Rogue traders and doorstep crime

Doorstep crime is financial abuse and ruins lives. Criminals prey on the elderly and vulnerable by gaining their trust and convincing them that urgent and usually unnecessary work needs to be carried out. Large amounts of money are then defrauded from the victim.

Financial abuse is a serious crime. We need your help to report financial abuse before the victim loses large sums of money.

Watch the video to see how victims are targeted and then read about how to spot the signs below.

With thanks to Kent County Council Trading Standards in partnership with Slough TS, Public Protection Partnership, Oxfordshire TS, Medway TS, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, and the Kent PCC who have produced this video to help highlight issues relating to financial abuse and doorstep crime.

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse happens when someone exploits another person’s money, property, or financial resources for their own gain. It often targets people who may be isolated, unwell, or otherwise vulnerable. Below are some examples that show how financial abuse can occur in everyday situations:

• An elderly man was persuaded to hand over his entire pension in exchange for poor‑quality roofing work. The criminals then pretended to be Trading Standards officers and stole an additional £10,000, claiming it was needed to cover a fake court fee.

• A couple with learning disabilities and mental health challenges were manipulated into paying £22,000 for a poorly installed artificial lawn and roofing work that was never finished.

• A deaf individual was left afraid to leave their home after being pressured into paying £3,000 for roofing repairs that were completely unnecessary.

How to spot the signs

Be alert to signs that someone you know has fallen prey to financial abuse. Anyone can be a target, but criminals will often target socially isolated people. Learn the signs of financial abuse so you can help protect your patients, clients, neighbours, friends or family members.

Has the person:

• Had work done on their property or garden that wasn't planned?
• Been pressured into additional work that has cost more money?
• Visited the bank or cash machine more than usual, or made any large online transfers?
• Not been given a detailed receipt for the work that has been done?
• Understood exactly what work is being completed?
• Started acting troubled or distracted

Has the trader:

• Made contact by cold-calling the potential victim?
• Failed to provide a 'right of cancellation' notice?
• Returned to the property frequently to do other work or drop off other workers?
• Refused to speak to anyone other than the potential victim?
• Completed work to a poor standard or not completed work at all?
• Demanded to be paid in cash or a cheque made out to a different name?

Report financial abuse

We work with the police to protect people from doorstep crime and financial abuse. If you have concerns about a neighbour, family member, friend, patient, client or someone you visit, please report it:

• To report a crime in progress, call 999.
• To report a crime that has taken place, call the police on 101.
• To get advice contact Citizen's Advice consumer helpline. 

Any delay can result in more money being lost, criminals will demand cash, which is harder to trace and refund.