Warning after rogue traders target Exmouth couple
- Credit: Archant
An elderly couple from Exmouth handed over a ‘large sum of money’ to two men claiming they could fix guttering at the property.
Police said the men knocked at the pensioners’ door and told an elderly woman at the address the guttering needed replacing.
Officers were called when the men demanded more cash and tried to take the woman to the bank to withdraw more cash.
Police community support officer Karen Capey said: “They told the elderly female that her guttering needed renewing; the males were already removing the old guttering.
“They asked for a large sum of money upfront to buy the materials.
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“The guttering was replaced but the standard of work was very poor.
“The males then told the elderly female that her fascia boards were rotten and demanded more cash.
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“They told her they would take her to the bank.
“At this point, police were contacted.”
Devon and Cornwall Police urged the public not to accept any works or repairs from doorstep traders and to call 999 if they become demanding or aggressive.
A police spokesperson said Trading Standards and Action Fraud should also be contacted: “Rogue doorstep traders target mainly vulnerable or elderly people.
“They extort large amounts of cash from them, and the standard of work is very poor.”
Anyone with information about doorstep traders in Exmouth is asked to contact police on 101 and quote log number 253 13/04/17.
