Central Hunter residents warned of travelling conmen Tuesday, 05 November 2013 04:19:16 PM Police are warning residents of the Central Hunter to be on the lookout for conmen believed to be travelling in the area. Central Hunter Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector John Zdrilic, is concerned about reports of men going door to door, offering to do home maintenance jobs for cash. “We have reports these men may have distinctive Irish or English accents and are known colloquially as ‘travelling conmen,” Det Insp Zdrilic said. “There have been reports of these men duping unwary homeowners across NSW. “NSW Fair Trading is investigating a report from an Oak Flats resident who paid $700 to have his driveway cleaned. “In that matter, a business card with the unregistered business name ‘G1 Pressure Cleaning and Sealing’ and a disconnected phone number was used. The card details, ‘Make Your Driveway New Again – driveways, paths, pergola areas, pool areas, gutters, roofs, fences, stencil concrete, pebble concrete, pavers and blocks’. Det Insp Zdrilic said maintenance work commonly offered by the travelling conmen includes high-pressure cleaning, roof painting and tree pruning. “It’s important that people with elderly family members make them aware of the risks of employing unknown people who cold-call. It appears these people actively target the elderly,” he said. Police are working closely with NSW Fair Trading to warn residents about travelling conmen. Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said travelling conmen and groups were a menace and he urged the community to warn family, neighbours and friends, particularly the elderly, not to deal with cold-calling, so-called tradesmen. “Anyone with any information about travelling conmen or groups or their whereabouts should call the Travelling Conmen Hotline on 1300 133 408,” he said. “Do not deal with these people. “Travelling conmen and groups are generally not licensed to do the work they are offering. Consumers should always ask to see trade licences and check their veracity with Fair Trading by calling 13 32 20 or doing an online check at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. “Travelling conmen and groups will take your money and rip you off. Any work they do will be of a poor standard and there is little recourse for people who deal with unlicensed traders.” NSW Fair Trading has more information on the Stop Travelling Conmen Facebook page and has an interactive map for reports of travelling conmen at: stoptravellingconmen.org 52 minutes ago · Melbourne, Victoria
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 06:17:55 +0000
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