I’ve just been scammed

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I saw some guys with ladders in next door’s yard, then bloke knocked on offering to clear my guttering too. I agreed and - I am so stupid - paid when he knocked back on only 15 mins later.

I cannot believe how stupid I’ve been - I’m normally super conscious of this sort of thing - but I was mid phone calls, in a rush, have been having other work done, and it just sounded straight forward - he gave me a business card blah blah. Anyway, as soon as they’d left I knew it was wrong but too late.

I’m utterly embarrassed and furious with myself but am also now worried.

AIBU to think they were scoping out my house/stupid people and now I’m going to be a target? I don’t really know what to do.

I’m confident the business card is fake - have looked up all the details and can’t find anything online, tho haven’t tried the mobile number.

Please don’t just reply to tell me how foolish I’ve been - I absolutely know that.

You can post anonymously on most FB groups x

Thank you. Yeah, I think you’re right and that’s what I would say. I’m just second guessing myself on everything now and thinking if I was stupid enough to fall for such an obvious scam have I also now shown them where the keys and entrances are to my property and how they can access through the yard.

Honestly, it’s so horrible. They were ‘That’s you all sorted for this year, and we’ve fixed a pipe on the front too that was a bit loose on the wall. We’ll give you a bell in 12 months when we’re round to keep on top of it.’

They’ve done fuck all.

Sorry for all the long posts, it’s genuinely shaken me that people are such cunts.

I’d do one of two things:

1. Ring them and tell them to return your money via your letterbox within 24 hours or you’ll be giving their reg and details to the police. I know you said you don’t have it but assuming they don’t know that.

2.Act casual, say your neighbour wants their guttering doing if they answer the phone. Record the call. If they confirm it is them, ring the police.

Id go and have a word with your neighbour too. Again working on assumptions here- but could they be in on it?

Also- the police can’t do anything about your money, that’s a lesson learnt. But if you go with option 1 they might just cack their pants and return your money.

i would do it today. It will look more like your talking shit tomorrow as most people leave their house on the daily and would notice.

Also keep an eye out for suspicious cars on your road/car park whatever.

lots of criminals are thick as pig shit and a quick check on line will reveal they have no tax MOT etc which is what criminals tend to do.

Thank you. Yes, I know police can’t do anything with my money. If I call and ask for my money back (which I’m happy to do) won’t I then need to give my bank details though? I paid by bank transfer (yes, I know - I’m an idiot - so have those details to give to police or anyone else) but is it an issue to give them my details? They can’t easily refund iyswim

Just be glad it was only £70. My 66 year old Brother had a guy knock on his door saying for £10 he would clean out back guttering, brother said ok. Next thing they pulled down guttering and facia, plus some roof tiles. Said to repair would cost £6,000. He panicked and told them to go ahead, then he rang me asking what he can do. I told him to just say no, but he said they’ve started working and been on the phone getting men there and ordered materials. I was furious, we own the house together as it was our parents house. I told him go back out and tell them you cannot afford this and to offer half. They accepted this. They did the job, but not that great and took about 2 weeks of various visits. I’ve told him not to open the door to any strangers in future and if he does, he’s to say he rents the house. My DH cannot even talk about it, he cannot believe he was so stupid as he really doesn’t have a lot of money spare.

It happens, it’s horrible but it really does happen to normally sensible people!

My husband paid £300 to gardeners to clear a single border in our small garden. They did but I could have done it in half a day and the weeds were back a year later🫣😩

I do remind him regularly😜 He is normally very sensible!

I genuinely thought I would always sniff this sort of thing a mile off, but was taken in by his patter and believability.

My advice to everyone is to never, ever, give money to someone who knocks on, no matter how believable.

I’m sure you know that already, but I thought I did and was still suckered.

Same here!

You paid by bank transfer? Call your bank! Tell them the fraud and they may reverse it.

Well, that’s great for you guys. I’m talking about a scam where the work hasn’t been done.

I’ve reported it to the bank, but not sure they can do anything.

Same here when they do my hedge.

All turned up with chainsaws! It did need lowering! Job done, the y said 15£ but as they had to drive me up to the cashpoint too, I gave them £20.

Are you sure OP? That they've done nothing?

Have you spoken to the neighbour who's yard they were in? What were they doing for them? Did they do the job correctly? Have they used them before? They may have done most of your gutters but missed some weeds. You may be catastrophising. If they have been used regularly by your neighbour, they may be able to ring them and explain you are not happy. Or at least if you know they are legitimate you can ring and explain yourself and they may come back. Or your neighbour may have been scammed as well, in which case you have an even better case to report them.

Did you not notice that there were no loo ladders or clearing? People usually keep any eye out on work done.

I don’t know that neighbour but will try

Any time I answer the door and it’s someone about doing my guttering or selling windows etc I always tell them I’m the cleaner. Gets them to bugger off without any hassle.

Sorry this happened to you OP.

Yes. I’m sure.

I’m very happy for all the people who have had work done and it’s been great. But I’ve paid £70 for nothing to be done. There are weeds growing in the guttering they said they would clear.

As I say - good for you and not being in this situation, but I wouldn’t be complaining/worried if the work had been done.

Your bank can help you,phone them and explain.

I don’t know the neighbours but can approach them. The business card is clearly fake.

They absolutely have not cleaned my gutters if they’ve left weeds growing in them! And also wouldn’t have done it in the 15 mins they said.

I’m not questioning whether I’ve been scammed - I have been. So you don’t need to analyse that. It’s what, if anything I can do next.

I am 100 per cent sure.

I’m happy you weren’t scammed.

I have been.

That’s why I posted.

Really surprising that scammers wanted to be paid bank transfer.

The usual scam is that they do a certain amount of cleaning but then notice an issue, or cause damage, like a PP mentioned & tell you it will be £££ to fix.

Maybe they are just a bit crap.

As to your worries, just ensure you are careful about locking up etc, you'll be fine.

It's a shame that you paid for a service you didn't get.

How do you know they didn't decide to just come back tomorrow because its getting late or they broke something they needed?

I wouldn't be jumping to 'it's a scam' just like that.

Also, how do you know the buisness card is fake? Maybe they just started up and thought 'let's make a buisness card'. And haven't designed a website yet.