RESIDENTS are being urged to stay vigilant following a wave of scams in Redditch.
The Borough Council issued the warning following a number of unsolicited emails, telephone calls and door-to-door fraudsters falsely claiming to be energy advisors, insulation installers, bank officials or councillors.
Many of these incidents have been reported to the police.
The most recent scam popping up across the borough involves targeted phone calls and fake door-to-door callers.
Victims are called by a ‘company’ which claims to be associated with the council.
Residents are then told that their insulation is wrong, old or illegal and that an ‘officer’ will attend their property to assess the situation.
The scammer appears on their doorsteps and begins to quote a price for replacing the insulation or other services such as ‘roof washing’.
A large deposit is taken to ‘secure’ a date for the works but the cash is never returned.
While the council does offer energy advice and funding through a partnership with YES Energy Solutions, it will never phone or approach residents out of the blue to sell goods or services.
Visits are always pre-booked with residents and the officer will have proof of ID.
Coun Julian Grubb, whose portfolio covers community services, said: “These criminals are the lowest of the low for targeting the most vulnerable and trusting members of our community.
“Please help us warn as many people as possible by sharing this information.”
If you think you have been scammed or want to report potential scammers visit Action Fraud’s website www.actionfraud.police.uk or call police on 101.
