A warning has been issued by Gardaí in Galway to be on the lookout for a gang of bogus tradesmen following a string of incidents that have caused alarm around the country.
Multiple incidents involving rogue door-to-door workers have caused concern amongst residents in Clare, with Gardaí now warning they may be targeting other areas nearby.
The first reported incident occurred on Thursday, February 2 at around 1pm, when three males called to a house on Main Street in Kilfenora and told the lady in the house they would clean her gutters.
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When she told the males the landlord had not informed her of this they commenced cleaning the gutters anyway for a short period before requesting payment of €200 from the lady. She paid them only to discover when she told the owner of the house he had not employed anyone to do this job.
A report was also made to Gardaí during the week from a homeowner in Fossabeg, Scariff reporting that a male called to his home in a white van, claiming to work for a certain water company and said he was investigating a leak.
The man asked the homeowner to run taps inside and outside and then said he would report a leak that he had found. The homeowner subsequently contacted the water company and he was told that they did not have anyone working in that area. This male may have been trying to distract the homeowner.
Crime Prevention Officer for Clare Sergeant Triona Brooks issued advice, via the Clare Herald, on how people can protect themselves from falling victim to scams such as these, such as:
- Only use known, reputable workmen – ask your friends and neighbours.
- If you are not expecting callers, look out the window to see who is at your door, have a viewer fitted in your door or have a doorbell video linked to your phone so you can see who is outside without opening the door.
- Have a door chain/limiter fitted to your front door and keep the chain on if you must open the door.
- Make sure your back door is locked before you go to the front door
- If you are going to engage, ask for ID.
- The basic rule is if you don’t know the person at your door, you shouldn’t let them in.
- Have adequate lighting at the front and rear doors.
- If anxious contact your local Gardaí.
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