RESIDENTS are being urged not to fall victim to a ‘free CCTV’ scam which is circulating in the borough.

The warning has been issued by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s trading standards officers after some households received flyers through their doors.

The flyers are headed ‘Covid-19’ and offer a free CCTV package if residents take out a care and protect service for their new system.

This is likely to involve paying an ongoing maintenance and monitoring fee once the CCTV has been installed. 

Cllr Karen Shore, deputy council leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: “The flyer falsely claims that we are seeing a rise in burglaries throughout the UK as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our trading standards team is advising residents to be wary of anything using the Covid-19 pandemic to advertise the sale of CCTV installation and monitoring equipment.

“Offers that are posted through our door or are made by someone uninvited knocking on our door – a cold caller – should always be treated with caution.”

To prevent your household from becoming a victim, make sure you read and understand all terms of conditions, including the nature of the monitoring product being offered and the total costs across the lifetime of the product or service being offered.

Check the CCTV products supplied comply with British standards and that the installer is complying with codes of practice.

Also, check the CCTV provider and any ongoing monitoring company providing support are reputable and part of an accredited scheme, such as being a member of the SSAIB (Certification for Security Systems Providers).

Never feel pressured to purchase any CCTV product or service package offered to you on the doorstep or sold to you via marketing material posted through your door.

If you have concerns about any CCTV product you have recently purchased, please report the matter to Citizens Advice who can provide further advice by calling 0345 404 0506.