How to protect yourself from doorstep crime
We want to keep all our Surrey residents safe from doorstep crime.
Senior Trading Standards Specialist, Claire Hodgson tells us the following story an example of how these scams can happen:
"Mrs. Smith was at home when a man knocked on her door. He said he was a trader working in the area and noticed her gutters needed cleaning. He gave her a reasonable price and said he could do the work right away. Mrs. Smith agreed. After finishing, he told her that some roof tiles were loose and offered to fix them, but at a much higher price. Mrs. Smith didn't have enough cash, so the man offered to drive her to the bank. Luckily, the bank staff asked why she needed the money, and being concerned they quickly contacted the police and Trading Standards."
Claire adds: "This is the type of common trick used by criminals, often targeting vulnerable people. They pressure residents into making quick decisions, often raising the price or delivering poor-quality work. Sometimes, they don't do any work at all, leaving people out of pocket by up to hundreds of thousands of pounds."
How to protect yourself:
- Don't talk to unexpected visitors at your door. If you do, don't agree to anything right away.
- Don't pay cash on your doorstep. If you agree to have work done, the trader must give you a written notice that you have 14 days to change your mind.
- Get quotes from other companies before deciding on any work.
- Report any scams to the authorities so others can be warned. If you feel unsafe, call the police on 999.
If you, or someone you know gets repeated unwanted knocks on the door and may be susceptible to giving out information or money, you can apply for a free door camera.
You can watch the recording of our webinar, jointly hosted with Surrey Police where we explain how to stay safe from doorstep crime.