Crime Prevention Message - Bogus Callers / Traders

On this month’s Crimecall, Sergeant John Fitzpatrick was in studio and provided Crime Prevention information in relation to “Bogus Callers / Traders”.

An Garda Síochána are advising the public to be vigilant when cold callers call to a home offering a service such as repair work / maintenance or goods for sale. While there are legitimate sales people calling to homes offering legitimate services and many people do routinely employ people offering work / services at the front door, some individuals (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.

This behaviour may be criminal, with investigations of this nature not limited to but ranging from offences such as criminal damage, burglary, theft, deception to demanding money with menaces. If it sounds too good to be true it usually is.

If you suspect that bogus caller(s) or trades person(s) are operating in your area and appear suspicious or are working in a vulnerable neighbour’s home, please contact the Gardaí and notify your neighbours. Try to note as much additional information about them as possible but never put yourself at risk. Information such as a description of the individual’s height, clothing, accent and details of any vehicle they are using, e.g. vehicle colour, make, model, registration number.

Bogus callers may operate in a number of ways. They will call to the home of a victim usually identified by them beforehand. This is often the home of an older or vulnerable person who may be living alone. This information is usually gleaned by surveillance or ‘discreet’ / ‘innocent’ enquiries made by them locally. They may also target the person because they have been ’successful’ there previously. The majority of incidents occur during the course of the day between 9am to 4pm, between Monday and Friday.

Some of the reasons these Bogus Callers may give for calling to the door is outlined below:

Tree Cutting/Trimming services
Roof Cleaning
Roof Repairing
Window Cleaning
Driveway Power Washing
Landscaping
Painting
Odd Jobs
Charity
Sale of Clothes
Carol Signing
Gutter Cleaning
Gutter Repair
County Council
Garda – Checking Cash
Cash found outside home
Tarmac for sale
Replace fire extinguishers
Clean Garden

Examples of how a bogus caller(s) may operate is outlined below:

Distraction Burglary

They will call to a home under the guise of selling a product or a service. They will keep the resident at the door talking for as long as possible. This is to allow time for an accomplice to enter the home through a different access point to steal items of value.

Poor or no work carried out / excessive charges

They will often call on the pretext of being professional trades persons, e.g. roofers, guttering experts, painters, etc. and convince the victim that repairs need to be carried out or that they have worked on a neighbouring house.

Services will be offered on the understanding that they are competent and in-expensive. The bogus callers) will then usually go to the roof, attic, or hard to reach area of the house identified and give the impression that they are carrying out works, e.g. by hammering, drilling, painting etc. On completing the ‘work’, invariably in a short period, they then demand payment by cash, often using threatening and intimidating tactics. They may even commence ‘work’ without permission and then demand payment and may even go as far as offering to drive the victim to the bank to collect money.

Bogus Charges

Different member(s) of the same criminal group may return at a future date to a victim’s home posing as V.A.T. or Revenue Officials. They will demand money for ‘work’ already performed by them and seek further payments.

Deposit Scam

When the bogus caller(s) has spoken with a resident and are satisfied that the intended victim has been hoodwinked into engaging them for work, they will demand a deposit to purchase the materials to carry out the necessary repairs. Having secured the deposit they flee, never to return.

Opportunity Thefts / Coercion

They will target a particular area and offer a real or genuine service to the victim or may convince the resident they are from a utility services provider such as Gas, Water or Electricity with a need to check inside the property for faults. Having gained entry they may wander through the home to see if there are any items of value. This could be furniture, paintings or other valuables. They will then offer to buy the item for well below the market value. They then coerce their victim to sign receipts for the sale of the article secured by them. They can use subtle and intimidating tactics into forcing the victim to ‘sell’ to them what they want.

With regards to bogus callers we advise you to keep control, 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 trades persons, 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 112.

If you think you have become a victim to this type of crime what should you do?

Never be embarrassed or ashamed to contact the Gardaí. Do so 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 safely 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 trades people are in your area and appear suspicious or are working in a vulnerable neighbour’s home – never hesitate in contacting the Gardaí immediately.
Genuine trades’ people will not be offended by any enquiries the Gardaí may make and, indeed, usually welcome them.

Ask your local Garda station about ‘bogus caller cards’. These cards advise that the front door should not be open to cold callers. If you answer the door, apply the chain or door limiter and hand the caller the card. Do not enter into a conversation with the caller. As stated above genuine callers will leave their details on the card. For further Information see - bogus-traders-callers.pdf (garda.ie)