Soaring energy bills spark scam alert

A SCOTLAND-wide campaign has been launched to help combat doorstep scams after a rise in complaints about con artists exploiting the huge rise in energy bills.

The Shut out Scammers campaign, launched today by Trading Standards Scotland and Police Scotland, aims to raise awareness of mis-selling of energy efficiency measures, doorstep crime, rogue trading scams, and other frauds people can fall victim to.

In recent months Trading Standards said there had been a rise in reports about cold calls and scams relating to energy efficiency products like boilers or roof insulation.

It, along with the police, is now warning that rogue traders may attempt to exploit the cost-of-living crisis and scam consumers by providing misleading information about products and services and posting misleading adverts and reviews online.

Detective superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Typically, doorstep criminals look to fraudulently represent tradespeople so that they can gain access to your home where they look to steal items of value which can include your personal information that they can then use for financial gain.”

Dishonest companies target those who want to make their homes more energy efficient, saying that funding or grants are available for their products, yet asking consumers to pay for the products up front or take out a loan.

Trading Standards Scotland said last month one retired teacher in Paisley was visited by a cold caller who said his company was offering free loft inspections.

She was told they had found a potentially toxic mould, and that she would have to fork out £7,000 for new insulation. Worried it could be dangerous, the pensioner agreed to take out a loan and the scammers even helped her find a loan online.

It was only when her bank flagged the transaction that the scam started to unravel and police were able to cancel the loan and ensure she would not be contacted again by the rogue traders.