Police have issued a warning after reports of bogus workmen taking money from two Fair City householders without carrying out the work they were paid for.
On Saturday a man went to an address in Coll Place in North Muirton and offered to clean out guttering and drain pipes. He took money but failed to carry out the work.
He returned the next day demanding more money from the resident, and police were contacted.
He is described as a slim 20 to 35-year-old and was wearing a light shirt, short black jacket and dark jeans or trousers.
Two days later an address in Tulloch’s Allison Crescent was targeted by men offering to clean and repair guttering. They also took money and failed to complete the work.
The pair were aged between 20 and 30, of slim build, and wore dark clothing.
In each case the bogus workmen made off with a “low two-figure sum”.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Rogue traders usually cold-call, offering to make repairs or carry out work on your house, garden or driveway. In reality they charge inflated prices for shoddy or often completely unnecessary work.
“We do not recommend dealing with cold-callers for property maintenance and repairs to your home and garden areas. Contact your local council to see if they have a Trusted Trader Scheme in your area where you will find a list of accredited trades people.
“Criminals who commit doorstep crime are very convincing, believable and take advantage of the most vulnerable/trusting people, often in their own homes.”
The warning comes days after a nationwide alert after a series of incidents with elderly people targeted by people claiming to be police officers.
Fraudsters contacted the residents either by phone or by attending at their home and claimed to be investigating a fraud which they believe the elderly person to be a victim of.
The fake officers have then requested the bank cards and PIN of the victim, claiming they are needed for investigation purposes.
When contact was by phone, the fake officers told the victim that someone would come over to collect the evidence.
In one case the victim was instructed to attend their local bank and withdraw all of the money from their account. The suspect was left alone in the victim’s house whilst the victim carried out the instructions.