A pensioner couple in Southport received a cold telephone call recently from a woman claiming to be from a solar energy company. She advised them that their solar panels (which are on the rear of their roof and not visible from the road) were due for inspection and may require upgrades or repairs.

They agreed to the appointment a couple of days later, but then became suspicious, checked with their energy supplier that the panels are working correctly and then made enquiries into the company and telephone number on the internet, only to find several other people across the north west having the same experience and believing this to be a scam.

The ‘engineer’ still came round to the house but the couple did the right thing and denied him entry and have supplied Merseyside Police with details to follow up.

Never agree to anything from cold calls on the phone. Try and get details, make enquiries into the company and make sure you are 100% happy they are genuine and legitimate tradespeople before you commit to anything.

In addition, the cold call where people claim to be from Microsoft and aim to get people to log onto their computers so they can ‘lock’ them and then charge a ‘ransom’ to be unlocked, is still happening to Southport residents. Another of these incidents took place here this weekend. This is now a long-running scam. If you receive a call like this, just put the phone down. Don’t even have a conversation with them.

Report these any other such scams/frauds to ACTION FRAUD on 0300 123 2040 or at www.actionfraud.police.uk

Report online at www.merseyside.police.uk
Report on Twitter @MerpolCC
Report on Facebook at Merseyside Police CC
To contact Merseyside Police for non-emergencies dial 101

In emergencies always dial 999