Television presenter and consumer rights campaigner Dom Littlewood has issued a stark warning to the British public, urging everyone to treat every unexpected phone call as a potential scam until proven otherwise.
The former Watchdog and Don't Get Done, Get Dom star revealed he automatically assumes any unsolicited call is fraudulent, adopting what he describes as a "healthy level of paranoia" that has become essential in today's digital landscape.
The Rising Tide of Phone Fraud
Littlewood's caution comes amid an alarming surge in sophisticated phone scams targeting UK households. Fraudsters are employing increasingly convincing tactics, often posing as bank officials, government representatives, or tech support agents to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or transferring money.
"The sophistication of these scams has reached frightening levels," Littlewood explained. "These criminals have done their homework - they know how to sound legitimate, they use psychological pressure, and they create scenarios that feel incredibly real to their victims."
How to Spot a Scam Call
The consumer expert shared several red flags that should immediately raise suspicion:
- Unexpected contact from organisations you haven't recently dealt with
- Urgency and pressure to act quickly or make immediate payments
- Requests for personal information like passwords, PINs, or security codes
- Instructions to download software or visit unusual websites
- Caller ID spoofing where numbers appear to be from legitimate organisations
Protecting Yourself from Phone Scammers
Littlewood recommends adopting several protective measures:
- Register with the Telephone Preference Service to reduce cold calls
- Never provide personal or financial information to unexpected callers
- Hang up and call the organisation back using a verified number from their official website
- Install a call-blocking app or use your phone's built-in spam protection features
- Take your time - legitimate organisations won't pressure you for immediate action
"The golden rule is simple," Littlewood emphasised. "If you didn't initiate the contact, be suspicious. It's better to be cautious and verify than to become another statistic in the UK's growing fraud epidemic."
With phone scams costing UK consumers millions annually, Littlewood's advice serves as a crucial reminder that in an era of advanced digital communication, a healthy dose of scepticism might be your best defence.
