Coronavirus Related CCTV Scam

Cheshire West and Chester Council issues warning against 'free CCTV' scam.

13:51 15 July 2020

Cheshire West and Chester Council is urging residents not to fall victim to a 'free CCTV' scam that is currently circulating in the borough. The warning follows reports obtained by the council's trading standards officers that some households received flyers through their doors. 

 

The flyers, which are headed 'Covid-19', offer a free CCTV package if residents take out a care and protect service for their new system. 

 

Cllr Karen Shore, deputy council leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: "The flyer falsely claims that we are seeing a rise in burglaries throughout the UK as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

"Our trading standards team is advising residents to be wary of anything using the Covid-19 pandemic to advertise the sale of CCTV installation and monitoring equipment. 

 

"Offers that are posted through our door or are made by someone uninvited knocking on our door - a cold caller - should always be treated with caution." 

 

The council is urging residents to be more vigilant so they can avoid becoming a victim. They advise reading and understanding all conditions, including the nature of the monitoring product being offered and the total costs across the lifetime of the product or service being offered.