We all receive unwanted phone calls. They are a nuisance, but they also put us at risk of being scammed and this risk is even more acute for those who are living with dementia.
The National Trading Standards Scam Team (NTS Scams Team) has secured government funding to provide free call blocking technology to protect those in the most vulnerable circumstances from nuisance and scam calls.
- From 6 November 2017, free call blockers are available for anyone living with dementia
- The dementia condition does not have to be formally diagnosed – it can be suspected/in the process of diagnosis
- However, the consumer MUST be receiving scam or nuisance calls
- There is no link to age, income, benefits or allowances
- Consumers / families / carers must make a direct application for the unit to the NTSST via the Friends Against Scams website
Local authorities are not installing the devices, it’s all being done by a contractor and as such local authorities cannot apply for them on anyone’s behalf. (Don’t forget to consider your own relatives).
What is a call blocker?
It protects against nuisance and scam phone calls.
Once the call blocker unit has been set up when a call arrives, it checks the caller’s number. If it is a trusted caller then it allows the phone to ring as normal, but if the caller isn’t recognised then it acts as a personal assistant by intercepting the call and asking the caller to identify themselves. This process blocks around 95% of unwanted calls without the phone ever ringing. If you want even more protection, the unit can completely block calls from unrecognised callers with a useful message asking them to hang up and call the carer if their call is important. These devices plug into the existing phone and phone line and work alongside and broadband or lifeline/pendant devices that are already installed.
Please note there is a VERY LIMITED number of units and they will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Make a direct application for the unit to the NTSST via the Friends Against Scams website