Bogus workman tried to con Knottingley 80-year-old out of £900 in cash
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West Yorkshire Police have asked members of the public to remind elderly relatives, friends and neighbours of this type of scam, which they said are more common during times of stormy weather.
In a warning, the force said that a bogus workman yesterday (Wednesday, February 12) called at the gentleman's home in Knottingley and informed him that he had damaged tiles on his roof.
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Hide AdHe offered to repair the roof for a payment of £900 in cash.
The victim asked if he could pay by cheque, but was told there would be a 10 per cent surcharge for this, so decided to go to the bank to draw out the cash while the suspect waited at his address.
Once at the bank, staff were alerted by the large withdrawal and offered further support to the victim under banking protocol, asking a series of questions designed to establish whether a withdrawal is legitimate.
Staff then alerted police to the scam, and officers were dispatched to the victim's address. The suspect was identified and arrested for deception offences.
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Hide AdIssuing advice for a similar case, Action Fraud said: "If you’re unsure, ask for identification and never let anyone you don’t know into your house.
"Check the individual’s credentials, including a permanent business and landline telephone number (mobile phone numbers can be hard to trace).
"Don’t agree to buy anything on the spot. It’s always a good idea to get three written quotes to make sure you’re not being ripped off.
"If you’re in any doubt, ask the person to leave or call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, who work in partnership with local Trading Standards Authorities.
"To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use our online fraud reporting tool."