Elderly targeted in drainage scam

The 74-year-old woman, of Pebsham Lane, was informed she would have to pay for essential drain work to be carried out in her street.

She was told to hand over cash or a banker's draft '“ but she realised it was a scam and did not pay up.

Now she wants other householders to be aware of the threat from con-artists pretending to be from Dyno-Rrod and making demands for cash.

She said: "My doorbell went last Monday and there was this young man saying there was trouble with the drain up the road and that Dyno-Rrod had been called.

"He said there was a broken drain and that they would have to put a camera down to see, and that there was a problem at my end as well.

"They wanted, as I was the last in the line, a returnable deposit to be paid for machinery hire, which would cost 26,000... and as I am a pensioner they would reduce my amount to 2,200.

"Bells started ringing."

She contacted a neighbour up the street where the problem was said to originate but he knew nothing about it.

Now it is her belief that the scammers are keeping a watch on properties which have recently changed hands and then grab the opportunity to prey on neighbours.

She was told of a similar incident in Glassenbury Drive when a victim took out 4,000 in the same scam but didn't then hand the money over.

She commented: "It's likely they are out of the area by now.

"You don't like to believe people can be like this."

Inspector James Scott from Bexhill station confirmed that this was "a Sussex-wide scam" which centred around Crawley.

He warned: "If you have someone turn up unannounced don't let them in your house.

"Don't part with any money unless it is a planned appointment. If you are suspicious at all just ask to see their credentials and ask to contact the company they say they are from.

"Check the details.

"Two people in Bexhill were targeted in this Dynarod scam. If you are not happy with people you don't have to give them anything."