ENFIELD Council has warned that con artists could scam and steal from vulnerable residents by posing as TV engineers as the borough prepares for the digital TV switchover this April.

Enfield’s Trading Standards team are urging people to be extra vigilant in the coming months as they fear “rogue traders” will call on elderly residents offering to help “switch over the signal”.

They warn that the fraudsters will use the excuse of the TV switchover to swindle cash from their victims and burgle their homes while pretending to adjust their television sets.

Cabinet member for environment Chris Bond has advised anyone in doubt over the switchover to contact Digital UK on: 08456 50 50 50 and warned that a strange caller offering help ”will almost certainly be a fraudster”.

Promising that the council will crack down on rogue traders, Mr Bond said: “We will take every step necessary to track down and prosecute rogue traders, they are a scourge of our society and prey on our most vulnerable residents.

“Residents who think they have been visited by a rogue trader or conman should report them to Consumer Direct so they can be investigated,” he added.

In a bid to stop people needlessly splashing out on expensive new equipment ahead of the switchover a campaign was launched in Enfield Town earlier this month featuring an installation by artist Holly Freeman made entirely from old televisions to remind people they can make the change with the much cheaper option of a set-top box.

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of a scam can contact Consumer Direct on: 01622 626 536.

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