Bogus council workers targeting homes in Coventry

A pensioner lost £260 to the scam



A warning has been issued after an elderly man was scammed out of £260 by men pretending to be council workers.

Police have urged residents to be alert after the incident in Treherne Road, in the Radford area of the city.

They say men, described as white and middle-aged, targeted homes in the area on Monday (October 19).

The elderly man handed over the cash after a man called at his home and claimed there had been complaints made to the council about a tree in his back garden.

He said he would return later to remove the tree, but never showed.

Another resident in the same area was visited by a second man at around the same time. Fortunately, he did not hand over any cash.

West Midlands Police say the men were potentially using a white van with a scratched-off sign on the side, and a set of ladders on the roof.

Anyone with information about the duo is being asked to contact police.

In a post on social media, police in Coventry have urged residents to remain alert - and to always ask for identification when callers turn up on their doorstep unexpectedly.

Yeah, right! As if any clown isn't able to forge a convincing-looking ID badge?

I have said the very same Dutchman and a council worker disagreed. More fit the advice should be to say come back later when my son or daughter or a neighbour is here which will give them time to check with the council .

Do any of us know what a 'genuine' ID card looks like?

All I know is it has the same image of the horses heads like on their vans with Coventry City Council and the persons name below I would nt be able to tell if it was genuine.

I suspect if there was a genuine complaint they would send a letter first?

I suspect if there was a genuine complaint they would send a letter first?

I would also assume so, especially in the current headless-chicken health scenario we find ourselves embroiled in.