Bogus callers con OAP for thousands with fake rugs

AN 86-YEAR-OLD man was conned out of thousands of pounds by bogus callers who sold him a pair of rugs which turned out to be worthless.

The elderly victim was even driven from his home in the Grange to a bank by the suspects before he handed over a four-figure sum for the rugs.

The pensioner was visited at his address in Oswald Road by a man of Middle Eastern appearance who told him he had expensive rugs for sale.

After conning the victim into believing it was high-quality merchandise and agreeing a deal, another man in a black medium-sized car turned up at his door to give him a lift to the bank to withdraw money.

It was only when the pensioner inspected the rugs later that he realised they were cheap imitations and called the police.

Detectives today said they were following a "positive line of inquiry", but urged members of the public to be on their guard against the con men, who targeted the victim at about 9.45am last Thursday.

A police spokesman said: "The offer of goods or services for a price that seems too good to be true usually is, and people should be alert for bogus callers operating in their community.

"Anyone who has any information regarding bogus callers operating in their area should contact police immediately."

Officers have warned residents to be alert to the threat of bogus callers, who often step up their activities during the summer months.

It follows a number of recent incidents where householders have been conned out of cash.

In May, a woman posing as three different officials took more than 1000 from four elderly victims in Edinburgh, Prestonpans and Musselburgh.

The previous month, a bogus caller made off with 400 from an elderly victim after pretending he was selling jumpers in Gorebridge, Midlothian.

Police have now launched a new "red card" scheme aimed at deterring cold callers from knocking on residents' doors in the Lothians. The force produced red "No doorstep callers" stickers which can be attached to windows and doors to let cold callers know they are unwanted.

The stickers are aimed at preventing residents from having to confront cold callers and their often "hard-sell" tactics.

Anyone with information on the latest incident in Oswald Road is asked to call police on 0131-311 3131, or 0800-555 111.