Observer Comment: It pays to be vigilant - they're out there

However, the two items of interest show how these cowboys can be foiled if one is vigilant.

First, alarm bells started ringing for Bexhill resident Carol Burnett when a pretty slippery customer approached her by e-mail expressing an interest in buying a three-piece suite which she had advertised in the Friday Ad.

Most honest buyers want to view the item first, which didn’t happen here as the customer, who claimed he lived in France, said he didn’t have the time.

It was only when she asked at her bank once the buyer had issued a ridiculously large cheque that the transaction was fully revealed as a complete fraud.

Secondly, a distraction burglary in Old Town was foiled thanks to the alertness of nearby neighbours.

Police were able to quickly make two arrests and recover all of the stolen property.

These actions were rightly praised by Rother Neighbourhood Watch, which exists to encourage a community to bind together and look out for one another.

And with Trading Standards reminding residents to be on the lookout for conman cold callers, it seems sadly this sort of activity is perhaps on the rise.

As Sergeant Trisha Reeve-Fowkes points out, it is wise to end a telephone call if you are not happy with the situation and, above all, never give out personal information or bank details.

Remember if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.