A fast-response trading standards team at Lewisham town hall joined the police to thwart dodgy builders attempting to con £2,500 from an elderly Sydenham resident.
Following a tip-off under banking protocol that a council resident had withdrawn an unusual amount of cash, officers dashed to the address to catch the builders, who immediately ran off without the cash.
They had removed fencing as part of works they convinced the resident was essential.
The banking protocol is a system where banks and credit unions report any suspicious activities or unusual withdrawals to the police and the council’s Safer Communities Service to prevent such frauds.
The targeted resident – whos age and address are not being divulged – has now been listed as a vulnerable person on enforcement systems and council officers worked with him so he can identify any scams in the future. Officers also contacted relatives to help prevent further incidents.
The council’s Trading Standards and Police work closely together to prevent such doorstep crime, which in addition to robbing people’s life savings often undermines their confidence to continue living independently in the community.
This case is a timely reminder for residents to be wary of potential scam on what is International Fraud Awareness Week.
Councillor Chris Barnham, member for Community Safety said: “Our officers do great work chasing off unscrupulous doorstep criminals, but they rely on early alerts to…
