DOOR callers have been stopped by police in Malvern in a crackdown on rogue traders who target vulnerable residents and con them out of cash.
Police have revealed they have stopped 25 people in the town within the last week to ensure they were doing legitimate trading and have given advice to more than 250 residents so they do not get hit hard by the conmen.
Officers and trading standards services across the country are working with the Department of Work and Pensions, Environment Agency, HM Revenue and Customs, the DVLA, the DVSA, Border Force and Scambusters to catch rogue traders.
Policing teams from across the two force areas took part in a week of action which began last Monday (April 11).
The operation came months after a 95-year-old war veteran in Malvern was targeted and forced to pay £200 who conned him into letting them cut a tree in his garden.
Two men demanded the elderly man pay them £700 for their ‘services’ and insisted he if he did not pay they would throw all their rubbish into his garden.
The two men refused to leave or accept a cheque until they were given £200.
The force-wide operation also saw officers cover stop checks in Herefordshire where a man was arrested on suspicion of fraud, in connection with six unfair trading incidents in which elderly people were targeted and scammed out of £27,000.
He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Detective Constable Fiona Paterson who coordinated the operation said: “Through this successful operation and partnership with Trading Standards and a number of other agencies, we have been able to stop offenders in their tracks. We offered advice to our communities to help prevent them from becoming victims of this crime.
“Rogue Traders will often target those who are elderly or vulnerable and con them into thinking they require work to be done on their homes. This work is often not completed or completed to a poor standard.
“We would like to thank everyone who has worked with us on this operation, and we’d like to remind the community to be aware of these crimes and follow some simple advice to keep yourself and your cash secure.”
