Householders in Ongar and North Weald are being warned to be on their guard against conmen operating a number of door-to-door and telephone-based scams.

The warning came from Epping Forest crime reduction officer Tony Ellis, who explained the tactics commonly used in two separate cons.

The first relates to door-to-door callers offering home building and maintenance work such as the replacement of soffits and fascias.

Warning that the work carried out is often of poor quality, Mr Ellis urged the public not to accept building work offered on a door-to-door basis.

He said: "These people target an area, carry out poor quality work at a cheap price, then move on leaving people with no way of seeking compensation or their money back."

Explaining that the conmen make an effort to imitate the trappings of genuine workmen he added: "The vehicles they use will look professional with signs, company addresses and telephone numbers."

But urging householders not to be taken in, he advised: "If anybody calls on you pointing out that you need repair work carried out on your house, thank them for bringing it to your attention and let them go on their way.

"Contact a reputable local builder and ask them to look at the alleged problem. They are normally more than happy to give a free estimate.

"If the work needs doing - and in the majority of cases you'll find that it doesn't - get estimates from established local builders or reputable national companies.

"That way, if the work turns out to be shoddy, at least you will have somewhere to take your complaint."

Mr Ellis then outlined the details of a telephone-hijacking scam in which people end up being billed for calls made by other people on other phone lines.

Outlining how the scam is operated he told of householders being telephoned at home by a caller who claims to be a service technician for phone firm AT&T.

He continued: "They will tell you they are conducting a test on your telephone line, and ask you to press various buttons on your own telephone in order to complete the test.

"The information I have is that when you do this you give the caller full access to your telephone line. They can then place long-distance, international or chat line calls which will be billed to your account."

Commenting that it is better for householders to be safe than sorry, Mr Ellis concluded: "If a caller asks you to press any buttons on your own telephone, don't.

''More to the point, make sure your family, and in particular your children, are aware of this information."

Tony Ellis can by contacted at Epping police station by calling 01992 561212, extension 28145.

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