Copers Cope Police have received details of scams that have been happening in the Bromley Borough.
Scam 1
Residents in Bromley are reporting they are receiving telephone calls from a company claiming to be working with Bromley Council and offering to assist with previous accidents claims. One 90 year old resident received repeated calls from the company, calling themselves Accident Investigation Service, telling him he had been awarded £3,000 in compensation for an accident in the borough and that he would have to pay £200 in cash in order to claim it.
Scam 2
A Bromley resident has been scammed into paying thousands of pounds for bogus property repairs. The consumer, an older female, was cold called by two men claiming to working on the property next door and who told her there were significant damp problems in the loft. She was asked to pay several thousand pounds for the hire of essential equipment in order that emergency repairs could be conducted. She was later told the work was no longer necessary and she would be refunded, but in order to do so a further payment would be required for financial regulations. Trading Standards were alerted to the incident when the resident went to her bank to make further cash withdrawals.
Scam 3
A tree company has door knocked an 80 year old male in Petts Wood and persuaded him to part with money for gardening work. An initial payment of £400 was made and the gang were due to return the following day to collect a further £1,100. The family of the resident alerted trading standards who attended and confronted the gang, who then ran off. They were driving a lorry with the words “Local Tree Services”.
Trading Standards are reminding residents to:
- be suspicious
- never deal on the doorstep
- never be pressured into making quick decisions
- never give personal or bank details top anyone
Call the trading standards rapid response number 07903 852090 if you have any concerns or you want to report suspicious activity in your area.
Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) 
Beware of emails purporting to come from the Inland Revenue telling you that you have a substantial refund. Do not clink on the link which allegedly takes you to a claim form for the refund. I have just received one such email and have of course immediately deleted it. I am sure the IR would send you a letter and it would be repaid without you having to claim any money.