Waterford gardaí issue warning about bogus callers and tradespeople

Waterford gardaí has issued advice to households about bogus callers and traders.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochana in Waterford said that while legitimate traders may call to homes, bogus callers aim to take advantage of vulnerable people.

This usually involves coercing a victim into handing out large amounts of money for little work or gaining trust to access your home.

"As we’re getting into the summer season and looking to clean up our houses and gardens to hopefully enjoy some good weather, it's important to be vigilant when cold callers call to a home offering a service such as repair work/maintenance or goods for sale," said the spokesperson.

Bogus callers often target older people, people they know to be vulnerable or living alone.

This information is usually gleaned by surveillance or discreet and innocent enquiries made by them locally.

They may also target the person because they have been successful there previously.

According to gardaí, the majority of incidents occur during the course of the day, between 9am and 4pm, from Monday to Friday.

In addition to tradespeople, bogus callers may pretend to be representatives from a charity or someone claiming to return lost property.

In some cases, they pose as gardaí or Revenue officers pretending to be collecting charges or making enquiries.

Gardaí advise you to keep control, and consider this security check:

• Are you expecting callers? If not, look out the window to see the caller(s). Make a note of their clothing, physical description or their vehicles description.
• Have you a door viewer fitted in your door? You are safer behind a closed door.
• Have you a door chain/limiter fitted and the chain / limiter engaged? If you must open the door, use the limiter.
• Consider installing a video doorbell, which links to your mobile phone. That way you don’t have to open the door to speak to the caller and can do so from the mobile device.
• If you are going to open your door to callers, ensure your back door is locked before you do.
• If you are going to engage, ask for ID – a genuine caller won’t mind.
• Don’t be embarrassed to tell the caller to write their contact details down for you so that you can make an appointment with them in the future if you decide to.
• Use recommended tradespeople. Avoid using the services of cold callers.
• The basic rule is - if you don’t know the person at your door, you shouldn’t let them in.

If you are anxious and feel you are being targeted, contact Gardaí on 999 or 111.

And, if you have been a victim of this type of crime, gardaí say not to be embarrassed but to contact them immediately.

Write down all you can remember about what happened - include descriptions of the person(s), their clothing, any peculiarities or distinguishing features and any vehicles used by them.

Keep any documents they may have given you.

For those people who may have elderly or vulnerable neighbours or friends, be a good neighbour and advise them of these possible scams.

If you suspect that bogus callers or tradespeople are in your area and appear suspicious or are working in a vulnerable neighbour’s home – never hesitate to contact the gardaí immediately.

Remember, genuine tradespeople will not be offended by any enquiries the Gardaí may make and, indeed, usually welcome them.