Tayside Police Warning Over Bogus Callers

Tayside Police have urged residents to be on their guard against cold callers and bogus workmen who arrive unannounced at their door and offer services such as building work and repairs, gardening work, the removal of rubbish, or general tidying up.

People looking to persuade residents into engaging their supposed services often adopt high-pressure sales techniques and are well-practiced in their patter. They can be very convincing to whoever answers the door to them and difficult to send on their way.

Very often it is the home addresses of the elderly and more vulnerable members of the community that they call on.

Every year, Tayside Police receives complaints from householders who have been left out-of-pocket due to so-called workmen who vanished, leaving jobs half-done, or badly finished, typically having received a large cash sum in advance.

With no contact details, contract, invoice or business card, the victim has no way of tracing the workmen or so-called company.

There are also bogus callers who knock at a door - claiming to represent a company or authority - with the sole intention of conning their way in, distracting the householder and stealing from them.

In urging householders to be vigilant and neighbours to look out for one another, Tayside Police offer the following advice: –

• Be suspicious of anyone arriving unannounced at your door. Householders should ensure that doors are secure, even when at home and use a door chain.
• Neighbours should look out for one another – particularly if they have elderly or vulnerable neighbours. Report any suspicious activity to the police.
• Do not allow casual callers to undertake work on your property – such as roofing repairs, re-surfacing of driveways, or gardening.
• If someone calls at your door offering to carry out work, satisfy yourself that the person, or the company they claim to represent, is reputable. Take a contact telephone number and then take time to check out their credentials. Tell them you will call them back if you want the work done.
• Bogus workmen have practiced their sales patter with a view to sealing an instant deal. Do not accept or consent to have work done immediately. Take time to speak with friends, family, or neighbours, as well consumer advice organisations, or the Police about what the workman offered.
• Never bow to pressure to pay for a job in advance no matter how demanding the workman or caller is. Do not allow callers to persuade you into letting them in to your home, or to taking you to a bank or cash machine so you can withdraw cash for them.
• Ask for a written quote on headed paper. Ask where they advertise, or if they are listed in the phone book. Seek out references.
• It is good practice for anyone requiring any type of building or gardening work to be done to obtain a number of written quotes from trustworthy and established firms, before deciding. People should not simply contact a company in response to a flier that came arrives via the letter box.
• Fliers are simple to create and the chances are that if they carry an offer that appears to good to be true, it is too good to be true.

Anyone requiring consumer advice or who is unsure as to their rights can contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Consumer Direct have links with Trading Standards Unit. The Scottish Scambusters Team who cover the whole of Scotland is a specialist Trading Standards Unit set up to tackle rogue traders and would be interested in any information the public might have. As well as the Consumer direct telephone number, information can also be sent in confidence to Scambusters@northlan.gsx.gov.uk.

Anyone who has information regarding bogus workmen can contact Tayside Police on 0300 111 2222. Details such as vehicle registration numbers and descriptions of the individuals involved are invaluable. People can also call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.