Over a fifth of Brits say doorstep scams have risen in their area in the last year | #whatsapp | #lovescams | #phonescams

Over a fifth of Brits (22%) feel there has been a rise in doorstep scammers in their neighbourhood over the last year – with 15% having been targeted by door-to-door con artists during this time.

One in five (21%) adults say they know someone who has fallen victim to an attempted or suspected scam since March 2022 – with Belfast named as the top city for this, with 26% of residents targeted.

The poll of 2,000 people found that Brighton and Edinburgh follow closely behind, each with 24% of victims – while 19% of those in the capital city have faced a doorstep scam.

And the research, commissioned by smart home security company, Ring, found that the typical adult loses £171 each time they answer the door to one of these fraudsters – and have been targeted an average of four times over the last 12 months.

The most common scams include criminals falsely claiming to represent energy firms, and selling goods at an inflated price (both 26%) – while dodgy contractors have also been reported as common, by 17%.

The research also revealed that elderly parents (38%) and elderly neighbours (26%) are the ones adults are most worried about falling victim to a doorstep scam.

Dave Ward, managing director EU & international at Ring, said: “With the rise of doorstep scams in our neighbourhoods across the UK, we understand family and friends are worried about loved ones being targeted, particularly those who are older or vulnerable.

“With this in mind, we aim to provide an extra layer of protection with our technology, for those wanting to deter unwanted visitors or scammers.”

TOP 10 UK CITIES TARGETED BY DOORSTEP SCAMMERS:

1. Belfast
2. Edinburgh
3. Brighton
4. Bristol
5. London
6. Newcastle
7. Manchester
8. Liverpool
9. Glasgow
10. Plymouth

TOP TIPS TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF DOORSTEP SCAMMERS – from Independent Age, a UK charity which provides support for older people:

1. Be cautious – never let anyone you don’t know and don’t trust into your home.
2. Install a video doorbell – having one with a camera means you can see who’s at the door and enables you to speak to them, before deciding whether to open the door.
3. Always check ID – you can call the company if you’re unsure. Don’t call the number on the caller’s ID, as it may belong to another scammer. You should look in the phone book or on the company’s website.
4. If you have a video doorbell or other smart home security system, you can give trusted family members access to it.
5. Join a neighbourhood group – this could be as simple as a WhatsApp group, or going to community events, but getting to know your neighbours is a great way to be up to date on the issues impacting the community around you.
6. Put up a “NO COLD CALLERS” sign – if you have one up, people who represent a genuine company will not knock on your door. This way, you know to be suspicious of anyone who does knock on your door trying to sell you something, or claiming to be from a company you get a service from.
7. Call the police on 101 if you’re suspicious or feel threatened.