Gardaí have arrested and charged two men in their 20s in relation to two incidents of alleged fraud resulting in the loss of approximately €15,000 to two elderly ladies in Cork city recently.
On the 3rd and 29th of September, Gardaí in Watercourse Road received two reports of suspected fraud. In the first incident, two men called to a house offering building services which were never carried out. In the second incident, one of the men pretended to be a neighbours relative. Both home owners, women in their 70s and 80s, handed over a combined total of €15,000.
An investigation was carried out by Detective Gardaí from the Crime Hub in Cork city and a search operation was carried out at two houses in Killarney yesterday morning, 5th October 2019, with the assistance of the Armed Support Unit and uniform members from Killarney District.
Two men in their 20s were arrested and brought to Mayfield Garda Station and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. They have since been charged and are due to appear before a sitting of Cork District Court (No 1) tomorrow morning, 7th October 2019 at 10.30am.
Speaking at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Tony Davis said ‘Incidents like this are getting all too familiar. If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours and see or hear about bogus traders operating in your area, let them and ourselves know so we can put out additional patrols.
"If you suspect that anyone who calls to your door selling goods or services is not who they say they are, tell them you are not interested and call the Gardaí immediately. Genuine trade’s people won’t be offended by any queries the Gardaí may make. If you are answering the door to ‘cold callers’, apply the chain or door limiter before opening the door. I would also ask that If anyone feels like they, or someone they know, paid for building work or other services that was not carried out, to call any Garda station and report the matter.”
https://www.garda.ie/en/Crime-Prevention/Bogus-Traders-Callers.pdf
