OFT warns pensioners of scams

As we approach the winter period the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has today issued a warning to pensioners in the UK to be wary of scams from doorstep sellers. Even though canvassing on the doorstep is not illegal, and many legitimate businesses use this particular means of contact, there is no doubt that we have seen an increase in fraudsters and scams over the last few years. Anything from "broken tiles" to "gardening work" is used to gain the trust of pensioners in the UK and many have been fleeced of money for work which is often never completed.

It is becoming more evident that despite a 16% increase in complaints about doorstep sellers over the last 12 months the vast majority of people in the UK are often embarrassed to step forward. It is the ability of the fraudsters and scammers to gain the trust of their victims in the early stages which is vital to their success, and something which we all need to be aware of. If you are approached by a doorstep seller you have every right to ask for their identification, contact details and if they become evasive or they are reluctant to pass on this information then alarm bells should begin to ring.

Fraudsters and scammers often prey on those who may be overly concerned about relatively small issues and willing to pay "over the odds" for their services.