Bogus tradespeople, door-to-door sales or doorstep fraud involves fraudsters trying to defraud you after knocking at your door.

Legitimate doorstep selling involves someone selling you goods or services in your home or on your doorstep. Many honest businesses use this technique – but so do fraudsters.

Buying on your doorstep can be convenient. However, a salesperson/people who uses clever tactics can pressurise you into buying something you actually don’t want or something that’s poor value for money.

Door-to-door frauds can take many forms, including:

• pressure selling
• unfair contracts
• overpriced or substandard home maintenance or improvements
• phoney consumer surveys
• bogus charity collections

Such frauds involve promoting goods or services that are either never delivered to you or are of a very poor quality. Fraudsters may also bill you for work that you didn’t agree to. There are specific laws about door-to-door sales. Many are required to give you a ‘cooling-off’ period (where you can change your mind or request your money back). Bogus tradespeople will offer none of these, and even if they do, you can be sure their ‘guarantee’ will not be honoured.

Bogus salespeople will provide false identity or contact information, making it impossible for you to identify or contact them. If you’ve paid them in advance, you won’t get your money back.

Even if your bank or insurance policy covers any loss, you’ll still have to contend with a damaged credit rating, continued correspondence over a prolonged period to repair the damage, and the emotional distress and anxiety that identity theft can cause.

Also, be wary of opening your door to a potential burglar or someone who wants to get inside your property to enable other people to break in. Once they get through your door, fraudulent salespeople can take note of your valuables and any security measures you have in place.

Are you a victim of door to door sales or bogus tradespeople fraud?

• You’ve bought faulty, overpriced or substandard goods or services from someone knocking at your door.
• You’ve paid for these goods or services by credit or debit card.

Protect yourself against door to door sales or bogus tradespeople fraud

Advanced payments and contracts: Don’t immediately agree to any offer that involves an advance payment or having to sign a contract on the spot. Always speak with a friend or family member first. Remember, under no circumstances would a genuine business or organisation force you to make a financial transaction on the spot.

Trusted tradespeople: Trading Standards advise that you should only use tradespeople that have been recommended to you by people you trust, or pick one from the ‘Approved Tradespeople’ leaflets that are distributed by local councils.

Verify: You should always check the credentials of an unexpected sales person that knocks on your door. You can always call the company they represent to verify their identity, but don’t use any contact details they give you.

What should you do if you’ve been a victim of door to door sales or bogus tradespeople fraud?

If you have made a payment: Inform your bank as soon as possible, they can help you prevent any further losses. Monitor your bank statements regularly for any unusual activity.

You could be targeted again: Fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary scam. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.