How to Stop Scam Calls on Your Elderly Parent’s Landline: UK Guide
Written by Hannah Hood, on . Last updated If you’re worried about scam calls on an elderly parent’s landline, there are several options available in the UK. These range from free services such as the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to call-blocking devices and landline services that automatically identify or screen suspicious callers.
The right option depends on how much protection your parent needs and how much they want to manage themselves.
For many families, simply blocking individual numbers isn’t enough. Scam callers can change or disguise the number they’re calling from. Stronger protection may therefore include automatic blocking, call screening and support from a trusted family member.
Here are the main options available in the UK and what to consider when choosing one.
Why do older adults get more scam calls?
Telephone fraud remains a significant problem for older people in the UK.
Research from the University of Portsmouth involving almost 2,000 predominantly older participants found that around two-thirds had experienced at least one attempted fraud within six months. Telephone contact was the main route used, with around three-quarters of attempted frauds involving calls or texts.
Scammers may pretend to be from a bank, broadband provider, delivery company, HMRC, the police or another organisation your parent recognises.
They can also use number spoofing, where they alter the number displayed on the phone to make a call appear to come from a legitimate UK number.
Ofcom highlights several common warning signs of a scam. These include unexpected requests for personal or financial information, pressure to act immediately and instructions to keep a conversation secret.
While anyone can receive a scam call, protecting an older parent can be particularly difficult if you don’t live with them. That’s why it’s worth looking beyond simply telling them not to answer unknown numbers.
How to deal with scam calls on an elderly parent’s landline
There isn’t one solution that stops every unwanted call. Different services tackle different parts of the problem.
1. Register the number with the Telephone Preference Service
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a good first step and it is completely free.
Once you register a telephone number, legitimate organisations should not make unsolicited sales and marketing calls without permission.
It can take up to 28 days for marketing calls to reduce.
However, there is an important limitation: TPS does not block scammers.
A criminal making fraudulent calls is unlikely to follow marketing regulations or check the TPS register before calling. Ofcom therefore recommends TPS as a way of reducing legitimate unwanted marketing calls rather than as complete scam protection.
It’s worth registering your parent’s number, but if scam calls are the main concern, you may want additional protection.
2. Check what call blocking their current phone provider offers
Many UK telephone providers offer some form of network-level call blocking or filtering.
Depending on the provider, this might include blocking known nuisance numbers or rejecting anonymous calls. Some services can also divert suspected unwanted calls.
Ready to switch?
Move to a safer digital landline in minutes.
Simple digital landline plans with automatic call blocking and friendly UK support.
See plans & pricesDiscover featuresOfcom advises consumers to ask their phone provider which blocking and filtering options are available because services differ between networks. Some may also carry an additional charge.
This can be a simple option if your parent wants to remain with their existing provider.
However, check exactly what is being blocked. A system that only blocks numbers previously reported as suspicious is different from one that also screens unknown callers before allowing the phone to ring.
3. Use a hardware scam call blocker
Another option is a separate call-blocking device such as those offered by companies including trueCall and CPR.
These devices sit between the telephone line and handset and can screen or block calls according to their settings.
They can be useful if someone wants to keep their existing landline provider but add another layer of call protection.
Before buying one, check whether it is compatible with your parent’s current or future digital landline. Also check for ongoing subscription costs and how easy the settings are to manage.
This is particularly important as UK home phones continue moving from the old analogue telephone network to digital landlines.
4. Choose a home phone service with automatic scam protection
If scam calls on an elderly parent’s landline are becoming a concern, automatic protection can reduce how many suspicious calls reach them.
The fourth option is moving the home phone service itself to one with scam protection built in.
Phonely is one example. As we’re Phonely, we’re obviously not an independent comparison site, but it’s useful to explain how our approach differs.
Our standard digital landline service includes automatic call blocking, using reported nuisance and scam numbers to help stop known problem callers before they reach the customer.
For households wanting more protection, Phonely CallGuard adds features designed to deal with calls that haven’t already appeared on a blocklist.
One of those is Call Screening. It asks unknown callers to complete a simple verification step before putting the call through. This helps stop many automated and bot-generated calls from reaching the home phone.
There is also a Trusted Person feature. This allows someone such as a son, daughter, relative or carer to be nominated to help support the account holder.
