Local Priorities Fraud Concern Update - Cold Callers

Local Priorities Fraud Concern Update - Cold Callers

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Fraud, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

Cold callers can be persuasive, convincing and at times intimidating. While many doorstep callers are legitimate, some criminals use cold calling as a way to gain access to homes, gather personal information, or pressure residents into paying for unnecessary or overpriced work.

🚪 Beware of Cold Callers
Gwent Police is reminding residents to stay vigilant when answering the door to unexpected callers.
Criminals may falsely claim to be from utility companies, local authorities, roofing or driveway businesses, or charity organisations. They often target elderly or vulnerable members of the community and may use high-pressure sales tactics to rush decisions.

🛡️ Crime Prevention and Safety Advice
✅ Always ask for identification before opening the door fully. Genuine callers will not object to you checking their credentials.
✅ Use a door chain, spyhole, doorbell camera, or view callers through a window where possible.
✅ Do not feel pressured into making an immediate decision. Reputable businesses will give you time to consider any offer.
✅ Never agree to home repairs or maintenance work on the spot following an unsolicited visit.
✅ Do not hand over cash or provide bank details to someone at your doorstep.
✅ Verify claims independently. If a caller says they are from a utility company, close the door and contact the company using a trusted telephone number.
✅ Be cautious of distraction tactics. Some offenders work in pairs, with one person engaging you while another attempts to enter the property.
✅ Look out for neighbours, particularly elderly or vulnerable residents who may be more susceptible to doorstep scams.

❗ Remember
You are under no obligation to open the door to a stranger or purchase goods or services from an unexpected caller. A genuine caller will respect your decision if you decline.

📞 Report Suspicious Activity
If you believe a cold caller is acting suspiciously, call 101 and provide as much detail as possible, including descriptions, vehicle details, and direction of travel.
If a crime is taking place or you feel threatened, always call 999 in an emergency.

Share this message with friends, family and neighbours to help protect our communities from doorstep crime and fraud. #CrimePrevention #DoorstepCrime #ColdCallers #StaySafe #GwentPolice

People in the UK lost £1.2bn to fraud in 2022, the equivalent of £2,300 every minute, according to bank industry group UK Finance. It said around three million scams took place, with frauds involving payment cards being the most common.

Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.

To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Report Fraud website at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/.

If you haven’t already listed Report Fraud as an Information Provider who can send you information and alerts, why not click on the settings button at the bottom of this email, log into your account and update your sharing settings. 

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey