Two incidents have been
drawn to our attention this week involving what appears to be a very similar
bogus drainage repair scam.
Incident 1 - A Beckenham resident was cold called and told there
was a problem with a neighbour’s drains. He allowed men into his back garden to
inspect a manhole cover and they told him work was needed to clear a blockage.
The resident paid a large deposit for machinery needed to do this work, was told
he also had damp in his property and paid a further £10,000 to resolve both
“issues”.
Incident 2 - An elderly resident in Orpington was cold called by
a young male in shorts and told that there was a problem with a blockage in a
neighbour’s drains. The resident was asked for permission to inspect his drains
and he agreed. The male lifted the manhole cover and left. The resident was
then telephoned by a man claiming to be from a company attempting to sort out
the problem. He was told a deposit of £4,000 was needed to hire machinery to
clear the blocked drain and was asked for a banker’s draft. The resident
refused and then received a call from someone claiming to be from the Council
who applied more pressure in an attempt to obtain the funds. The resident again
refused. The resident then received a call from another male
pretending to be one of his neighbours, again applying pressure and trying to
appeal to the resident’s good nature. Luckily, the resident knows his
neighbours and did not fall for it. When they continued to phone, the resident advised
he had informed Trading Standards and the Police after which the caller hung
up.
Trading Standards are
investigating these incidents.
Meanwhile, please beware
of cold callers offering property repairs or claiming to be from the Council.
Call Bromley Trading Standards Rapid Response team on 07903 852 090 if you are
suspicious of anyone offering any type of property repairs and look out for any
neighbours who may be vulnerable to this type of caller.
Bromley Neighbourhood Watch Association
Find us on the Web
at: www.bnwa.co.uk
