Thames Valley Police in Newbury, Berkshire, have issued a warning about the importance of “safeguarding our elderly family members”, as “rogue gardening firms increasingly target vulnerable individuals”.
Police said the rogue firms deployed tactics including “unsolicited doorstep visits and unverified Facebook accounts”.
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They warned that “the scammers often pose as legitimate businesses, offering overpriced or unnecessary services and can pressure or intimidate older people into agreeing to work on the spot”.
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There has been a “significant increase in these scams”, the police said, suggesting people should “check in regularly with elderly relatives, help them verify any tradespeople before agreeing to services, and report suspicious activity”.
Thames Valley Police encouraged anyone who has been a victim of these scams to call them on 101 and report the incident “with as much detail as possible”.
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