Conman posing as council and Water Board worker entered Surrey homes to steal money
People are being warned to be on their guard after a man posed as a tradesperson or council worker to con his way into two homes in Surrey. Officers say a man gained entry to homes in The Dittons and cash was stolen in one incident.
Surrey Police has launched an investigation after the incidents on Sunday, January 12 and Monday, January 13. Officers said a man who claimed to be a tradesperson from the Water Board stole money from a home in St Chad's Close, Long Ditton on Sunday.
In the wake of this, a Surrey Police spokesperson said: "Please be wary of allowing any stranger into your home if you are not expecting them, and be sure to check ID badges prior to entry. You can also check their identity by contacting the agency they state they are from."
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Anyone with information which may help officers investigating these incidents is urged to contact to police. Officers can be contacted in a number of ways; via Webchat on its website; using the police online reporting tool; or by dialling 101. Make sure to use the reference number for these incidents which is PR/45250004289.
How to avoid being scammed out of money or personal details through door-to-door fraud
Surrey Police described the main two fronts scammers will use; either selling goods and services; or conducting surveys to get your personal details.
The most common of the two, involves trying to sell you goods or services which will likely never be delivered, or will be of poor quality. This will allow scammers to get a quick and easy profit out of you; charge you for a service you didn't want or agree to; or just get your personal details for future scams.
The force also warns the public to be wary of unscrupulous employees of genuine businesses who will sometimes act illegally even when selling a genuine product. These sorts of door-to-door scams can be much harder to identify, so police always advise that you check the work ID of the representative before you let them in your home, and if it looks suspicious, do not let them in.
If this ID has a number on it, it is important to never call it. First, ask the salesperson to wait outside, then shut the door and find the company number on the internet to verify their legitimacy.
For more information on how to avoid being scammed, visit the Surrey Police website's page on door-to-door and courier fraud here.