Expect a criminal to show up at your house to steal your money, wearing a ski mask and carrying a crowbar.
But in an increasing number of cases they could wear a high-visibility jacket and knock politely on the door rather than forcing their way in.
Doorstep scams, in which scammers show up at properties with a made-up story to separate residents from their money, have been a ruse for centuries.
But scammers are using a new crop of stories to trick their victims and play on their current fears, and some areas have become particular targets, Money Mail can reveal.
Home delivery scams with fake merchants now account for a fifth of suspected fraudsters reported to consumer charity Citizens Advice, the highest proportion since May 2019.
Warning: Fraudsters in high-visibility jackets are targeting homes with home delivery scams and fake traders now account for a fifth of all suspected scammers.
The South East is the biggest hotspot for them, with more homes attacked than any other region in England and Wales, new figures seen by Money Mail show.
Up to 17.5 per cent of all suspected home fraudsters reported to Citizens Advice between April 2023 and March were from households in the south-east.
Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in particular are being targeted, according to separate data obtained by Money Mail from Action Fraud.
The next highest country is the North West, where 12.5 per cent of reports of alleged home delivery scams were made.
Only 10.6 percent were reported in London, the equivalent of 398 complaints, according to data from Citizens Advice.
Northeast residents have been the least targeted, accounting for just 3.3 percent (or 124) of all reports of suspected home delivery scams.
Victims are being blindsided by a series of tall tales about home improvement. For example, Katherine Hart, director of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, warns that a growing number of fraudsters are using the government’s net zero emissions target to exploit their victims.
“The drive towards net-zero emissions means people are aware of the need for energy efficiency,” he says.
“So scammers take advantage by claiming there are government grants that allow them to retrofit people’s homes at a reduced price.”
Once the victim has handed over their cash, doorstep scammers disappear with the money, or do a poor job before leaving.
Hart adds that in recent years there have been a number of home scams in which scammers offered to insulate people’s homes.
However, the work proved to be poor and there were stories of poor insulation affecting homeowners’ chances of getting a mortgage.
“The doorstep scammers who carried out these scams are now targeting the same victims and claiming to be from new companies that can eliminate bad insulation,” he says. “We are seeing a massive increase in these types of scams right now.”
In recent years there have been a number of home scams where scammers offered to insulate people’s homes, but ended up doing shoddy work that required expensive repairs.
Another growing trend is doorstep scammers targeting homes built in the 1970s, he adds.
‘This is because houses of this age are starting to show their age so scammers can convince residents that they need something done. Many of the original occupants will still live in these properties, so they are likely to be older. And a good number are in the southeast.
Trevor Hutton, retired IT manager and neighborhood watch coordinator for his area of Tooting, south London, warns that now is the best time for bogus traders to knock on doors, as gardens often need tidying up and winter rain may have damaged them. or blocked gutters. The 76-year-old man says that on his street you often see scammers trying their luck.
“Lately they’ve been wearing high-visibility jackets to look more official,” he says.
“They said we’re cleaning the gutters on your neighbor’s property and we can clean yours.”
Trevor posts to his street’s WhatsApp group to warn neighbors. But he says some residents have been ensnared by persuasion techniques.
“They look for problem houses with overgrown hedges and older houses with slightly crooked gutters,” he says. “They come and go very quickly.”
Michelle Pilsworth, Santander’s head of fraud and complaints, says scammers typically claim something bad will happen if the homeowner doesn’t do the job right away.
She says: ‘It can be a hole in the roof or a gush of water or broken gutters or general gardening work.
“If you didn’t know you needed it, think about why they tell you you need it.”
Scammers usually ask for payment up front, but the money often increases as time passes or the job may be poorly done. A tradesman may even disappear before work begins.
Threat: Home delivery scams now account for a fifth of suspected frauds reported to consumer charity Citizens Advice, the highest proportion since May 2019.
Kent Trading Standards tells of an elderly resident who was convinced to give up his entire pension in exchange for a poor roofing job.
The criminals then posed as trading standards officers and stole a further £10,000 under the pretext of paying a court fee.
Pilsworth suggests that hotspots could appear in places where more people are retired or working from home, since home delivery scams depend on the presence of people.
Trading Standards Scotland says the top six scams sweeping the UK this year include fraudsters offering a special gardening deal available for one day only, or claiming to work for a telecommunications company and need to check the speed of house wifi.
Others say they are from an energy company and offer a roof coating to help reduce heating bills, or they are a passing trader who has spotted urgent roof repairs needed.
Matthew Hepburn, TSB anti-fraud spokesperson, says: “It’s really important that you never allow random, unverified people into your home – don’t feel pressured by their aggressive tactics and strong language.”
John Kamoto, head of policy and research at Age UK, says older people are more susceptible to home delivery scams because they tend to stay at home more.
‘Home delivery scams cause enormous distress to older people. We know that at least 2.8 million people over 50 are afraid to open their door for fear of scams.
“This prevents them from being able to talk to people.”
Age UK recommends a stop, lock, chain and control policy when meeting a stranger at the door. If you’re not expecting anyone, lock the outside doors before opening the front door in case the scammers are working together.
Put a chain on the door and ask for ID. You can also call the company the caller claims to work for to independently verify their identity.
John also recommends putting a “do not cold call” sign on the door, as scammers may think twice before calling.
Households can also create a password with their utility provider in case someone needs to visit. This means you can check that they are genuine before you open the door to a stranger or let them into your home.
If you think there are scammers outside your home and they won’t leave, call the police.
If you think you have been scammed on your doorstep, report it to Citizen Services on 0808 223 1133 and Fraud Action on 0300 123 2040.
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