Moray residents have been warned to remain vigilant against dodgy dealers who are roaming the region trying to offload “unsafe” goods.
The local authority’s trading standards unit yesterday issued an urgent appeal for people to exercise caution if they are approached by door-to-door tradesmen offering electrical equipment.
Officers have received a “significant number” of reports from alarmed residents whose suspicions have been aroused by sales visits this week.
In each case, householders have been approached by alleged rogue traders and presented with a story about how they accumulated a surplus of stock during a recent exhibition.
The traders have then explained their eagerness to sell off the items before having to return home to Ireland.
Equipment offered for sale has included generators, pressure washers, pots and pans, toolboxes and knives.
Trading Standards leaders say that “extravagant claims” have been made about the value of the items being offered, and that vendors have been “very persistent” in their attempts to talk people into making a purchase.
They say that in one extreme case, a trader “became aggressive” when his would-be-customer refused to buy any goods.
The salesmen are also alleged to have described the equipment as having been manufactured by quality brand names, when in fact they appear to be lower quality lookalikes.
The council has fielded calls from across the region, and officers believe the traders have been using a variety of vehicles as they make their visits.
The authority’s trading standards manager, Peter Adamson, encouraged anyone who has recently bought one of the items in question to contact his team.
He said: “We are making an urgent appeal to anyone who has bought one of these items in the last few days to contact trading standards for further advice.
“We are keen to speak to the people involved in the sale of these goods, and would also ask for any sightings to be reported as soon as possible.”
Mr Adamson added: “We have concerns that some of this equipment does not comply with electrical or other safety regulations.
“Normally, equipment of this type has to pass stringent checks before being allowed on to the market.
“When people buy from itinerant traders on the doorstep, they have no idea where the goods came from or if they are safe.”
