Travelling con men back on the move

Mr Stowe said Fair Trading had received several reports of men with English and Irish accents offering bitumen work and other home maintenance jobs in various parts of the state in the past week, with a very worrying report today of threats of violence against a local business in Moree.

“A Glen Innes business reported frequent visits from a group of men paying cash for gravel for jobs they were doing in the northern Tablelands region,” he said.

“The businessman said the men were driving hire trucks with Queensland number plates and were obviously itinerant traders. He said he was concerned they were doing work without the necessary licences because they became very defensive when asked about their credentials.

“The businessmen said the men were aggressively demanding cash payments from local people. The men were subsequently reported to be touting for work in Inverell.”

Mr Stowe said Fair Trading had this afternoon received a report from a Moree businessman that men in the same plated vehicle had undertaken work for him after providing a verbal quote of about $200, following which they then demanded $3,000 in cash or a cash cheque.

“The businessman had agreed to the work earlier in the day after being reassured by the men that they could provide an ABN and tax invoice.

“When the businessman refused their payment request, the men reportedly became hostile and verbally aggressive threatening to burn the business down and to assault the businessman. They subsequently left the premises. Fair Trading has reported the incident to local police.”

Mr Stowe said in Griffith, men with Irish accents and of average height and build and aged in their mid-30’s were also reported offering bitumen work.

“These men were driving a white, single cab truck, similar to local council trucks and with ‘Bathurst’ written across the back of the truck and on portable containers in the back,” he said.

“A consumer in West Hoxton in greater Western Sydney reported two men door-knocking for pressure cleaning work and using the business name, Able Pressure Cleaning and Sealing.

“One of the men approached the consumer while the other stayed in the vehicle, a white utility.

“The man who approached the consumer was wearing an Akubra hat and desert boots, was about 6 foot tall, with a stubble beard and an Irish or UK accent. The man offered to clean the consumer’s driveway with pressure washing and no chemicals for $480 or a cash payment of $380.

“Fair Trading could find no registered business name or ASIC reference for the business.”

Mr Stowe said in Gunnedah, two men with English accents were reported doing shoddy bitumen work for one consumer, who quickly became suspicious when the men refused to verify their credentials.

“The two men gave the usual spiel of ‘bitumen left over from a big job’ they said they had just done in Tamworth.

“They were reportedly driving a four tonne truck and another Toyota vehicle, both with Queensland number plates.

“One man was described as clean shaven, wearing thick glasses, with brown hair and a fair complexion.

“The other man was described as having brown hair and with a fair complexion and a beard.”

Mr Stowe said consumers should report any sightings of travelling conmen and groups to the national hotline on 1300 133 408.

Fair Trading recommends consumers contract with local, licensed tradespeople.

The Australian Consumer Law prohibits contractors from intimidating or threatening consumers for payment.

If consumers feel threatened they should call NSW police immediately.

If anyone door-knocks to do work valued at more than $100, the consumer must be given a 10 business day cooling off period before work may start or payment can be made.

Watch our video Driveway Scam – don’t get fooled by dodgy tradespeople.

Visit the Stop Travelling Conmen Facebook page and check the interactive map for reports of travelling conmen at: www.stoptravellingconmen.org