Scams and doorstep crime
Learn how to protect yourself and your community from rogue traders and scams.
What is doorstep crime?
Doorstep crime is when rogue traders knock at your door and pressure you into buying something or signing up for a service. The most common doorstep crime includes:
- Traders offering guttering/roofing or paving services (also called cold calling).
- Gardening or tree cutting services.
- Taking deposits and not returning to do the work.
- Charging unreasonable prices.
- Not giving cancellation notices out to consumers after cold calls.
- Taking consumers to banks or building societies.
- Hard sell of products, causing fear to consumers.
- Shoddy or poor work, causing consumers to pay out again.
- Refusing to sort out problems.
- No guarantees or warranties.
Remember - You're in your own home and you are not obliged to buy anything from anyone at any time.
What to do if you are approached by doorstep traders
Not all traders are dishonest, but there are things you should do to make sure you don't become a victim.
- Identify who is calling by insisting on seeing and checking their identification. Use a spyhole or door chain.
- Don't be rushed into agreeing to buy. Take time to make a decision.
- If you have any suspicions or concerns, ask the trader to leave, close the door and call the police or contact trading standards.
- Do not allow any callers or workmen to take you to the bank, building society or post office.
Report a trader involved in doorstep crime
If you are contacted by such traders or aware of any in your area, please contact trading standards with the following information:
- Address or area where trader is working.
- Description of trader.
- Vehicle and registration.
- Type of work.
- Is trader still present.
Protect yourself from scams
Liverpool Trading Standards supports the free Friends Against Scams app to provide residents with information about the latest scams. By learning to recognise fraud and sharing this knowledge with family, friends and neighbours, you can help protect vulnerable people in our community.
What the app offers
- Scam alerts and notifications.
- Access to scam prevention resources and guidance.
- Quizzes to test your knowledge on the latest scam trends.
- Training modules covering doorstep crime, phone scams and mail fraud.
- Access to the Ask Silver AI scam checker to check photos of suspicious messages for fraud.
- Support and guidance on recovering stolen money.
Download the app
The app is free and available for Apple and Android devices:
Learn more about Friends Against Scams.