Alert issued following rogue trader report in Northampton
Vulnerable woman targeted by cold caller selling mattresses
Northamptonshire Police's Economic Crime Unit is urging residents to remain vigilant after a rogue trader incident in Northampton's Kingsthorpe area.
On 27th July, officers were called to assist a vulnerable elderly woman targeted by a cold caller selling mattresses.
The caller claimed the mattresses were excess stock following a cancelled order and convinced her to make a purchase.
After the initial payment, the man insisted it was insufficient and drove her to the bank to withdraw additional funds before returning to her home.
The suspect is described as a white man in his 50s wearing a dark baseball cap, light polo-style T-shirt with 'Premier Carpets and Beds' branding, dark shorts, and dark footwear.
The vehicle involved was a silver long-wheelbase van, raising concerns about potential other victims who have not reported similar encounters.
Detective Constable Jo Barlow from Northamptonshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit highlighted the frequent travels of such fraudsters, targeting areas with vulnerable residents: “Sadly, this will not be an isolated incident. We encourage looking out for elderly neighbours and discussing these types of scams.”
To safeguard against fraudulent cold callers, the public is advised to reject doorstep sales offers with no guarantees or safety assurances.
The force recommends saying ‘no’ to cold callers and contacting police immediately if they become aggressive or refuse to leave.
For further guidance, residents should engage with UK Finance's national fraud protection strategy: TAKE FIVE: STOP – CHALLENGE – PROTECT
Residents experiencing similar incidents are encouraged to report details to Northamptonshire Police on 101, Report Fraud at 0300 123 2040, or the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Anyone who has lost money in such scams is advised to contact their bank using the fraud report line at 159.