Police and Health Services Team Up to Protect the Elderly from Fraud

Derbyshire Police force is teaming up with local GP surgeries and clinics to raise awareness of a fraud targeting elderly and vulnerable residents.

Victims are being contacted over the phone by a caller pretending to be from their local GP surgery. The caller is highly convincing and arranges an appointment to visit the victim’s home to discuss their mobility needs.

During the appointment, the victim is often persuaded to purchase mobility aids which are inappropriate, simply not needed and always highly expensive.

Following the reports, police in Derbyshire are reminding residents to be vigilant, and if they are looking to make a big purchase, such as mobility aids, to always shop around for the best deal before agreeing to buy.

Residents are also being encouraged to always check directly with their local GP surgery before agreeing to a visit or giving out personal information.

If you get a call from your GP surgery or a clinic that you have attended, please do the following:

1. Ask them to give you the name of the surgery/clinic and their name. Write them down if they can give them.
2. Say that someone is at the door and you will call them back. Hang up. Do not allow them to convince you to keep talking.
3. Phone your own GP surgery directly and ask if that person called you. If it was your surgery then you can proceed without worry. If not, please use the contacts below to pass the information on to police.

To report any suspicious activity to the police call 101, or if you think a crime is being committed then call 999.

For information and advice about rogue traders, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06 (often free from a landline, depending on call plan).

Never allow anyone to talk you into buying things that you were not already planning and be aware that these people are operating in the Derbyshire area and that you need to be suspicious of unexpected calls.  The NHS are not aggressively cold calling anyone to sell mobility aids.