A very peculiar door to door caller is operating in Brownhills…. Imagery from Bing! maps.
A strange one reaches me via Facebook and friend of the blog Julie; it seems there’s an odd door-to-door scam operating in Brownhills at the moment – a lady calls at your door, and when you answer, doesn’t speak but points to a clipboard or paper with something printed on it.
The caller was challenged by a householder yesterday as to what she wanted and what her purpose was, and received no answer.
There have been several reports of this bizarre occurrence of the last couple of days, and I’d advise anyone to be careful, and to contact the police about anything they feel is suspicious.
Please tell your relatives and neighbours about these callers and impress upon them how important it is not to buy from, or accept services at the door, and not to give to charity cold callers who may not be genuine. Some of these people can seem very plausible, but genuine companies will always contact you by other means.
Explain that no official body will turn up unannounced demanding money for services like drain cleaning, tree pruning etc., and that if they are at all unsure of any caller, to close the door and contact the police.
For more information on the signs that give away rogue traders, read Community Partnerships Officer Kevin Pitt’s blogpost – Making Walsall Too Hot for the Bogus Callers.
You can contact Walsall Police by dialling 101 (999 in an emergency, obviously) or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111
Tell your elderly relatives and friends to be careful; local police can advise on door chains and other security measures. Most of all, don’t buy at the door! Image from Cambridge Police.
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Hi Bob I had the same yesterday. Only a young man waved to me through the porch holding a clip board, I presumed he was mute, but told him straight away I wasn’t interested, he understood and went next door.
Its a distraction scam.Its been going on in pubs and clubs for a while.Someone hands you a piece of paper with writing on and while you are attempting to read it their accomplice robs you,normally happens if you are sat down at a table with your mobile phone,wallet,purse or whatever in view.
That happened to us on holiday in Lanzarote. We never twiiged what was going on but very suspicous. Bar staff shooed them away one time. Pretended to be deaf as well.
Hi Bob – this occurred yesterday around The Avenues in Brownhills, but was a male and a female knocking on alternate doors! They are certainly not deaf as a lady up the road from us signed at the guy and he hadn’t got a clue what she was on about!
Happened to me Saturday, young woman with a clipboard, asking for donations, I told her not interested and she left
This sounds very similar to a report that came in from the Park Hall area on Sunday 20 December. A male, also pretending to be deaf and/or mute was calling door to door showing paperwork that claimed he was collecting for the charity Handicap International. The police responded to these calls but patrols were unable to locate the man.
Enquiries with Handicap International have revealed that this male was NOT collecting on their behalf. Indeed they state that they have been made aware of fake collections being made in their name in other parts of the UK and across Europe by an Eastern European criminal gang.
I’m sure readers of this blog know exactly how to respond to these people.
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