Protect yourself from doorstep crime and rogue traders
Be aware of the risks of scams and doorstep or rogue traders. Help us educate your friends, family and neighbours.
If anyone knocks on your front door claiming you need work doing to your house, tell them "No Thanks". Rogue traders will look and sound very convincing, and typically target the more elderly and vulnerable.
"Educate your friends, family and neighbours"
When you need any work doing:
- Only use a reputable trader or company you trust.
- Ask friends for recommendations, or use official schemes such as:
approvedtrader.scot or trustedtrader.scot - Wherever possible, try and get 3 different quotes.
Vetted traders across Scotland
More than half of Scotland’s local authorities now operate a trusted trader or other approved trader scheme through their Trading Standards service. All of the members from these different types of schemes are displayed on the SCOTSS Trading Standards portal, approvedtrader.scot
Businesses can't join approvedtrader directly, they need to apply and be accepted on their local Trading Standards scheme, such as Trusted Trader. Their details are then automatically displayed on the approvedtrader portal.
See if there are any Trading Standards vetted businesses in your local area.
If you need help or advice about doorstep crime and bogus callers
or are concerned you may have been scammed, see the links below:
- Trading Standards Scotland - Doorstep Scammers - A wealth of information about how scams work and how to protect yourself.
- Police Scotland - Doorstep crime and bogus callers - how to spot a rogue trader and what to do if you have been caught out.
- consumeradvice.scot - knowledge-centre - visit the Scams section for advice on different types of scams.
- Neighbourhood Watch Scotland - A great source for advice, help and local news. Get involved with your local community and sign up for local alerts.
- Citizens Advice Scotland - with many local offices, these are reassuring places to go for face to face help and advice.
As Police Scotland advise:
"If you're not sure, don't answer the door"
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