Dear Kent Residents
Doorstep criminals have been active this week in Sevenoaks, Dartford and Swanley claiming residents need roofing work completed and quoting very high prices.
Please be alert and warn your vulnerable friends and family to never respond to cold callers as you will pay a high cost for unnecessary and poor-quality work.
If you need work done on your home or garden use a safe, local trader from Trading Standards Checked.
Report cold callers anonymously to the charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 or online here.
For further advice call Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133.
⚠️ Residents have been targeted by a Snapchat shopping scam where fraudsters advertise items for sale, take payment, and then fail to send the goods or provide a promised refund.
Before buying through social media:
✅Take time to check the seller carefully.
🚨Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true
✅Look for genuine reviews from other buyers
❌Avoid paying by bank transfer to someone you don’t know, as it can be difficult to recover your money if things go wrong.
➡️ Report to:
Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline online or on 0808 223 1133
⚠️ We’ve received reports of a man going door to door in Birchington asking residents if they have any gold or jewellery to sell.
🚫 Be cautious of anyone who cold calls at your home, whether they are offering services or looking to buy items. Never feel pressured to sell valuables on the doorstep, and don’t hand over gold, jewellery or other items to anyone without taking time to verify who they are and consider your options.
📞 If someone comes to your door or you see suspicious people going door to door, report it:
➡️ CrimeStoppers (100% anonymous): 0800 555 111 or online.
➡️ If they refuse to leave or act aggressively, call 999.
➡️ For advice: Citizens Advice: 0808 223 1133
📣 Please warn vulnerable friends, neighbours and family.
⚠️ Beware of book sellers sending eBooks instead of physical copies.
Residents have reported ordering a physical book but were sent an eBook instead. A review of the trader’s Trustpilot page suggested that other customers had experienced the same issue.
How to protect yourself:
✅ Check recent reviews before placing an order, especially if a deal seems unusually good.
✅ Read the product description carefully to confirm whether you’re buying a physical book or an eBook.
✅ Pay by credit card or a secure payment method where possible for added protection.
✅ Keep copies of your order confirmation, receipts and any correspondence with the seller.
➡️To report or for advice, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline online or via phone at 0808 223 1133.