Medical Alarms - Scam Calls

Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 8 August

North Ayrshire Trading Standards have warned that there have been recent reports of phone scams where a cold caller says they work for the NHS or a local health team and tells the recipient they are entitled to receive a 'free' medical emergency panic button, wristband or pendant.
They may have details about the person they are phoning, such as their name and age.
Although the device they are offering is supposedly free, they ask for card details to cover the installation fee or ongoing subscription costs.

In other cases, scammers have targeted those who use a telecare community alarm. The caller claims to be from the local council or a company selling personal alarm packages and tells the person that their current alarm needs to be replaced or upgraded. The person is encouraged to act quickly to ensure the alarm stays active and to provide their personal and payment details over the phone.

How to Avoid
NHS Scotland state that they will never call to ask for patients’ bank account details, credit or debit card information, or for payment to cover services. Anyone who says they are from the NHS and asks for bank details or money transfers over the phone is lying.

Local authorities will NEVER ask for bank details in an unsolicited phone call.