Rogue traders who bombard the elderly and vulnerable with nuisance phone calls are to be stopped in their tracks by a targeted Government scheme designed to protect those with dementia.

Every year, thousands of complaints are made about nuisance phone calls and in February last year, one firm alone was fined £350,000 for making more than 46 million automated calls.

To help tackle the problem, Prime Minister Theresa May, has announced the launch of a half-a-million-pound project which will see hi-tech call blocking devices installed in the homes of some of the most vulnerable people across the UK who have been identified by doctors, Trading Standards officials and local councils as being at risk from nuisance callers.

The trueCall devices will completely block all recorded messages, silent calls and calls from numbers not already pre-identified by the home owner - offering particular protection to those with dementia.

A similar trial scheme run by the National Trading Standards Scams Team last year resulted in 93% of participants feeling safer in their homes. This included one person who had previously paid £150,000 to a scam caller.

Rebecca Lauder, Partner at BSG Solicitors commented:

“For vulnerable people, particularly those with dementia, nuisance and automated calls can have a significant impact on their lives. They are also of great concern to relatives who worry that they may be targeted by bogus services or rogue traders. One way to help protect the vulnerable is to ensure they have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place before they lose capacity to make decisions for themselves.”