Scammers targeting users of Careline pendants in Norfolk

Criminal gangs are cold calling users of pendant care alarms, telling them a payment is due for their unit or that they need to make a payment to keep their unit working because of a digital switchover.

Alarms are gradually being switched from phone lines to operating via the internet.

In one incident in west Norfolk, a pendant user was called by a person asking for bank card details to ‘renew’ their payments.

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Criminal gangs are targeting elderly and vulnerable people who use Careline pendants (Image: Chris Bishop)

In another the scammer appeared legitimate because they already knew the user’s name and some other details.

Officials say they are hearing of three or four cases a week, while users of similar services operated by other agencies are also being targeted. 

Emma Poucher is a senior Careline officer with the borough council.

The organisation operates 3,500 devices that elderly people across parts of Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire wear to summon help if they have a fall or health problems.

She said the calls were targeting older, vulnerable people who used its telecare systems.

"They say their unit needs replacing due to the digital switch," she said. "Or they phone up cold calling and say that they need to make a payment for their annual fee."

Emma Poucher, senior Careline officer with West Norfolk council (Image: Chris Bishop) Mrs Poucher said one user made a payment over the phone by debit card, before realising she paid her bill by direct debit.

She said the council would never ring and ask people for money over the phone.

Judith Berry, the council’s community health and wellbeing manager, said: "Our advice is, if someone calls asking for money for any reason, put the phone down and press your pendant. Wait until you receive a call and then talk to the operator.

“We would also recommend talking it over with a friend or relative but whatever you choose to do, never, ever, give out your bank or card details to a cold caller – even if they already seem to know some of your details.”