North East Lincolnshire Council’s Trading Standards team are warning people about a sinister nuisance call scam known to be targeting households in the borough.

Scammers call households to sell them a paid-for service they claim will block nuisance cold-callers.

The warning comes after a vulnerable, elderly couple were targeted by a company offering to supply a box that supposedly stops nuisance calls.

The caller claimed that the service was more effective than the official Telephone Preference Service and it could block calls from withheld numbers.

It comes after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined two cold call blocking companies a total of £170,000 in a recent crackdown on nuisance calls.

Poole-based Nuisance Call Blocker Ltd has been fined £90,000 and Telecom Protection Service Ltd, based in Bournemouth, has received an £80,000 fine.

Both companies were found to be making unsolicited marketing calls to people registered on the official Telephone Preference Service while trying to sell products and services to block the type of cold calls they were making.

Over 1,000 complaints were received about the two companies. People who received calls from Telecom Protection Service Ltd said callers were rude and aggressive, appeared to be preying on the elderly and vulnerable, with some even put under pressure to provide their bank details.

Complainants stated that Nuisance Call Blocker Ltd had given the impression that the calls were part of a government backed initiative while Telecom Protection Service Ltd’s name seemed designed for it to be confused with the official Telephone Preference Service opt out scheme.

Neil Clark, Trading Standards manager, added: “Alarm bells should ring if a company claims it’s more effective than the TPS or can deal with calls from withheld numbers.

“Companies making legitimate cold calls must already screen their outbound sales calls against the TPS register– it’s the law.

“Never ever give out any personal information and never ever have a conversation with the caller – just end the call.”

To block nuisance calls for free use the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). Call 0345 070 0707 or visit www.tpsonline.org.uk.

If you’ve fallen victim to a nuisance call scam you can forward your complaint to the Citizens Advice National Helpline website, www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice/consumer_service.htm or by calling 03454 040506.