WY bogus caller reports

Yorkshire Water is urging customers in West Yorkshire to look out for family, friends and neighbours who may be vulnerable to bogus callers.  

The warning comes after a report of people trying to gain access to homes in the Batley, Liversedge and Dewsbury areas of West Yorkshire by pretending to be Yorkshire Water workers. 

Yorkshire Water’s protective security manager said: "We’ve been made aware of a couple of instances where two men in Yorkshire Water t-shirts have turned up unannounced and asked to come inside to inspect drains in the property. They are not employed by Yorkshire Water and our customers have done the right thing by asking to see some ID and reporting the interaction to us.  

“We would urge customers to remain vigilant and look out for people who may be vulnerable to these kinds of approaches to prevent opportunists. All our teams carry photo identity cards which they're happy to show to customers. 

"If a caller claims to be from Yorkshire Water, you can always ask to see their identity card and why they're visiting. Their identity can also be double checked by calling us before letting them in. Find our contact number on our website to make sure it’s genuine." 

Yorkshire Water offers a free password scheme for people who want to add an extra layer of protection and peace of mind that callers are genuine. You can sign up by registering for its priority services: 

The spokesperson added: "Customers can arrange for Yorkshire Water colleagues to use a unique password when visiting - simply let us know your chosen password and we'll make sure all our people use it when visiting a property or calling.” 

To set up a password, customers can call 0800 1 38 78 78. 

To learn more about how to spot a bogus caller, view Yorkshire Water’s video guide.