Be alert - bogus builders in the area (From Sutton Guardian)

Be alert - bogus builders in Carshalton and Wallington

2:20pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Mike Pyle

Bogus builders tried to con two people - including an 87-year-old - out of thousands of pounds this week.

The would-be fraudsters tried to tell people their houses needed drying out because of nearby building work but neither of the intended victims fell for the ruse.

A supposed builder called at the house of an 87-year-old man in Beddington Gardens, Wallington, at 1pm on Tuesday. He said he was putting up scaffolding at a neighbouring house and needed the man's phone number because there was a problem and his boss would need to call him.

Later the man got a call from someone asking for £1,800 to prevent flooding and mildew - the man hung up on the caller and contacted police.

The person who called at the house was a white man in his mid-20s.

A 65-year-old man answered a call at his front door in Wrythe Lane Carshalton at 1.30pm the same day. He was told building work at a neighbour's house could make his walls damp and that he would need to pay a £2,400 deposit for a dehumidifier.

The man gave the caller his phone number and was phoned by a man purporting to be a Mr Collins who insisted on cash and said he would meet the man at a nearby location. The 65-year-old called police who waited at the location but Mr Collins failed to turn up.

The man at the door was white, 25 to 35-years-old, 5ft 8in, stocky and spoke with an Irish accent.

Police say people should shut their doors and call 999 if anyone calls on them trying out this scam.

If you need work doing you can get council-approved builders through the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme. For more information call 0208 770 5070 or visit www.sutton.gov.uk.