Warning after disabled resident is targeted by suspected bogus workmen

On Tuesday, August 9, a resident of Carbisdale Street received a call from two workmen at her door who claimed to be from Scottish Water and said they needed to check the water pressure in her kitchen and bathroom.

No identification was offered but the men were permitted entry to the property.

The householder, who has a disability, observed the men turning taps on and off and when they left the premises nothing was reported missing.

Following the incident, Scottish Water is reminding customers, including vulnerable and elderly people, that they should follow the three ‘C’s rule - CARD, CHECK and CALL - if they are visited by a bogus caller.

Card – Anyone calling on behalf of Scottish Water, whether it is a Scottish Water employee or a contractor working on their behalf in your area, will always carry a photo ID card or letter. You should always ask callers to pass their ID card or letter through the letterbox so that you can check their identity.

Check – Check the ID card carefully: Is the photo on the ID card the same as the person at the door? Has the card been tampered with in any way? If you are not confident that they are a genuine caller, then send them away!

Call – If you are in any doubt about the caller’s identity, before you open the door please call Scottish Water’s Customer Helpline on 0800 0778778 and they can help you confirm the caller is genuine. They advise customers to contact utility companies by using phone numbers found in telephone directories or the internet, but not from ID cards or letters, because these could be false.

Don’t be fooled by bogus callers! If you are in any doubt, do not open your door and allow the caller access.

Mrs Joanna Peebles, Scottish Water’s regional communities team manager for the area, said: “Scottish Water works in local communities across Scotland every day of the year. Our own workers are highly visible and unfortunately there are occasionally people who take advantage of the essential work we do by posing as bogus water employees.

“So we would like to remind all our customers of our essential advice – if we knock on your door, check our photo ID and follow our Three C’s rule: Card – Check – Call.

“All our employees, and anyone working on our behalf, carry photo ID which they will happily show on request – so don’t let anyone in to your home until you are sure of their identity”.

Mrs Peebles added: “If you are on your own or feel you need more support then call a neighbour or a friend, and if you are at all worried or unconvinced by a caller, then please contact the police straight away. The advice is easy to remember – just 3 C’s – Card, Check and Call.”

In a bid to help protect customers against bogus callers, Scottish Water is offering an Anti-Bogus Caller Pack which contains a personal electronic alarm, window sensor, door viewer, UV marker pen and guard bar.

Packs are available to the first 50 customers contacting Scottish Water by emailing [email protected] or writing to us quoting Bogus Caller Pack, Customer Marketing, PO Box 8855 Edinburgh EH10 6YQ.

Further information is available at www.scottishwater.co.uk/boguscaller and www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe .