Doorstep Crime/ Cold Calling

One resident in the Garioch area recently saw workmen at her vulnerable

neighbour’s property, working on the driveway. Sensing something was amiss

she went to investigate and found one workman spraying a black tar-like

substance on the drive. When the resident asked the man what he was doing he

advised he was repairing a small hole. However, when she asked him to stop,

he quickly became abusive.

The resident entered her neighbour’s home to check on her and ask what was

happening. The neighbour advised that the workmen had come to her door

earlier that morning and offered to repair the small hole in the drive for £800 and

that she had been too frightened to say no, so had consented. No paperwork

had been provided and the men had started work straight away. The resident

went back outside and insisted that the men stop work immediately. The

foreman became highly abusive but the men all left, in their three vehicles when

the neighbour began filming them on her mobile phone. Details of the workmen

and their vehicles have been passed to Trading Standards and later Police

Scotland. Enquiries are ongoing.

If you don’t feel confident in dealing with cold callers at the door:

• speak to a trusted neighbour or friend who lives nearby to see if they

would be willing to act as your nominated neighbour, dealing with cold

callers to your home on your behalf,

• place ‘No Cold Caller’ stickers or notices near to your gateway and/or

front door to make it plain to visitors that cold callers are not welcome

(these can be obtained from Trading Standards or online from reputable

retailers for just a few pounds),

• if a cold caller comes to the door, you don’t have to answer or open the

door, simply call your nominated neighbour to see if they can assist you,

• if the caller refuses to leave your doorstep, especially if your nominated

neighbour is unavailable, phone the Police,

If you are a nominated neighbour:

• don’t let the caller enter your home,

• if possible, don’t let the caller enter your neighbour’s home either,

• make sure both properties are secured from people sneaking in whilst

your attention is elsewhere,

• never leave the caller alone in either house or permit them to move freely

about the property,

• check the caller’s ID carefully and verify it with their company, if possible,

• look the company number up in the Phone Book rather than relying on

information on the caller’s ID card,

• whatever happens, see the caller out of your neighbour’s house,

• if a caller or workman becomes aggressive or abusive, withdraw for your

own safety rather than risk making the situation worse,

• try to avoid getting into confrontations or arguments,

• get inside and call the Police on 999 if it becomes an emergency or 101 if

not,

Further information is available from Police Scotland at

https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/scams-and[1]frauds/doorstep-crime-and-bogus-callers/ and from Take Five at

https://www.takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/advice/general-advice/doorstep-scam/