Advice issued to residents following reports of cold caller in Plas Madoc

A warning over cold callers has been issued following reports of an incident in Plas Madoc.

Police say that an individual claiming to be from a gas company recently visited an address in the area.

The person involved was extremely pushy, did not have any identification, and quickly left the area once challenged by the resident.

A scammer may knock on your door pretending to be a trader, charity collector, or simply in need of help. They may seem polite and friendly, but that doesn’t mean you can trust them.

Police say that anyone who calls at your door should have some form of identification. You are within your right to ask for this.

Following on from the incident police have released advice on how you can protect yourself from cold callers.

Never give out banking or personal details to anyone that you are unsure about. If you can’t be certain that if a visitor is who they say they are, then ask them to come back at a later date, this allows you time to check details or have a friend or relative with you.

Remember, it’s OK to tell visitors that you are not interested or ask them to leave if you aren’t comfortable.

Things to remember:

Stop – are you expecting anyone?
Lock – If you aren’t expecting anyone, keep any outer doors locked before answering the front door. Consider looking through the window or spy-hole to see who is there first.
Check – Ask for an ID card and examine it carefully. If you are still unsure, never call the number on their I.D card to check them out. Ask the person to wait outside, shut the door and find the company number on the internet or from a bill. If they are genuine, they won’t mind if you keep them waiting. If you are being pressured or feel unsafe, contact friends, family or the Police.
Not sure? Don’t open the door!

For more information and advice, you can contact your local Trading Standards department or report any suspicious incidents to North Wales Police via 101 or 999 in an emergency.