Doorstep safety: bogus callers

Directgov, the UK government's digital service, provides the following advice about doorstep safety:

Tips on stopping bogus callers

Bogus callers may pose as water, electricity or gas-board workers, council workers or police officers; so they can steal money or property from your home. You can prevent this type of crime if you take precautions.

To reduce the risk of becoming a victim of this crime, remember the following three steps:

Stop before you open the door
Chain put it on
Check ask the caller for their identification - and check it by phoning the company they say they're from - before letting them in. Use the phone number in the phone book, not on an identity card