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Warning of a scam - Engineer Andy

Some backroomers may be already aware of this, whether via personal experiences or via news outlets, but there's a scam doing the rounds where a 'firm' which appears to be from the Bournemouth are (phone area code 01202) phones you up, saying that you need your loft or wall insulation 'checked' every 2 years if it is over 20 years old.

They may also try to get you to 'replace' it with 'new, better' insulation which you 'may' be able to get a partial government grant.

It could be these charlatans starting up again:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-45485285

If you have elderly relatives, please let them know about it. The numbers I was called on (mostly silent calls, then the final one [they didn't want to know once I said in my pretend oldie voice that I lived in a flat] was from them) were:

01202 794 767

01202 818 944

01202 818 946

01202 818 955 (last call)

I don't know anyone or have dealt with any firm with that area code/phone numbers.

They do not say who they really are, and they wait for you to identify your address and property type, so they obviously do not know anything to make such claims (even if they were genuine, which they aren't).

Warning of a scam - Xileno

I've had these or similar specimens phone me in the last week (after a long gap), despite blocking their number they just keep coming back with a different number.

Warning of a scam - Engineer Andy

I've had these or similar specimens phone me in the last week (after a long gap), despite blocking their number they just keep coming back with a different number.

Indeed - the scamming business must be doing well these days. What's amazing is how easy they find it just to keep getting new phone numbers. I believe there used to be a reporting service for such things, but it may have gone.

There was a 'local' firm to me in North Herts about 3 years or so ago that actually came round to my housing development to 'survey' it (on spec, without permission [it is private land]), who I saw, asked them what they were doing and they came up with similar speil about getting cavity wall insulation. Apparently a fellow 'resident director' on the development had just been scammed by them into getting 'replacement' blow cavity insulation.

Whilst there have indeed been instances of new build properties (our were then 15 years old) not having the cavity walls and lofts insulated (a good few cases listed on Watchdog, etc and involving major building firms), these cowboys were saying all the properties were likely to be like that. If it was, the owners would soon know, given their heating bills would be huge and they'd suffer from significant cold spot areas.

For some amusement (I was bored), I let them go through their entire sales patois before giving them the bad news of what I did for a living (Building Services Mechanical Engineer). I never did hear from or see them around the development again...

Warning of a scam - galileo

Some backroomers may be already aware of this, whether via personal experiences or via news outlets, but there's a scam doing the rounds where a 'firm' which appears to be from the Bournemouth are (phone area code 01202) phones you up, saying that you need your loft or wall insulation 'checked' every 2 years if it is over 20 years old.

They may also try to get you to 'replace' it with 'new, better' insulation which you 'may' be able to get a partial government grant.

It could be these charlatans starting up again:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-45485285

If you have elderly relatives, please let them know about it. The numbers I was called on (mostly silent calls, then the final one [they didn't want to know once I said in my pretend oldie voice that I lived in a flat] was from them) were:

01202 794 767

01202 818 944

01202 818 946

01202 818 955 (last call)

I don't know anyone or have dealt with any firm with that area code/phone numbers.

They do not say who they really are, and they wait for you to identify your address and property type, so they obviously do not know anything to make such claims (even if they were genuine, which they aren't).

I use the "Who called me" site where dodgy phone numbers can be entered and reports posted by others can be read. The numbers you list are reported there as scams, numerous entries recorded.

Warning of a scam - Xileno

I keep thinking about one of those True-call gadgets or whatever they''re called but I might miss my Indian chappy who seems particularly concerned my broadband has been attacked and I might get a virus. I've explained I've been jabbed for Covid but he still keeps phoning.

Warning of a scam - Lee Power

The number blocking gadgets / services are pretty good but if the scammers are using a number spoofer then they can still get through ( until you or others start reporting the new number )

Warning of a scam - leaseman

My son's profession is involved in telephony networks, and specialises in security aspects of such systems.

He has the knowledge and ability to clone any number as the source of incoming calls, and, of course, develops systems to detect and defeat them. This technique is used by typical money transfer scammers to convince recipients that they are speaking to their bank or credit card company.

Take no notice whatsoever of the "Caller's number" displayed on your phone. It proves NOTHING.

Warning of a scam - Engineer Andy

I keep thinking about one of those True-call gadgets or whatever they''re called but I might miss my Indian chappy who seems particularly concerned my broadband has been attacked and I might get a virus. I've explained I've been jabbed for Covid but he still keeps phoning.

Those who have an answering machine system that they can program with specific responses (and set them after a call is started) may want to use the 'Lenny' response:

youtu.be/vWrkDOt_IfM