A RING doorbell (or similar) can be a very effective aid to help protect you and your property. The doorbell records the comings and goings of visitors to your home and can act as a deterrent to cold callers and rogue traders.
An Essex Trading Standards spokesperson said: ” Unfortunately we’ve seen an increase in the number of complaints concerning doorstep traders approaching users of these doorbells with the offer to change the products batteries or recharge a device following a claim it’s failing. In doing so consumers are then subject to an extortionate price as well as potentially identifying them as susceptible to further scams involving work around the house.
Changing the batteries in smart doorbells is a quick and easy job – and if it just needs recharging it’s simply like plugging in a mobile phone. Neither jobs would require the help of an alleged trade professional. Trading standards never recommend using a trades person that’s cold called.
Ring doorbells have also been the basis of phishing emails, the content of which warn users of outdated membership information and an impending suspension of their Ring account. The email is an attempt to trick people into giving away important information or data that may then go on to be used in fraud.
Never give account information or confidential details to anyone before checking they are who they claim to be. Phishing emails should be reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): [email protected]
