Scammers targeting the elderly in South Woodham Ferrers

Scammers often target the elderly because they may be more trusting, having lived most of their lives at a time when this type of behaviour was rare. A small proportion of older people also suffer from dementia and are less able to discern a scam. They may allow official looking people into their homes for supposed checks on utility meters, gas leaks, roofs or any other matter.

Golden Rules:

1. Never allow any stranger into your home. Keep a chain on the door at all times and phone a neighbour or relative if anyone attempts to gain access for any reason.
2. Never give anyone any personal information at the door or on the telephone. Do not confirm your name or address. It’s none of their business. Unscrupulous people have been able to acquire information from local census results, companies house and companies such as online telephone enquiries such as 192.com and have used this information to identify and target elderly people.
3. If you are ever in doubt about a letter, email, phone call, text or visitor you may have received, double check it with your friends and relatives. Better safe than sorry. If you have no one to ask, send us an email via the Contact page and we will respond as soon as we can.

Common scams:

Phone calls claiming to be from Windows, Microsoft, or BT about your computer.
Tell them that you don’t have one and they will not continue the conversation.

Phone calls with a recorded message
Just put the phone down. A bona fide company will not contact you via a recording.

Phone calls supposedly from your bank wanting to check details.
Tell them that they must be mistaken because you don’t bank there. Do not give them any information such as name and nothing to do with account numbers or PINs.  Call your bank yourself.

Emails informing of you of a parcel that is to be delivered and asking that you call a certain number to arrange delivery.
Don’t do it or you might be making a premium line telephone call that will see you several pounds out of pocket.

Never ever entertain anything to do with Canadian or other lotteries. They are all scams.

Builders informing you, out of the blue, about missing roof tiles or other property issues.
Thank them for the information and tell them that you have a builder friend that you always use. Get someone local to check the situation.

Additional sources of information about current crimes in Essex

If you have a Facebook account, the Essex Crime Facebook page posts new crimes as they occur. This increases awareness of the types of crimes happening in areas around South Woodham Ferrers. Reading that page may make you feel thankful that you live here.

Do please email us details of any other scams that may be currently circulating in South Woodham Ferrers.