EAST Renfrewshire Council has announced that they are “cracking down” on bogus traders as part of their “Building Consumer Confidence” initiative.

Being run by Trading Standards, the project aims to tackle serious crime, with the team prioritising scam prevention, including doorstep home maintenance fraud carried out by cold-calling organised criminals.

Previously, an identifiable scam prevention van was introduced in the local area in November 2022.

On top of that, since the initiative was introduced, there has been a “significant decline” in suspicious and fraudulent activity, sending a clear zero-tolerance message to fraudsters.

Meanwhile, the officers driving the vehicle aim to protect the vulnerable whilst encouraging reputable traders to join the East Renfrewshire Trusted Trader scheme and build more trust in local tradespeople.

The local authority is also urging residents to always “say no” to un-verified traders offering home improvements, including gutter cleaning, roof repairs, and landscaping work.

Councillor Danny Devlin, Convener for Environment and Housing, said: “It’s reassuring that this initiative has disrupted the fraudsters and reduced suspicious activity.

"Unfortunately, cold-calling home maintenance fraudsters leave a trail of misery in our community as they target the most vulnerable, perform substandard work, if at all, and charge exorbitant prices.

“Although the campaign has seen positive results, we need help from the community to support victims and prevent further harm.

"Scammers rely on us staying silent, so the biggest ally in the fight against scams are the people of East Renfrewshire.

"The more we talk about it the more people will say no to cold callers and report incidents. Remember to report a scam and prevent more harm.”

Additionally, residents are being reminded that doorstep fraudulent activity is a crime and must be reported to Police Scotland on 101, or 999 if feeling threatened.

Locals can also Ring and Report suspicious doorstep callers on 0800 013 0076, report potential scams to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060 or contact Trading Standards on 0141 577 8487.