If something appears concerning, that trusted person can be alerted. They can even join a live call using the phone’s #9 function.
That means protection doesn’t have to rely entirely on the person answering the telephone deciding whether a convincing caller is genuine.
CallGuard can also provide call recording and other monitoring features, while CallGuard+ offers additional protection including keyword alerts.
The aim isn’t to prevent somebody from using their phone normally. It’s to put additional checks between them and suspicious callers while allowing friends, relatives and genuine contacts to continue getting through.
What should you look for in a scam call blocker for an older parent?
The best scam call blocker for an older parent is usually one that requires as little day-to-day management from them as possible.
Automatic blocking is useful because your parent doesn’t need to recognise a number as suspicious and manually add it to a blocked list.
But automatic blocking shouldn’t be the only thing you consider.
Protect your landline from scams and nuisance calls.
CallGuard blocks suspicious numbers automatically and helps keep vulnerable loved ones safer.
View CallGuard plansLook for protection against unknown callers as well as known scam numbers. Criminals frequently change numbers, so a number may not yet have been reported when it first calls.
Call screening provides an additional barrier in this situation.
You should also consider whether family members can help manage the service. If you’re buying on behalf of a parent, being able to provide support without taking control away from them can be particularly valuable.
Finally, look at how complicated the equipment is.
A sophisticated scam protection system isn’t much help if somebody finds the telephone difficult to use. Ideally, everyday calling should continue to feel like using a normal home phone.
How can I set up scam protection for my parent if I don’t live with them?
You don’t necessarily have to live nearby to help someone change their home phone service.
At Phonely, for example, you can arrange a digital landline for someone else, such as a parent or other relative.
Before making any change, first check what services currently use the telephone line. This includes the home phone itself, broadband and any alarm or telecare equipment.
You can then choose the appropriate service and arrange the account.
Where equipment is required, Phonely can pre-configure compatible equipment before sending it out. This reduces the amount of technical setup required at home.
Your parent can also add you as a Trusted Person where appropriate, giving them an additional layer of support.
If your parent is moving from a traditional telephone line to Digital Voice, our guide to Digital Voice and vulnerable users explains some of the additional things families should consider.
Frequently asked questions
In most cases, yes.
When changing landline provider, you can normally transfer, or “port”, the existing telephone number to the new provider.
Don’t cancel the old service yourself before checking the number transfer process with the new provider. Doing so can cause problems with retaining the number.
If keeping a familiar telephone number is important to your parent, confirm this with the provider before switching.
Check with the company providing the alarm before changing the telephone service.
Some older telecare equipment works with traditional analogue telephone lines and may need an upgrade before a household moves to a digital phone service.
Never assume an existing alarm will automatically work with a new digital landline.
Speak to the telecare provider first. Tell them that you’re considering changing the telephone service and ask them to confirm what equipment or connection is required.
Unlike a traditional copper landline, a digital landline normally relies on powered equipment such as a broadband router and phone adapter or digital handset.
If there is a power cut and those devices lose power, the home phone may temporarily stop working unless suitable backup equipment is in place.
This is particularly important if your parent relies on their landline for emergency communication.
Ask the provider what backup options are suitable for their circumstances. Make sure there is another way to contact emergency services where necessary, such as a charged mobile phone.
Phonely also offers Offline Alerts, which can notify a nominated person if the customer’s phone equipment goes offline.
That can provide additional reassurance for family members who don’t live nearby. However, it isn’t a replacement for an appropriate emergency backup plan.
How to stop scam calls reaching your parent’s landline today
If scam calls are becoming a problem, start by registering your parent’s number with the free Telephone Preference Service. You should also check which blocking features their existing provider already offers.
But remember that TPS primarily aims to stop legitimate unsolicited marketing calls. It doesn’t stop criminals making scam calls.
If scam calls on an elderly parent’s landline are becoming persistent, consider a service that combines several layers of protection. This could include automatically blocking known nuisance numbers, screening unfamiliar callers and providing support from a trusted family member.
For families worried about scam calls but who still want their parent to use a familiar home telephone normally, this can be more practical. It avoids relying on them to identify and block suspicious numbers one by one.
You can find out more about Phonely CallGuard and its scam protection features here.
f you’re unsure which level of protection is appropriate, our UK-based team will be happy to talk you through the options before you make any changes. Call us free on 0800 112 5000.
