Doorstep fraudsters prompts digital switchover campaign
10:00am Monday 6th February 2012 in Where I Live
Doorstep fraudsters prompts digital switchover campaign
A new initiative has been launched after a Putney resident was conned out of £40 by two men posing as digital TV switchover contractors.
The Switchover Help Scheme has launched the Helping Hand campaign, calling on friends and relatives to make sure every older and disabled person knows about the help they can get with the changeover process.
People are warned to be vigilant after the two fraudsters, decribed a white, approximately 40-50 years old, and wearing royal blue sweatshirts with a logo, conned the Festing Road resident on January 24.
The switchover is being billed as the biggest change in television since the introduction of colour.
Councillor Jonathan Cook, Wandsworth’s community safety spokesman, said: “The council wants to make it clear to residents that no digital switchover contractor will call on homes unexpectedly without an appointment.
“I hope that family, friends and neighbours of potentially vulnerable residents will keep an eye out for these despicable con artists, who will stop at nothing to line their own pockets."
Analogue television will be switched off across the London TV region on April 4 and replaced with a new, stronger digital TV signal - leaving those households that have not switched to digital without any TV channels.
People aged 75 and over and eligible disabled are entitled to equipment, installation and free aftercare to convert one of their TV sets to digital.
It costs £40, or is free to eligible people who are also on income related benefits.
For more information call 0800 40 85 900 or visit helpscheme.co.uk.
