Moray woman in her 80s scammed for hundreds of pounds by people posing as Moray Council workers amid “surge” in doorstep scams
MORAY households are being urged to be vigilant amid what has been described as a “surge” in doorstep scams across the north-east.
New figures from Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) have revealed that households across Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen have lost £150,000 to rogue traders between January and June this year.
Among countless victims of these scams in recent months is a Moray woman in her 80s who was targeted by cold callers.
The scammers told the woman that they worked with Moray Council, claiming that they were there to tidy up her garden.
She agreed to pay them £100 after they pulled up some weeds around her home before leaving, adding that they would return the next day to complete the work.
They then returned and asked to be paid an additional £150 which, again, she did.
But after doing so they left without completing any further work and the woman could not contact them to ask for a refund.
TSS is now running a nationwide “Shut out Scammers” campaign with Police Scotland and councils to raise awareness.
A scam awareness van has already been out and about in Moray to highlight these scams and offer some useful tips.
The organisation stressed the importance of conducting thorough research into companies before agreeing to any work.
It added that if someone claims to be working for or with a local council, householders should ask them to wait outside and close the door while they call the council to verify their identity.
Households are also advised against dealing with cold callers.
Maureen Chalmers, chair of Trading Standards Scotland’s governance board, said: “Scammers are constantly adapting their tactics to take advantage of people, especially when many households across the north-east are struggling to make ends meet with the cost-of-living crisis.
“So, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant and be on your guard.
“With our campaign and van, we aim to equip people with the tools and confidence to spot scams effectively.”
She added: “We are also asking people to look out for family members, friends, and neighbours and to report any suspicious behaviour to stop the scammers in their tracks.”
