Gardaí warn householders to beware of boiler repair scam

GARDAI have warned Wexford householders to beware of a boiler repair scam similar to well-publicised operations in countries abroad.

As defendants appear in court in the Netherlands and Australia charged with fraudulently obtaining large sums of money for fake roof repairs, Wexford gardai are investigating a complaint from a home-owner in Newtown who was the victim of a repair sting.

Two men in a white van called to the house and claimed they were working with a boiler repair service. They were shown a working boiler unit on the property which they set about damaging before charging €250 for their services.

It is understood that other householders may also have been targeted in incidents which have gone unreported.

A Garda spokesman warned people against dealing with anyone who calls randomly to their door offering to carry out household repairs, however convincing they may sound, especially in the lead-up to Christmas, as there is a danger they may be bogus.

He added that householders should be careful not to get caught off guard.

Extensive scams in which mainly elderly home-owners have been intimidated into handing over large amounts of money for bogus roof repairs and other household improvements and then leaving the work incomplete or shoddily done, have hit the headlines in The Netherlands and Australia with a number of court proceedings taking place in which people have been charged with offences.