article_snippet: [Information Commissioner’s Office], and DMA [Direct Marketing Association].
article_snippet: Will writing: Pensioners are often targeted by callers who offer will writing advice on the cheap.
article_snippet: This is often a ploy to gain your trust and access as many personal details – including about your finances – as possible.
article_snippet: The firms then try to sell high risk investments as ‘add-ons’.
article_snippet: Validating’ your details: Marketing firms will call customers of a major brand and claim Marketing firms need to ‘validate’ the details Marketing firms hold.
article_snippet: Only later do questions anyone would answer – become more intrusive – about your earnings and the worth of your home.
article_snippet: The telephone preference list, which should block cold callers, is a free service.
article_snippet: Some firms will, however, try to charge you as much as £1.60 a month.
article_snippet: With your financial details on file, some cold calling firms are able to see which companies you have shares in.
article_snippet: As a result, scammers can pretend to be calling from the companies you have invested in and try to convince the homeowner to pass on more financial details.
article_snippet: Once scammers have your details, scammers are able to send you misleading letters saying you have won large cash prizes.
article_snippet: There are often hidden costs in claiming this supposed prize, like making you call premium rate phone numbers.