Grandparents are being warned of a new telephone scam which is currently sweeping the United States and is set to hit the UK.

CPR Call Blocker, makers of the best-selling call blocking device in the UK and the US, is urging the public, in particular grandparents, to beware if they receive a call from an apparent relative (normally a grandchild) in distress or someone claiming to represent the relative (such as a lawyer or police officer).

The scam, which has been conning grandparents across the US, sees the ‘relative’ of the grandparent explain they’re in trouble and that they need their grandparent to send them funds that will be used for a fictitious expense that they need to pay urgently. The victim is urged not to tell anyone, such as the parent of the ‘grandchild’ because they don’t want them to find out about the trouble they’re in. The grandparent never hears from their fake relative again and is tricked out of hundreds or even thousands.

Chelsea Davies, CPR Call Blocker Business Development Manager, said: “In our experience of working across the US and UK, scams spread quickly across the pond so it is sensible for grandparents to be on their guard as we have no doubt that fraudsters operating in the UK will soon start using these tactics.”

To detect and avoid the Grandparent Scam, CPR Call Blocker recommends the following tips:

· Beware of any urgent request for money, especially to pay for an unexpected fee such as lawyers fees.

· Before sending funds, independently contact the relative the scammer is claiming to be (or represent) at a known phone number to verify the details of the story.

· Be aware that scammers carrying out the Grandparent Scam may call late at night to confuse potential victims.

If you want to stop receiving scam and nuisance calls, follow CPR Call Blocker’s quick three-step guide to stopping unwanted calls:

· Sign up to the Telephone Preference Service – call 0845 070 0707 or visit www.tpsonline.org.uk.

· Don’t consent to being contacted – get your phone number taken off directories and look out for tick boxed on all marketing correspondence to see if ticking or unticking them will prevent your details being passed on to third parties.

· Consider getting a call blocker.

Ms Davies continued: “In the meantime, if you suspect you may have compromised your account, contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible. It also advisable to check your bank and card statements regularly for unauthorised charged as a matter of course.”

CPR Call Blocker is the best-selling and most trusted call blocker brand worldwide. The CPR suite of call blockers are available from www.cprcallblocker.com and www.amazon.co.uk