Hoax phone calls alert

Homewatch leaders are warning people to be alert to two telephone scams being tried on Oldham householders.

Peter Lee, the Oldham Police Watch scheme administrator, has had calls from co-ordinators about the phone fraudsters.

In one incident, an elderly neighbour received a midnight phone call from someone posing as a police officer, saying a relative had been arrested and asked him to go to Chadderton police station.

The neighbour asked for the name of the arrested person, but was told that he wouldn’t tell the police who he was.

When the neighbour asked for his age and description, and there was no satisfactory reply, he realised it was a hoax.

His concern is that someone could have been watching the house waiting for him to leave and then break-in.

Mr Lee added: “Another co-ordinator also told me that he received a telephone call saying that he had won a holiday.

“The twist with this one was that a number appeared in the window of the phone (some phones have this facility). The number was 0161-280 85643. Obviously this number does not exist but is used to make you feel that the call is genuine.”