CENTRAL west residents are being asked to be on the lookout for a group of British and Irish scammers who are travelling from Victoria and New Zealand to NSW to target new victims.
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NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe, who visited Orange last week, said the men may at first appear “cheery and delightful” but soon have a change of heart if they don’t get what they want.
“They can get quite aggressive,” Mr Stowe said.
Mr Stowe said many of the travelling conmen moved from country to country and across state borders and had now come to the attention of consumer protection organisations and the law.
“The conmen were refused entry to New Zealand and many members of about 30 family groups who met up in Victoria recently are planning to head back to NSW,” he said.
“They’re highly mobile.”
Mr Stowe warned consumers to be on the lookout for the group and call the national travelling conmen hotline on 1300 133 408 if they encounter them.
He said the men run scams including bitumen driveway repairs, line marking, roof restoration, painting, concreting and a range of household repairs.
Mr Stowe said the travellers targeted both private consumers and businesses.
While in Orange Mr Stowe reminded residents that staff at NSW Fair Trading in Lords Place still offered dispute resolution services and he urged anyone seeking their services to contact the office directly.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au