Elderly Cheltenham Man Ripped Off £1,500 in Dodgy Gardening Scam
An elderly man in Cheltenham was fleeced out of a whopping £1,500 for just 10 minutes of gardening – after two rogue men turned a simple £100 weed-killing job into a costly nightmare.
Scam Hits Charlton Kings: Quick Cash Grab
The shocking scam unfolded last Thursday (3 September) in Charlton Kings. Two unknown men knocked on the victim’s door offering to clear weeds from his driveway for £100. But once the job started, they upped the price to a staggering £1,500 and demanded cash.
The victim, desperate to pay, travelled into town to withdraw the money and handed it over. The men spent just ten minutes spraying the driveway before vanishing in a white van parked nearby.
Police Warn: Beware of Door-to-Door Scams
Cheltenham police are on high alert and urging locals to stay sharp with unexpected doorstep offers. The scam happened around Maple Drive and Willow Road between 9am and 11am.
“Please warn elderly or vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours. These fraudsters are slick and pressure victims into costly, unnecessary work,” police said.
How to Protect Yourself
- Don’t fall for cold calls or doorstep offers for services or products.
- Never pay upfront for work not completed.
- Legitimate tradespeople rarely knock door-to-door.
- Take your time, and don’t let anyone rush you into a quick decision.
- If pressured, simply say no and shut the door.
Police are investigating and urge anyone with info, dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward. Report tips by calling 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
