Warning over £4,000 lost every day to rogue traders in Scotland, as scammers 'adapt their tactics'

Rogue traders are scamming Scottish householders out of £4,000 a day, a trading standards watchdog has warned. Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) warned of a surge in doorstep scams, mis-sold services, and shoddy household repairs - and claimed scammers are “adapting their tactics” to exploit the cost-of-living crisis, using bogus claims of government subsidies or partnerships with local authorities. Criminals are also using online and social media ads with misleading information and fake reviews to lure new victims.

The organisation highlighted cases including a Falkirk woman who was intimidated into paying £32,000 for roof repairs after a door to door trader offered to inspect her roof with a drone and insisted urgent repairs needed to be carried out. Meanwhile, cold callers visited several properties across Aberdeenshire, offering a “thermal roof coating” and claiming it would save householders hundreds of pounds on their energy bills. They implied they were working on behalf of the local council.

In Glasgow, a couple lost £20,000 when builders abandoned their roof repairs after just three days, having told the householders they had discovered significant issues which would mean that a full roof replacement was required. TSS said householders should take steps to protect themselves against scammers and urged consumers not to deal with cold callers. The organisation said if someone claims to be working for or with a local council, householders should ask them to wa.