CRIME ALERT: Crooks posing as charity workers are targeting vulnerable people in Derry.
The thieves have been going door-to-door in several areas of the city in recent days claiming to represent an international overseas charity.
They have been asking for cash – but they’ve also been trying to get people to hand over the bank details for direct debits.
The gang is working in teams of two.
One pair of crooks operating on Tuesday night had strong west of Ireland accents.
A Derry Daily reader contacted us to say they were very persistent and only left her door when she asked for ID cards.
“They asked if I would sign up to pay £20 per month by direct debit,” she said.
“I told them I couldn’t afford it and then I told them I didn’t have a bank account and the woman was very cheeky and said ‘everyone has a bank account now’ and she just kept pushing and pushing.
“I just wanted them away from the door. I was also worried in case it was some sort of distraction whilst someone went around the back, but I always lock my back door now, even during the day.
“I said I would sign up if she could give me some ID I could look at and a telephone number I could ring to verify who she was; then she made her excuses and said it didn’t matter any more….but she had some neck on her because she went and knocked next door.”
Anyone who suspects a person collecting door to door is bogus should report it to the police.
(Or take a pic and send it to us at [email protected]).
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