Bogus Callers

CfE Experiences and Outcomes

I am learning to assess and manage risk, to protect myself and others and to reduce the potential for harm when possible. HWB 2-16a

1. Connecting the Learning - Ask a child to role-play pretending to be at home. The teacher plays a person knocking at the door and saying they are from the gas company. The child lets them in. (Arrange this beforehand with the child.) Discuss with the class ‘Was that a safe thing to do?’ ‘How do you know I was from the gas company?’

Explain that in this lesson the class are going to learn about ‘Bogus Callers’ and how to make sure someone is a genuine caller. Remind the class that they should not open the door to anyone they don’t know and that the advice in this lesson works just as well for adults.
   
2.  Sharing the Learning Outcomes -

• I can explain what a bogus caller is and why they could be dangerous.
• I can identify the steps to check a caller is genuine. (The 3C’s)
   
3.  Active Learning - Explain that bogus callers are dishonest people who try to enter people’s houses by pretending they are somebody else. Once they are inside they could steal money and items from the home. Sometimes genuine companies need to visit your house, for example, to read the meter. Ask the class for more examples of companies and reasons why they might call. Make a list. Discuss ‘Would it always be a male caller?’ ‘If it was a lady would that mean they are genuine?’

Continue by explaining that anyone coming to your house from a genuine company, like Scottish Water, will always carry an identity card with a photograph or a letter from the company. To see it, your parent or carer should ask for the card to be passed through the letterbox or held up to the peephole or window.

The card or letter will have a phone number so you could check they are genuine but to be extra safe it is better to use the Customer Helpline number in the phone book or online.

The police and utility companies say that if someone comes to your door claiming to be from a company you should follow the 3 C’s –

• Card (Examine their photo card)
• Check (Check the photo matches the person)
• Call (Call the Customer Helpline to check they are a genuine caller.)

If in doubt, don’t let them in.
Ask the class to repeat the 3 C’s – Card, Check, Call.
   
4. Demonstrating Understanding - Watch the two Bogus Caller video scenarios on the interactive whiteboard. Discuss what mistakes are made by the people answering the door and what they do correctly.
   
5. Review and Recall - Remind the class about the Learning Outcomes and ask them to try the plenary quiz on the interactive whiteboard.
Image of Bogus Callers
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