Calls Out of the Blue (Bogus Deceptive callers) North Wales

[Barry69]

Well this may be nothing but yesterday my mother received a telephone call from a person whom presented himself as Drainage Engineer then went on to question my mother whom is 76 and widowed regards any males over 16 living at the house and as she realizes now but foolishly she responded oh no no males here over 16, (thinking it was a social service spy) on a Sunday!

Well when caught on the hop it surprising what information someone will give to a perfect stranger, this call sounds very ify to me and wondered if our North Wales finest could through any light on the matter, as I live in France I am quite worried my mother could be being set up for a distraction Burglary.

Has any one else had a similar calls in the Rhyl area

30 min prior she had a call from a guy called Alex claiming you won a prize if you go to the Talardy Hotel on the 27 I think, with a partner friend or husband you can claim it (Time Share) I am sure, So I have told her to sack that one, as I am sure the next call will be "Don"t forget your credit card" Vulnerable old Lady targeted again out of order!

Well just thought I would high-lite this one for all our vulnerable parents out there, aye there,s an idea Scouce Crime Watch Wales on the Forum?

[ap1]

Barry, I would suggest you make contact with NWP ASAP. I have passed the forum message to an ex colleague of mine who works on a burglary team in Mold, she can alert the team in the Rhyl area, but without any address details, it will delay them initiating any action. Hopefully Scouse, Sid or Howie will log in later and give proper advice and be better able to alert the right people..

[HOWIE WILLIAMS]

Barry, if you want to PM me with some details I`ll contact Rhyl CID and pass on the info. I`ll need your mum`s address etc.
It sounds like she may be being set up for a distraction burglary.

[Barry69]

I have contacted my brother in Rhyl to action this Al

Cheers

Barry

PS

OK Howie will do now

[davidrmac]

Well done lads .

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Yet another example of the brilliance of this Forum. Well done to all, the "family" remains a family. I hope they catch the snivelling, gutless scumbags.

[CarolynHelenMay]

My mother, who is 97 and lives alone, received a call at 8pm one night from a man claiming to want to read her electricity meter. Fortunately she would not let him in. However she has had someone banging on her door in the middle of the night. She too lives in the North Wales area in a village near Wrexham. What kind of person would try to frighten or rob an old lady of 97? I despair!
Carolyn May

[Scouse75]

Unfortunately this is all too familiar! Distraction Burglaries are one of the worst that we deal with, usually because the victims as you have said, are elderley or vulnerable, and often both. Other methods include,bogus water board officials, people pretending they have lost their dog, retrieving a football, etc.

Often, the victims of this type of crime lose thousands of pounds owing to the fact that a lot of elderley people do not trust banks and keep large amounts in their houses. PLEASE speak with your vulnerable relatives, neighbours etc and brief them up. Even if it is a genuine caller, so what if they get turned away. They can return when the occupant has someone there with them to ensure all is in order.

If they really feel that someone is or has just attempted to dupe them into allowing them access, then brief them to phone 999. Yes, it is an emergency, and these people need to be identified and dealt with asap. Any vehicle details would be great too! If any of your relatives feel that they may have been visited by supsicious callers, then get to ring the Police and ask for a visit from their neighbourhood policing team. They can discuss measures with them, and on the majority of occassions they will fit cameras into their property(free of charge). This really is a priority of ours, and one of the crimes I really take serious due to the vulnerability of the victims.

Believe me, local Officers would rather be called out to something that turns out to be genuine, rather than have to deal with the aftermath of an elderley victim having had thousands of pounds stolen by these absolute low-lives! In addition, consider setting up a number recognition facility on their phones. If they dont recognise the number, Dont answer! If it was that important, the company can contact them via post.

If any of your relatives need more information/advice regarding this subject ask them(or do it for them) to go onto the NWP website. Look at the 'Neighbourhood Policing' link, and it will name your local neighbourhood team, and will have their own individual contact details. Contact them, and use them. That is what they are there for. Any further advice needed, then feel free to contact me on here.

[Barry69]

I agree they are the lowest praying on the vulnerable our family members in this case my mum, so many thanks for your assistance boys my mother has got a visit booked for tomorrow afternoon from Rhyl Police

Cheers

Barry

[sid burns]

Barry

I think Scouse and Howie have summed things up, but if there’s any thing I can do please contact me.

Sid