Warning issued about doorstep energy top-up deals
Thursday, 23rd June 2011.
Residents across Suffolk are being warned to be wary of criminals selling electricity top-ups on doorsteps while police work with energy companies in a bid to tackle the crime.
Prepayment meter fraud is on the rise, especially in Ipswich where criminals are knocking on doors offering what seems like a good deal - £50 worth of electricity top-up for about £25.
However, energy companies can identify meters that have been topped up illegally with customers then forced to pay twice for their energy - once to the criminal and then again to their electricity supplier.
Suffolk Police recently joined forces with counterparts from around the country as well as from the Serious Organised Crime Agency at a national conference to tackle electricity prepayment meter fraud.
The country’s biggest energy companies are helping officers to share intelligence and co-ordinate a national approach to tackling the crime.
Nationally, more than 230,000 incidents involving 127,000 customers have been recorded. The fraud is estimated to have cost customers more than £7million already.
A nationwide campaign, Top-up Safe, is alerting customers to the risks of purchasing illegal top-ups. Energy companies never sell electricity top-ups in this way, only through official outlets: PayPoint, Payzone and the Post Office.
Energy companies are working together to tackle prepayment fraud under the national ‘Top-up Safe’ communications campaign.
The Suffolk Safe and Sound group is multi-agency partnership made up of Suffolk Police, Suffolk Trading Standards, Age Concern, The Pension Service, Suffolk County Council and voluntary agencies.
It aims to keep the elderly and vulnerable people feeling safe and confident in their homes.
Chair of the Safe and Sound group David Kane said: “We hope by raising awareness of this type of crime, we can reduce the risk of the elderly and the vulnerable becoming victims of this escalating fraud.
“We urge anyone who has been approached to obtain top-ups for electricity in this way or if you are a carer and concerned that your relative, friend or client has been conned, to contact Suffolk Police. If you wish to remain anonymous, then you can call Crime Stoppers with information.”
Prepayment meter fraud is on the rise, especially in Ipswich where criminals are knocking on doors offering what seems like a good deal - £50 worth of electricity top-up for about £25.
However, energy companies can identify meters that have been topped up illegally with customers then forced to pay twice for their energy - once to the criminal and then again to their electricity supplier.
Suffolk Police recently joined forces with counterparts from around the country as well as from the Serious Organised Crime Agency at a national conference to tackle electricity prepayment meter fraud.
The country’s biggest energy companies are helping officers to share intelligence and co-ordinate a national approach to tackling the crime.
Nationally, more than 230,000 incidents involving 127,000 customers have been recorded. The fraud is estimated to have cost customers more than £7million already.
A nationwide campaign, Top-up Safe, is alerting customers to the risks of purchasing illegal top-ups. Energy companies never sell electricity top-ups in this way, only through official outlets: PayPoint, Payzone and the Post Office.
Energy companies are working together to tackle prepayment fraud under the national ‘Top-up Safe’ communications campaign.
The Suffolk Safe and Sound group is multi-agency partnership made up of Suffolk Police, Suffolk Trading Standards, Age Concern, The Pension Service, Suffolk County Council and voluntary agencies.
It aims to keep the elderly and vulnerable people feeling safe and confident in their homes.
Chair of the Safe and Sound group David Kane said: “We hope by raising awareness of this type of crime, we can reduce the risk of the elderly and the vulnerable becoming victims of this escalating fraud.
“We urge anyone who has been approached to obtain top-ups for electricity in this way or if you are a carer and concerned that your relative, friend or client has been conned, to contact Suffolk Police. If you wish to remain anonymous, then you can call Crime Stoppers with information.”
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