Don't open the door to cold callers is latest message in scams campaign

Rogue traders often cold call people and deliberately overcharge for unsatisfactory goods or services and the council’s Trading Standards department has teamed up with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to highlight the tell-tale signs.
Many legitimate businesses sell products door to door, such as utility companies and charities, so some residents can be door-knocked frequently making it more difficult to spot the rogues.
Builders, gardeners and home improvement companies are among the most common rogue traders, and they will often use intimidating or extremely persuasive sales tactics, will only cash payment and may offer to take you to your bank to withdraw the money.
The council is advising residents not agree or sign to have any work done by cold callers, not to open the door to people they don’t know or aren’t expecting and to secure the door bar or chain before opening the door.
It is also urging residents to check the identity of official callers.
Chief executive of West Berkshire CAB, Jan Rothwell, said: “Scammers are heartless criminals who can devastate people’s lives and at West Berkshire CAB we see at first-hand their impact.
“Scams Awareness Month has been a great opportunity to work together with West Berkshire Council’s trading standards service and partner organisations to help people to identify and prevent scams, and to know what action to take if they have been scammed.
“The end of Scams Awareness Month, however, won’t mean the end of our work on scams.
“The local media support has been key in getting our scams message across to residents throughout West Berkshire and to help in the fight-back against ruthless scammers.”
For advice or to report concerns, call West Berkshire Council’s trading standards service on 08454 04 05 06.