property, when sometimes there isn’t a need at all.
From bogus charity collectors to people conducting made-up surveys, it’s a fact that doorstep scammers get more creative each year. Recently, some have even tried taking advantage by posing as door-to-door coronavirus testers to get their foot in the door*
What they want
Unfortunately it’s pretty obvious – money. Their approach might vary, but when they want to gain access to your home it’s nearly always to either trick you out of money or steal your valuables. Either way, you need to be on your guard.
How to stay protected
The good news is, there are things you can do to help. There’s a lot to be said for thinking sensibly, such as:
- Being suspicious of anyone who turns up uninvited, no matter how convincing they are
- Asking a friendly neighbour to be on standby in case you get an uninvited caller and are not sure.
- Taking a photo of the caller using your mobile and then sending it to someone you know; your visitor shouldn’t have a problem if they are who they say.
- If they claim to be from a business, ask to see their credentials. You could even go one step further and contact their employer.
As an additional measure you could consider a video doorbell. This device requires ADT Smart Home to be installed. Once it is, you can access the doorbell camera via an encrypted app and use two-way audio to let your visitor know you can see and hear them, without even having to open the door. Find out more here.
So when it comes to door to door scams, don’t knock the protection. There are ways you can get greater peace of mind. Have any questions? We’re always here to help. Get in touch on our website, on Twitter or Facebook or call us on 0808 2714 435
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