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15:02 14/02/2020
Police are urging people to be vigilant after an elderly Runcorn resident was talked into giving rogue traders a large quantity of cash.
The victim, who lives in the Heath area, received a leaflet through her door advertising services such as tree and hedge cutting and landscaping work.
She called the company advertised and subsequently received a quote for landscaping work in her back garden.
After handing over a large cash deposit for the work to a man claiming to be a company employee, he cut back a bush in her garden and cleared some rubbish.
He then left the address and agreed to return with colleagues three days later to continue the work.
However, on Saturday 8 February the victim received a phone call saying that the work would cost considerably more money.
She agreed to pay the company a further large sum, doing so via a bank transfer.
The victim has not heard anything from the company since.Inspector Fez Khan, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “Unfortunately incidents such as this are becoming increasingly common, with rogue traders targeting vulnerable people and trying to get as much money from them as possible.
“Rogue traders often appear to be highly professional. They can have printed leaflets and vehicles branded with their company name, making people think they are legitimate.
“They often use highly pressurised selling techniques to convince victims to use their services and charge exorbitant prices for work of a poor standard, or work that is never carried out.
“Enquiries in relation to the case in Runcorn are ongoing, in a bid to identify who took the victim’s money and have it returned to her, and I want to take this opportunity to urge people living in Runcorn or anywhere else in Cheshire to be vigilant and to contact the police if they believe that a rogue trader is taking advantage of them or someone they know.
“Call us on 101 or give the details via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report, and also give the details to the trading standards department at your local council.
“I ask people to look out for any elderly or vulnerable neighbours by checking on their welfare and reporting any suspicious activity to the police.
“I also encourage people to follow our advice on how to avoid falling victim to a rogue trader.”
Cheshire Constabulary’s advice is: