These people seem to move on to a new area very quickly, as the police never seem to catch them
They are obviously staying in the same places as some of us Grey Nomads from time to time
I know that it is un-Australian to dob someone in
But...
In my opinion, it is even more un-Australian, and inhumane, to scam the elderly
May I suggest that when we are camping in free/paid sites, that we keep our eyes, and ears, open to try and spot these people.
If the people look like a bunch of likely lads, just jot down their rego number, and if we hear of elderly scamming in that area, let the police know
I would like to explain that I am not on my soap box, or having a rant. In a normal situation, I would not dob anyone in
But...
I feel that as our era grew up to respect our elders, we should now try and do our best to protect them, as they do not seem to be able to protect themselves
gumpybsc said
06:31 PM May 12, 2016
Best strategy is just avoid ANYONE no matter how apparently genuine or sincere if they turn up out of the blue and offer to do some service or sell you something for a quick buck. They almost always are crooked and you somehow would get dudded. After politely telling them no thanks try to make a note, even a mental note, of their appearance and their number plate (if their car is in sight). These details should then be reported to the police at your next opportunity, as more often than not it could help to prevent other people, usually elderly, frail or vulnerable, from being defrauded.
Tony Bev said
07:23 PM May 12, 2016
Hello gumpybsc
I agree with your strategy, when/if the scammers come to my door
Unfortunately as a youngish (nearly 69 years of age) person, I have yet to meet them, face to face
As you say, we should report anything suspicious from door to door people, to help protect the very elderly, frail, or vulnerable
It is a pity that there is not a law stopping any salesmen from going door to door, perhaps they should be forced to put a card in your letterbox, with their name, number, and service they represent, and then at least there would be a trail back to who they are
Bruce and Bev said
10:18 PM May 12, 2016
In the past, the home improvement scammers have been Irish visitors doing roof refurbishment.
Up to 5 or 6 large families (wives and kids included) arrive here and set up in a CP and stay in cabins or rent a shared house.
Last year a bunch of them in Perth got caught after ripping off $100s of thousands from old and not so old people. They usually sweet talked them into paying the lot (people are gullible) or a substantial deposit and then never coming back or at best doing a slip shod job.
It got so much TV news airtime here that police and Border Control tracked them down and we had the pleasure of seeing them raided in a CP where they had rented a cabin for each family and all being locked up and taken immediately to a detention centre (no get out of jail cards for them)
Tony Bev said
11:49 PM May 12, 2016
In the past, the home improvement scammers have been Irish visitors doing roof refurbishment.
Up to 5 or 6 large families (wives and kids included) arrive here and set up in a CP and stay in cabins or rent a shared house.
Last year a bunch of them in Perth got caught after ripping off $100s of thousands from old and not so old people. They usually sweet talked them into paying the lot (people are gullible) or a substantial deposit and then never coming back or at best doing a slip shod job.
It got so much TV news airtime here that police and Border Control tracked them down and we had the pleasure of seeing them raided in a CP where they had rented a cabin for each family and all being locked up and taken immediately to a detention centre (no get out of jail cards for them)
Hello Bruce and Bev
I must have been away travelling when that happened, as this is the first I heard of it, so thanks for that info
Quote from somewhere, by someone, which could be attributed to the scammers, in regards to deportation
Hello everyone
We have all heard from time to time, about unscrupulous bar starts, scamming our elders
Below is a link to the latest scam in West Australia
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-12/albany-residents-warned-about-bitumen-bandits/7408100?section=wa
These people seem to move on to a new area very quickly, as the police never seem to catch them
They are obviously staying in the same places as some of us Grey Nomads from time to time
I know that it is un-Australian to dob someone in
But...
In my opinion, it is even more un-Australian, and inhumane, to scam the elderly
May I suggest that when we are camping in free/paid sites, that we keep our eyes, and ears, open to try and spot these people.
If the people look like a bunch of likely lads, just jot down their rego number, and if we hear of elderly scamming in that area, let the police know
I would like to explain that I am not on my soap box, or having a rant.
In a normal situation, I would not dob anyone in
But...
I feel that as our era grew up to respect our elders, we should now try and do our best to protect them, as they do not seem to be able to protect themselves
Best strategy is just avoid ANYONE no matter how apparently genuine or sincere if they turn up out of the blue and offer to do some service or sell you something for a quick buck. They almost always are crooked and you somehow would get dudded. After politely telling them no thanks try to make a note, even a mental note, of their appearance and their number plate (if their car is in sight). These details should then be reported to the police at your next opportunity, as more often than not it could help to prevent other people, usually elderly, frail or vulnerable, from being defrauded.
I agree with your strategy, when/if the scammers come to my door
Unfortunately as a youngish (nearly 69 years of age) person, I have yet to meet them, face to face
As you say, we should report anything suspicious from door to door people, to help protect the very elderly, frail, or vulnerable
It is a pity that there is not a law stopping any salesmen from going door to door, perhaps they should be forced to put a card in your letterbox, with their name, number, and service they represent, and then at least there would be a trail back to who they are
Up to 5 or 6 large families (wives and kids included) arrive here and set up in a CP and stay in cabins or rent a shared house.
Last year a bunch of them in Perth got caught after ripping off $100s of thousands from old and not so old people. They usually sweet talked them into paying the lot (people are gullible) or a substantial deposit and then never coming back or at best doing a slip shod job.
It got so much TV news airtime here that police and Border Control tracked them down and we had the pleasure of seeing them raided in a CP where they had rented a cabin for each family and all being locked up and taken immediately to a detention centre (no get out of jail cards for them)
Hello Bruce and Bev
I must have been away travelling when that happened, as this is the first I heard of it, so thanks for that info
Quote from somewhere, by someone, which could be attributed to the scammers, in regards to deportation
"It could not have happened to a nicer man"
Unquote