Conmen are targeting people in the Highlands and members of the public are warned to be on their guard.
Police said a number of cold callers and bogus workmen have been reported.
There have also been a number of telephone scams where cold callers advise victims they have an outstanding debt and need to purchase iTunes vouchers to pay it off.
Last week, a 71-year-old man in Inverness had received such a phone call and was conned out of £950, while on the same day, a 26-year-old man in Inverness was tricked out of £650 after receiving a similar cold call.
Easter Ross officers were informed of an incident where cold callers attended at a residential address offering to carry out maintenance work. The price of the work was then inflated and of a poor standard, and on Thursday, March 23, an elderly man in Invergordon was also conned out of £800.
Rogue-traders usually cold-call, claiming to be workers offering to sell services, make repairs or carry out work on your house, garden or driveway. In reality they charge inflated prices for sub-standard or unnecessary work. They may tell you work is urgent and needs to be carried out immediately, or they will ask for payment there and then and offer to come to the bank with you if you don’t have cash at hand.
Police advise to keep doors locked, use a door chain and only let callers in if they have an appointment and you have confirmed they are genuine. Always ask for identification and phone the company they are representing to verify their identity.
Inverness Area Commander Chief Inspector Ian Graham said: “We are urging the public to be vigilant to cold callers offering services and goods for sale. Do not feel pressured into making on the spot decisions. Take your time to check credentials satisfy yourself that they are a legitimate business with a good reputation.
“Look out for vulnerable members of society who could be contacted by unscrupulous individuals over the phone. Organisations such as HMRC would never ask for payments in the form of iTunes vouchers.”
Mark McGinty, Trading Standards Team leader added: “My advice would be to ‘say no’ to someone calling at your door to offer garden or home maintenance works, and to inform us of any flyers that appear through your letterbox. Anyone who suspects a bogus workman should contact either Trading Standards or Police Scotland.”
