Scots are being scammed out of more than £4,000 every day, shocking new figures have revealed. The stats, released by Trading Standards Scotland (TSS), highlight the dangers of rogue traders and doorstep scammers.
The consumer watchdog confirmed that, between January and June this year, 368 households lost a staggering £798,951 to fraudulent traders – an average of £2,171 per household or £4,400 every day. The losses stem from schemes involving mis-sold services, subpar home repairs, and cold callers.
The TSS figures were revealed following the launch of the organisation’s ‘Shut Out Scammers’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of these scams. The campaign, run in conjunction with Police Scotland and local councils, warns of the dangers of accepting work from cold callers and highlights recent shocking cases across Scotland.
One such case involved a woman from Falkirk, who was pressured into paying £32,000 for roof repairs after rogue traders claimed urgent work was required. They initially quoted £12,000 but then demanded an additional £20,000 after allegedly finding more issues. The woman, feeling intimidated, paid the extortionate fees but contacted TSS when the traders hiked the quote to £42,000 without explanation.
In Glasgow, a couple lost £20,000 when builders abandoned their roof repairs after just three days of work. While in Aberdeen, another resident was scammed out of £1,000 by cold callers, who falsely claimed to be offering ‘thermal roof coating’ that would reduce energy bills, but instead power-washed the roof and left.
Experts are warning that fraudsters are adapting their tactics to exploit the cost-of-living crisis. Scammers are using bogus claims of government subsidies and fake partnerships with local authorities to lure unsuspecting victims. They are also using misleading online and social media ads to reel in more targets, often backed by fake reviews to appear credible.
With winter approaching, TSS is warning that roofing scams are likely to become even more common as homeowners start preparing for colder weather and potential repairs. The watchdog has published guidance for households, advising consumers to thoroughly research any company before agreeing to work.
TSS has also urged people to check multiple review sites and obtain more than one quote before committing. If anyone claims to be working with a local council, homeowners are encouraged to call the council directly to verify their identity.
Blantyre Councillor Maureen Chalmers, chair of Trading Standards Scotland’s governance board, said: “Unfortunately, we have seen people across Scotland losing, on average, more than £4,000 a day to doorstep scammers since the start of the year. We expect this trend to continue as autumn and winter approach, especially as people begin to think about the state of their roofs and other home repairs.
“Scammers are constantly adapting their tactics, particularly as many households struggle with the cost-of-living crisis. Rogue traders often imply that urgent work is needed to pressure people into making hasty decisions, so it is more important than ever to remain vigilant and stay on your guard.”
For those looking for trusted contractors, vetted options are available on the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) approved trader portal.
If anyone suspects a scam or needs advice, they can contact Advice Direct Scotland at www.consumeradvice.scot or call 0808 164 6000. Victims of fraud should report the crime to Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
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