Homeowner in Offaly conned by rogue traders as garda warning issued

Gardai in Offaly have issued a warning about bogus callers and rogue traders after a homeowner in the county was on the end of some poor quality work.

According to gardai, a recent incident in Ballycumber involved individuals offering tarmac work at a low price. Unfortunately, the quality of the work was poor, no receipts or contact details were provided and once the job was done, those who carried out the work vanished.

Crime Prevention Officer for Offaly, Sgt Graham Kavanagh, is reminding the public – particularly older residents and those living in rural areas – to be cautious when approached by unsolicited callers offering services like tarring, guttering, power washing, or tree cutting.

His advice is:  If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is; Never agree to work on the spot – take your time and seek trusted advice; Always ask for proper identification and references; Don’t be pressured – legitimate traders will never rush you; If in doubt, call your local Garda station or 999 as they would much rather check on something that turns out to be fine than see someone fall victim to a scam.

Sgt Kavanagh concludes by adding, look out for your neighbours and report suspicious activity when you see it.