Police are urging elderly and vulnerable residents to be on their guard against rogue traders after arresting two suspects over a reported fraud.
Officers are advising them to report anything suspicious and urging people living near elderly residents to keep an eye out for their neighbours.
The warning comes after an elderly Hucknall resident contacted a company online, purporting to be genuine electricians, to get some electrical repair work done.
Two men attended her address on Tuesday (29 September) and demanded £13,000 for work which is believed to have only cost a few hundred pounds.
One of the men took the woman to a bank in Mansfield, intending for her to transfer the money into an account.
Staff at the bank became suspicious of this and reported the incident to police, preventing the fraud.
Thankfully, the victim didn’t withdraw any money. She was then driven back to her home address, where police were already in attendance.
Two suspects, aged 20 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation.
Both were subsequently released on conditional bail while inquiries continue.
One of the men had left live wires exposed after removing cables from an electrical box. Police contacted National Grid officials, who attended the address and replaced the consumer unit.
Officers have given advice to the victim about protecting herself from fraud as the investigation continues.
Detective Inspector Luke Waller, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “A genuine tradesperson will always provide a customer with a detailed written breakdown of costs for work needing to be done.
“They would not demand full payment on the spot and wouldn’t offer to give a customer a lift to their bank, pressuring them to hand over cash.
“We’d advise people to ensure due diligence checks are completed before any work is agreed to be done and, ideally, get three separate, detailed and itemised written quotes from established businesses to compare if they need repair work doing.
“If you’re in any doubt, you should say no and speak to a relative or a trusted friend before you make any decision.
“Genuine tradespeople would expect customers to ask questions and be firm with their inquiries.
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. If you feel threatened or in danger, you should call the police immediately on 999.”
