I’ve just been scammed

[MaybeImbad]

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.

Report on 101 as chances are they will try elsewhere in the area including vulnerable people. Also flag on local sm groups.

Are you joking? Because they said they’d knock on and take payment when the work was done, and I (incredibly stupidly) paid them. They are absolutely not coming back!!!

If a reputable tradesperson said they were mid job then I would know that.

I’ve searched their names, company name, email, phone number and nothing comes up. I’ll call them tomorrow but it seems dodgy.

Especially as I’ve paid them and they’ve not done the work.

Op not sure who you bank with but i know Barclays for example can log scam payments made via bank transfer if you explain you have been a target of a scam. They flag the payment with the receiving bank and a small investigation is launched. I know you said you spoke to your bank but maybe its worth harping on at them. But the system only works if its proven the payment was sent as part of a scam and civil disputes are not covered. It could be he's not a scam as such and maybe a rouge trader. ( not that I'm saying you haven't been conned but in the world of the law it's a fine line between the two is how they see it. I really hope you get it sorted and stop being hard on yourself, this can happen to any of us in fact reading your story is a reminder to me to be more alert !

Well the first thing you need to do is get in touch with your bank to see if they can stop the transfer going through. Then go and talk to the neighbour whose yard they were in.

It's actually a good thing you paid by bank transfer. Often these scammers want to know if you've got cash in the house and what condition it's in etc

I would chalk it up to experience and forget about it. They're utter cunts.

They often work on the basis you wont notice they haven't done the work or that as it's a relatively small amount will be too embarrassed to kick up a stink and also be fearful of them.

Report to action fraud. Ring 101 but also you bank may be able to help.
I deal with this daily and there are procedures in place for online scams and as you trf'd the money electronically it's gives your bank an audit trail to start working on.
It is not fraud as you willingly gave them your money, but you should def speak to them regarding getting scammed, they may be able to help.

Surely you are not this naive?

Firstly you saw them in a neighbours yard, so they didn’t just knock out of the blue.

Secondly, I have probably stupidly said yes (I normally say no) to knock on door traders, and they did an alright job actually.

Thirdly, this thing about reputable, well I had my gutters cleared by someone from checkatrade, 10/10 with many reviews. When I looked after they left, there were salads growing out of them still, half done at best job. I complained to them and the guy got aggressive, and said how about he comes over and gets tasty….turns out checkatrade is paid for by the contractor who can often void bad reviews unless you go through a mediation system.

Dont beat yourself up, and get on a ladder and see if they did anything at all. Chalk it down to experience, most people have done similar.

A message to all. Never give work to anybody that knocks on your door. Always get people suggested by trusted friends.

Remember the phrase "I rent. The landlord needs to arrange it. okay bye" Then shut the door without engaging further.

Normally these type of work scams are cash only as bank accounts can be traced. Can you get in touch with someone with ladders to take a look if the gutters have actually been done? Then take photos as proof? This will then show that you took the photo post the payment being made. Given that you’ve paid by bank transfer the police should be able to trace it, if they’ve done it to you then likely they’ve done it to others in the area too so there should be substantial proof regarding the scam & details of the people who are doing the scam

This exact same thing happened to me with a "gutter clearer". Caught me when I was busy/distracted. Said he'd just done neighbours' gutters (lie) and that convinced me to say yes.

Came to my senses in 2 minutes. He said he'd already cleaned my front gutter (another lie - I could see on ring cam he hadn't even gone up the ladder) so I just paid him a tenner to go.

I was surprised by how shaken I was by it. I felt really stupid and was very cross with myself.

However, in the end I thought I'd just paid £10 for an important lesson, which is no money at all in the grand scheme. It's made me much more aware and means I won't fall for something similar in the future that might end up costing me hundreds or thousands.

Don't be too hard on yourself.

I don't quite understand this.

If you paid by BACS you will have a name and a reference number (or your name) to show the transfer.

So you can identify them to the police by their bank account details (who will get more ID from the bank.)

I'd assume scammers ask for cash not BACS.

The phone no on the business card may be fake.

Just because one weed is still in your gutter is no proof they didn't do the work is it?

Did you not check the work was done before making the bank payment?

Having read this all again, I doubt rogues would ask for payment by BACS.

They can be ID'd.

Don’t blame yourself OP; these people know who to target. They probably saw the gutter’s and thought; too busy, short of time, don’t have time to check.

Such a horrible feeling. And I bet he was really disarming and friendly – like the window cleaning scammer who used to do the rounds in south-east London. (I only avoided the scam as I was a guest and my friend whose house it was had gone out.)

I wasn’t aware of gutter cleaning though so I’m grateful you’ve posted about it. Maybe try looking up your area +gutter cleaning scam and see if it’s a known issue (and if anyone worked out how to get their money back?)

They've been active round here recently. DH had agreed to ours being cleaned and the guy did do the work with a lot of "come out and look at this" requests as he kept finding extra jobs he said needed doing (eg guttering not level) and them coming round a few times over the next couple of days saying they had time to do the other work - by this point I'd told dh off so he said no. But they were very persistent.

Then neighbour hood watch sent word about gutter cleaners and a distraction burglary that had occurred. Explains all the requests to get dh outside - luckily adult dc and I were in at the time so nothing happened. (We passed on what we knew which wasn't much).

I'd report to your local police. Ours often put out posts warning that people have been scammed and to becaware/ watch out for elderly family and neighbours.

On a personal note just chalk it up. You won't get scammed again. Make sure your home security is tight ie doors AND windows locked not just shut. Blinds drawn /angled so not easy to see in..

Put the name and business name on Next Door with the warning they’re scammers.

For any future gutter cleaning, here in Melbourne, the ones I use take pics of your gutters before starting - there's always enough detail for you to tell it's your house - and after, to show the job has been done.

Of course getting on to your bank quickly might stop the transfer of money.

@Iwanttobeanonymous is on the money with those who find "extra" work needing to be done. Gits.

If you do call the number, maybe think about dialing 141 before the number, so that your phone number is withheld. I am not suggesting there is anything dodgy going on, but if there is maybe you don't want them having your phone number. You sound quite vulnerable.

Could they have done it with one of those pole vac things which would be quick and wouldn't involve ladders.

But might not be powerful enough to remove weeds? Or they've done a poor job?

You should have checked before you paid them - I would gone outside, walked round the house and pointed out the missed weeds in the gutters. Same if you paid someone to paint your fences, you'd check that they were all painted to your satisfaction before handing over the money.

I would just expect you made a mistake and you've learned your lesson the hard way.

Put a picture of the business card on here, I’m sure a few of us can do some digging.

Absolutely agree - any work that I have had done as as result of door knockers has been poor/insubstantial. Won't even entertain them and have message on door - which you can buy from Amazon basically telling them to PO. I live in village where we get alot of this in the Spring/Summer.