Residents of Moray have been urged to be vigilant of rogue traders offering to resurface driveways.
Moray Council’s Trading Standards have received a number of calls detailing the hard-sale tactics used by the bogus traders, who are known to target vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly and those who live on their own.
“A common tactic is to promise the consumer that no payment is necessary until the job is complete but then demand large sums of money half way through the job to buy materials,” said a trading standards officer.
Another common ruse employed by the traders is to distribute professional-looking leaflets, complete with false 0800 numbers, a website and office address to appear legitimate.
The officer added: “The best defence, however, is simply to say no and close the door.”
Moray police issued a reminder for individuals to check all paper work and source several quotes when dealing with a company.
This comes a year after rogue traders Larry and Jerry Connors were found guilty of terrorising residents of Elgin and Cullen in April 2015. The pair briefly fled to England after the Press and Journal exposed how they conned a great-grandmother out of £3,200 for work valued at £1,000.
Doorstep sellers can be reported to trading standards on 0300 1234561 or to police on 101.