Residents have reported fake tradesmen 'letting themselves in' to old people's houses amid police warnings of bullying bogus callers.
One woman said she'd seen an 89-year-old lady bullied and intimidated in Winchburgh, West Lothian, last week by a man who quoted £30 to work on her roof - only to then demand £250.
She said: "After he apparently done the work he let himself back into the house and demanded £250 and when [she] refused he made her feel severely intimidated and harassed, who does this to an 89-year-old lady?"
She said the elderly woman had been left "in hysterics thinking the man is coming back to get her".
Another woman yesterday said her elderly father had been targeted at his home in Roslin, Midlothian, by workmen who carried out 'very minor roofing work' and then demanded hundreds of pounds.
In both cases it appears the conmen left without getting paid but there could be more victims who paid up but now feel too ashamed to come forward.
Yesterday police also put out a warning about bogus callers operating in East Lothian. It is not known if these incidents are related.
They said between 10/06/20 and 11/06/20 police received several reports from residents in Ormiston, East Lothian, of bogus workmen attending at their home address offering manual labour work.
This work included clearing gutters and cleaning roof areas/tiles. The complainers have thereafter paid varying values of money for this work which was not completed to a satisfactory standard, or not completed at all.
The males were seen to be travelling in a white Ford Transit van registered number EF64DJV.
Further enquiries are being made in relation to this and Trading Standards have been informed. Anyone with any information with regards this matter is urged to contact 101 quoting incident number 3514 13/06/20.
Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
