Criminals are exploiting the analogue to digital switchover to scam users of health care telephony devices into giving out personal information, councils have warned.
By 2025, most telephone providers will move customers from analogue landlines to upgraded landline services that use digital technology.
As well as home phones, healthcare devices will be switched over – which are used by around 1.8 million people in the UK.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said there had been reports of scammers telling users of healthcare devices that they would be disconnected unless they handed over bank details.
The LGA said it was concerned that there could be an increasing number of scams ahead of the 2025 switchover date.
While the public switched telephone network (PSTN) upgrade is an industry-led process, the LGA has said the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology should coordinate the bodies involved and help raise awareness of scams.
LGA chair for safer and stronger communities Cllr Heather Kidd said: ‘Councils will always act swiftly with the police where any incidents are reported, but we also urge people to be vigilant and help to raise awareness of this crime.
‘The digital switchover is free of charge and residents should be aware that councils and their home care alarm providers or contractors will never ask for personal or financial information over the phone.’
