Police have issued a warning following three reports of bogus callers targeting residents in East Lothian and the Scottish Borders.
The incidents happened in Kirk Park, Dunbar; Callandar Place Cockburnspath and Croft Road, Kelso on Monday 3rd October.
In the Kirk Park incident, a 92-year-old man was charged an excessive three-figure sum to have some gardening work done. The suspect bogus workman called himself John Smith and left a business card.
The suspect in the Cockburnspath incident called unannounced and offered to tarmac the driveway, leaving a business card.
In the Croft Road Kelso incident, a workman was contacted via social media, he asked for payment up front and left without completing the work.
Officers are advising residents to be on their guard for bogus callers, rogue traders and not to engage anyone cold-calling to do property maintenance, gardening or home repairs.
Sergeant Michele Lindsay said, “Police Scotland is committed to tackling those involved in this crime and will use all means at our disposal to ensure they are swiftly brought to justice.
“Rogue traders usually turn up announced, claim to be bona fide tradesmen when they are not and charge inflated prices for shoddy or unnecessary work.
“However, an effective way of preventing these incidents from happening in the first place is by raising awareness of the problem and advising members of the public on what steps they can take to stop themselves falling victim.
“We would recommend that you never engage anyone who turns up at your door and never give them money up front.
“We would also caution against keeping large sums of cash in your own home.
“More information about how to protect yourself against bogus callers can be found on the Police Scotland website at the link below.”
Doorstep Crime and Bogus Callers
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
