Business Compliance (formally Trading Standards) are warning residents to be on their guard after a variety of doorstep cold calling incidents have been reported.

There have been reports from both Radford and Allesley where individuals are knocking doors claiming to represent various well-known telecommunication companies. They are initially asking about residents' Internet speeds.

In one instance, the conversation got as far as the resident being asked for bank details, which thankfully were not offered, and the front door closed.

In another report from the Green Lane area, there have been doorstep callers offering small household products for sale. These callers claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways. However, probation services do not run any such schemes. An ID card has been presented as ‘identification’.

We would ask that if you have any elderly or vulnerable neighbours that you keep a look out for rogue traders especially if you notice cold callers in your area or anyone acting suspiciously.

Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.

It would also help if registration numbers of vehicles being used by the cold callers are noted down and reported.

If you have any information that may help us track down these unscrupulous cold callers or you wish to report any incidents involving a rogue trader or doorstep crime, please call 0808 223 1133.

Remember - a trader who ignores any request by you to leave your home and not return commits a criminal offence.

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In another report that has come to Business Compliance via the Police, we are warning residents to be on their guard after two men pretending to be from 'the Council' took more than £250 from an elderly Coventry resident.

One of the men called at the home of the pensioner in  the Radford area of the City claiming there had been complaints to the council about a tree in the back garden.

The man took £260 from his elderly victim, saying he'd return later to remove the tree, but did not show up. Another neighbour was visited by a second man at around the same time, but did not hand over any cash.

Council Officers or callers from any other genuine business or organisation will always carry identification, usually with their photograph on.

Bogus 'officials' may be smartly dressed and claim to be from the council, police, gas board, health authority or other organisation.

Bogus 'workmen' may say that they need to come in to check something or make urgent repairs and often:

• persuade victims to have unnecessary work done
• overcharge
• provide a poor standard of work
• fail to give notice of a consumer’s cancellation rights

These callers may also be distraction burglary attempts. Burglars won't go to the trouble of breaking in if they can just knock and be invited in. So always be on your guard when anyone you're not expecting - a man, a woman or even a child - turns up at your door.

If the caller is claiming to be from a local authority, government body or the Police, always make independent inquiries with that authority using a publicly listed telephone number. Information provided by the caller, such as telephone numbers, should not be relied upon when making checks - it may be the number of a crook's partner. Use a locally listed telephone number rather than one they may provide. 

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Business Compliance is warning residents to be cautious if looking for a new pet. While we are spending more time at home right now, it might seem like an ideal time to introduce a new four-legged friend to the family

However, scammers are exploiting this opportunity to con us out of thousands of pounds through fake online adverts for pets. Google searches for “buy a puppy” soared by 120% in the month after lockdown and “adopt a puppy” saw a rise of 133% in online searches.

The pet purchase scam was rife a few years ago, and the COVID-19 Pandemic has provided fertile ground for scammers seeking to exploit the crisis, and the scam has re-emerged.

The latest con, which has caught out families across the UK, including a Coventry family in Stoke, involves the offer of a puppy for sale on various popular online platforms in exchange for an initial payment followed by further requests to cover courier delivery, insurance and vaccinations.

Some people have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket as the promised family pet fails to arrive.

Action Fraud reports animal scams tripled in April 2020 to 524 across the UK and saw 669 people lose a total of £282,686 after paying for pets they had seen advertised online but never received, and these are just the cases that have been reported.

Action Fraud advise:

• Consider conducting research on other information provided by the seller; for example, a mobile phone number or email address used by the seller could alert you to any negative information associated with this number online.
• Request details of the ‘courier’ company being used and conduct inquiries regarding the company
• Be wary of paying fees via a Money Service Bureau, such as MoneyGram and Western Union.
• Be wary. If you think the purchase price is too good to be true, then this is probably an indication that it is!

If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online at or by telephone on 0300 123 2040.

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