Common types of calls and visits
Cold calls
Cold calls are unwanted phone calls by companies or people trying to sell you something. It’s not illegal, but companies are required to get your consent before they can market their goods and services to you by phone or email. If they don’t have it, they shouldn’t be doing it.
Indecent, threatening or offensive phone calls or social media
Nuisance phone calls can involve the caller remaining silent or deliberately calling when they know you’re likely to be asleep. It’s rare for this kind of call to happen again and again, but if it does you can take steps to prevent it (see below).
Malicious calls are deliberately targeted at an individual and can involve threats and blackmail. Making a malicious or obscene call is a criminal offence.
Phishing scams
Fraudsters also use phone calls to try and trick people into giving them valuable personal information. This is called ‘phishing’. They either sell this information or use it themselves to commit fraud such as identity theft. This too is a criminal offence.
Door-to-door
Unwanted knocks at the door from people trying to sell you products can be a nuisance, especially if they happen regularly.
Sometimes these visitors’ intentions are fraudulent, whether it’s to sell counterfeit goods or services or simply gather information about you or the property. In some cases, fraudsters may even pretend to be from your utilities company and use the excuse of needing to take a meter reading as a way to gain access to your house.
What is the impact?
Unwanted calls and visits from strangers can be stressful and a nuisance, but too many of either and you can start to feel targeted in your own home or afraid of the phone ringing. It needn’t be this way.