Fake Repsol Workers Attempt Gas Scam On 83-year-old British Woman

An unexpected visit, a non-existent state leak and €273 almost mislaid – it could person been overmuch worse. That was nan ordeal suffered by an 83-year-old British female who has lived successful Denia for 25 years, she told Euro Weekly News.

Two men rang her doorbell 1 greeting claiming they needed to transportation retired a regular cheque connected nan state installation. Trusting their story, nan female – described by a adjacent friend arsenic honorable and benignant – fto them in.

They appeared to activity for immoderate clip earlier informing that a portion of tube had to beryllium replaced. The cost, they said, was €273. Feeling pressured, she reluctantly paid pinch her paper conscionable to make them leave.

But it did not extremity there

“They started saying location was a state leak that had to beryllium repaired and that it would beryllium different €300,” a adjacent friend of nan unfortunate told Euro Weekly News. “That was erstwhile she refused, said she had nary much money, and they near – without fixing nan expected leak.”

The friend added: “We realised it was a scam erstwhile they near without repairing anything. A genuine inspector would ne'er do that.”

The female past noticed different suspicious details: nan men wore nary Repsol uniforms, contempt claiming to activity for nan company. Distressed, she instantly called relatives and friends, who went pinch her to nan authorities to record a complaint. She moreover managed to photograph 1 of nan expected inspectors, a cardinal portion of grounds for nan police. Thanks to this, she was capable to retrieve nan €273 taken from her card.

“My interest is that location are galore pensioners surviving alone,” nan friend added. “Now they are very tense and distrustful of Repsol. Older group request to beryllium alert and protect themselves, because different pensioners could beryllium targeted.”

The Guardia Civil has issued warnings astir this type of scam and offered nan pursuing advice:

Fraudsters airs arsenic gas, energy aliases inferior inspectors and declare they request to transportation retired checks.

They dress to transportation retired method work, often making insignificant changes specified arsenic replacing a portion of hose, earlier presenting a bill.

In immoderate cases, they return advantage of nan distraction to bargain valuables aliases perpetrate robbery done intimidation.

Recommendations:

Do not unfastened nan doorway to inspectors unless nan sojourn has been arranged straight pinch your inferior company.

Always inquire nan expected inspector to show charismatic recognition from nan company.

Remember: companies must telephone beforehand to put immoderate inspection. Protect your location and do not autumn unfortunate to these scams.