Last Updated on: 21st April 2024, 06:37 pm
Phonely, a leader in home digital voice technology, has announced initiatives to combat the increasing number of telephone scams targeting elderly individuals. Reports from the charity Re-engage highlight that two-thirds of older people fell prey to scams in the past year, with frequent scam attempts affecting many on a weekly or monthly basis.
To tackle these telephone-based frauds, Phonely has incorporated effective anti-fraud functionalities within its VoIP systems. Customers on the higher-tier plans enjoy benefits from the CallGuard technology, which actively warns against, monitors, and blocks potentially fraudulent callers, thus alleviating the pressure of dealing with such calls directly.
Moreover, all calls safeguarded by Phonely’s CallGuard are recorded and transcribed for later review, providing invaluable resources for those needing to verify call contents or for use in legal contexts.
This anti-fraud service has proven invaluable, contributing to Phonely being awarded the ‘Most Innovative Small Business Award’ at the Business Awards UK 2024, especially as financial setbacks can be particularly severe for many.
Hannah Hood from Phonely said: “Phone scams in the UK have been out of control for too long and like most crimes, they target the vulnerable in society disproportionately. Targeting older people who often live alone is despicable, and we’re determined to do something about it.”
“Everyone who wants to keep a landline in their home will need to switch to a digital voice solution by the end of 2025. But rather than being a chore, we see this as an opportunity for vulnerable people to protect themselves against phone fraud.”
“Phonely’s CallGuard technology is easy to set up and works autonomously in the background. We also give our customers the option to nominate a Trusted Person, who will receive an alert when something is amiss.”
“Real-time alerts are sent to the Trusted person when the system is offline, a call is taken from a withheld or international number and certain suspicious keywords are recorded during a call. These words include ‘pay’, ‘payment’, ‘bank account’ and other words and phrases that could signify a phone scam.”
“Crucially, our customers’ Trusted Person can join a call if an intervention is required to prevent a scam or unscrupulous activity. The fact that we’re offering protection and peace of mind to the most vulnerable in society is a great source of pride for everyone at Phonely.”
Interested individuals can explore the three different VoIP plans offered by Phonely either through their website or by calling their dedicated line.
