An investigation has been launched after an Aberdeen man was conned into buying a set of pans for £200 – ten times more than they were worth.
Trading standards officers have warned residents to be aware after the homeowner was targeted by a gang of smartly dressed young men driving prestige Range Rover and Mercedes cars in a door-to-door selling scam.
The peddlers promise unsuspecting consumers big discounts on top-of-the-range kitchenware however it is a “bait and switch” con, and the actual goods sold do not match what was shown off on the doorstep.
Aberdeen City Council’s trading standards service was alerted to the scam by a Bieldside resident who paid up the three-figure sum for a set of pans that could be bought online for only £20.
Graeme Paton, trading standards manager, said: “The men claim to be visiting from Switzerland, selling top-of-the-range kitchenware to upmarket hotels.
“They tell unsuspecting householders the goods are left over from an exhibition or demonstration at a top hotel before offering them a deal at a big discount against a full price.
“In the case we know about, the resident was told the goods were manufactured by a big kitchenware brand and were professional quality pans. When he got the pans out of the box, he realised he’d been sold bargain basement items at an inflated price.
“The seller was long gone and the resident had not been left any cancellation rights or means to contact the trader.”
In law, consumers are entitled to a 14 day cancellation period when they have bought goods and services more than £42 in their own homes.
Trading standards officers advise anyone approached by door-to-door sellers to politely say they are not interested and report the matter to trading standards by phoning 03454 040506.