Bogus doctor alert after intrusive call in Telford
People in Telford are being urged to be on their guard after a man posing as a doctor called a councillor and asked intrusive questions about her health and well-being.
Councillor Pat Smart, who sits in Hadley and Leegomery Parish Council, received a call from someone claiming to be from Oakengates Medical Practice.
The caller claimed to be a doctor and asked her a series of personal questions, as well as booking an appointment for her the following day for a check-up.
Councillor Smart said: "I had a phone call from a number withheld. He asked a few questions about my general health and some questions were quite intrusive and I didn't think they were necessary.
"He had said his name was Dr Williams but I said he can't have been the proper Dr Williams because the real doctor is Irish.
"He said he was a different doctor and I should go in for a check up the following morning at 10am."
When Councillor Smart got to the medical practice, she was told she was not down on the appointment lists that day.
She added: "I spoke to the real Dr Williams and he was concerned that people were calling claiming to be from his practice.
"I wanted to alert people. If they get a phone call from their doctors, put the phone down and ring them back."
Oakengates Medical Practice declined to comment this afternoon.
Richard Ewels, a spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "We had a report today from a Hadley woman about a suspicious telephone call she received on Friday.
"The male caller claimed to be a doctor from a local medical practice.
"He asked some questions and told her to attend a doctor's appointment and to take a urine sample.
"However, it appears to have been a bogus call – there was no such appointment."
