Bogus call warning to UK radio hams

Radio amateurs in the UK should beware of hoax calls from people claiming that their houses need to undergo fire and electrical checks.

A radio amateur was recently rung-up by a person purporting to be from a security company. The caller said that the Home Office had changed the licensing regulations and as a result all radio amateurs’ houses must now undergo fire and electrical inspections.

The amateur was also told that if his house did not come up to scratch, he would have to have the electrics rewired and buy fire prevention equipment such as fire blankets and extinguishers.

None of this is true. Amateurs do not have to have their properties checked. This is a scam aimed at conning radio amateurs into having expensive inspections of their properties, and paying for unnecessary rewiring and fire equipment.

The caller can be quite convincing. He might know your name and callsign, having taken it from the RSGB year book.
He might also insist that the RSGB, Ofcom and the police are aware of and support the need for property inspections. Again, this is not true.

If you receive such a call, please contact your local police station.

Source: GB2RS News - Courtesy of the RSGB