Age UK York, Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) and City of York Council are sharing information and resources with the aim of ensuring older people in York keep safe and well.

Over the next few weeks, work to prevent older residents becoming the victims of ever more sophisticated scams will be undertaken.

City of York Council has recently been alerted to a new ruse used by bogus traders preying on older people. The council’s Trading Standards team has heard that a friendly looking man calls at the door offering to clean gutters – for £5. When the householder agrees the work begins, a few minutes later he returns saying there’s a problem with the roof, which looks quite serious – he has seen some birds flying through a gap in the tiles and produces a piece of wet insulation to confirm the leak is bad.

The salesman is then likely to claim that the problem is severe and needs immediate attention. He suggests the work is done there and then, for hundreds even thousands of pounds. He will even offer a discount for signing up immediately. The householder is not offered the cancellation rights the law says must be provided for doorstep contracts and is thereby defrauded.

Age UK York can provide a copy of The Home Services Directory – a list of traders vetted by Trading Standards and the police. Age UK York and OCAY. City of York Council’s Trading Standards (via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline), welcome enquiries from people about any suspect trading matters. Call Age UK York on 01904 621020, call OCAY on 01904 676200 or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.