By JESSE GRAHAM
THE Victorian Government is urging residents in the Yarra Ranges and surrounds to be wary of travelling conmen offering unsolicited work, with a number of dodgy tradesworkers being reported.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett said summer was the peak time for scammers, who bully or pressure homeowners into handing over cash for sub-standard or incomplete work, to visit homes.
Consumer Law Victoria and the Yarra Ranges Council both posted online warnings last week, after reports came in of conmen in Mount Evelyn and Montrose offering work on bitumen and driveways.
The council’s Facebook post stated that the person was claiming to be a representative of council, and that this was not the case.
“If you are approached, please report it to us by calling 1300 368 333 or private messaging,” the post read.
The government’s Stop Travelling Conmen website amalgamates reports of dodgy tradesworkers, and lists four incidents in 2014 in the Dandenong Ranges and surrounds – in Emerald, Monbulk, Ferntree Gully and Lilydale.
One incident has been recorded in Coldstream this year so far.
Ms Garret said residents should report tradesworkers who didn’t seem legitimate, or who were making unsolicited offers for cash-only or today-only ‘specials’.
“Never pay cash up-front for a promised job – people have the law on their side when they refuse demands,” she said.
Consumer Affairs Victoria lists a number of tips for people to avoid getting stung by travelling conmen.
For example, the website asks residents to be suspicious of tradesworkers who knock on doors unexpectedly, offering to paint the house, work on gardens, resurface driveways or fix roofs; offer cheap deals using words like ‘for today only’; ask for cash up-front; pressure homeowners to accept their offer; or say they can do the job immediately, because another job has been cancelled.
Residents are asked to not answer, or to ask the visitors to leave – if they refuse, they are breaking the law – and to take down as much information as possible, such as names and vehicle registration.
Travelling conmen can be reported to 1300 133 408 between 8.30am-5pm Monday to Friday or to local police stations.
For more information, visit www.stoptravellingconmen.org.
