Concerned Finglas residents are warning of an elaborate tree cutting scam that was used to try to take money from an elderly resident in the area.
Young men came to a garden explaining that they had been ordered to cut down a large tree before demanding a large sum of money.
In an alleged incident yesterday afternoon, an elderly resident of Cappagh Drive was approached by a 20-year-old man and a man in his late 30's.
They explained that they had been sent to her garden to cut down a tree and immediately proceeded to the job.
They went to leave for lunch and said the elderly woman would have to have €800 ready for them upon their return.
Thankfully, her kind neighbours spotted the scam and went into the house to ask the men for references.
They knew something was immediately wrong when the would-be fraudsters said that the lady's daughter had called, as she had no children.
The pair quickly sped away with the people of Cappagh Drive urging others to keep an eye on their elderly or vulnerable neighbours.
A resident posted: Just to make people aware.
"An elderly neighbour on cappagh drive had 2 men arrive at her door. One looked to be about 20 odd and the other man looked in his late 30's.
"They said they had an order to cut down a large tree and went through her house and start working on the tree. "They proceeded to tell her they were going for lunch and she was to have €800 for them when they returned.
"My brother went into them to ask for a reference or who had called them.
"They said her daughter called. This elderly neighbour has no children.
"He told them to leave he was going to the police and they left quick."
Locals were shocked by the elderly lady's horrific ordeal.
One person said: "Fair play to your brother. Scum is all they are doing that on an elderly lady. Well to do it on anyone but especially the vulnerable."
Another wrote: "Nice to have good neighbours to look out for you."
A third person commented: "Hope the Lady is ok ,must have been so frightening for her.
"Thank God your brother was there for her."
Gardaí are investigating the incident.
A garda spokesman said: "Gardaí received report of an alleged incident involving bogus traders at a house in the Cappagh area of Finglas, on the 26th January 2022.
"Enquiries are ongoing.
"Crime prevention advice on Bogus Traders and related criminal activity can be found here https://www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/bogus-traders-callers.pdf."
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