ROOFING, driveway resurfacing, tree lopping and home maintenance ... they’re often on our “to do” lists – but beware: they’re also four ways travelling conmen get money for nothing from unwary householders.
In the last financial year, Consumer Affairs Victoria received 207 reports of travelling conmen who scammed residents out of $477,000 in total. Monash, Whitehorse, Boroondara, Manningham and Ballarat were the hardest hit areas.
Travelling conmen are dodgy tradesmen who pressure homeowners and small businesses into paying cash up front for services. However, once they get the cash they are gone – and if they have done any work it is often unfinished or of a poor standard.
They will only give you their first name and mobile number, and sometimes use flyers of legitimate businesses – all of which makes finding them very difficult once they leave.
If you suspect a travelling conman is knocking on your door, tell them you are not interested and ask them to leave. If they do not leave, they are breaking the law.
Consumer Affairs advises homeowners to use established tradespeople who give written quotes. If you are unsure, ask for their full name and registration or licence details so you can check these with their industry authority.
- If you know of travelling conmen in your area, record as much information as you can, such as their name and vehicle registration number, and report them to the National Travelling Con Men Hotline, 1300-133-408.
Victim’s ‘acute embarrassment’
REGULAR reader Michael Gamble wrote to The Senior to say an elderly neighbour had fallen victim to tree lopping conmen.
The men had turned up at her door asking if she wanted any trees cut down or trimmed; they were happy to give a quote.
The woman was quoted $1200 to have a large tree removed from her front lawn.
“But wait, if she paid cash on the spot they would do the job for $800 – a 33 per cent discount,” Mr Gamble wrote. “She agreed and paid them. They kindly gave her a receipt and said they would be back at 8 the following morning to complete the task.
“That was the last she saw of the duo and her money.
“The receipt contained no details of the business, merely an acknowledgement that they had received $800 from her for unspecified work.
“She has declined to report the fraud because of acute embarrassment.”
Scam tip-offs
East Keilor Combined Probus Club members were recently tipped off about how to avoid scams, frauds and security risks.
Senior Constables Luki Yantono and Damien Collins from Victoria Police were both helpful and entertaining as they outlined to the 160-strong audience ways in which dodgy operators go about ripping off their victims.
Many in attendance had scam stories of their own involving anything from simple painting and roof repairs to elaborate financial schemes.
- More information about recognising and dealing with shonky operators is available from Consumer Affairs Victoria, www.consumer.vic.gov.au or Scamwatch www.scamwatch.gov.au
