POLICE have increased their patrols in Prestatyn after an elderly woman in the town was targeted by rogue traders last month.

The daughter of the 88-year-old woman said that, on December 12, people came to her mother’s home and told her that her gutter needs cleaning.

Had she not discovered that they were not genuine, she said her mother would have lost more than £300.

The incident left her “extremely angry” and worried for the safety of her “very kind, innocent, vulnerable and naïve” mother, who she cares for.

She said: “They proceeded to go up onto my mother‘s roof and pretend to repair it. They took spare roof tiles from the side and pretended they were the ones they fixed.

“They showed her footage of the work they had done. One man had a leaf blower and blew some leaves off the driveway.

“They also took my mother’s hedgehog gutter leaf guard, which was protecting the gutters and keeping them clean.

“They told her to keep the door locked, presumably to make her trust them. They told her she was happy with the work and made her sign a document to charge £320.

“My mother attempted to find money to pay them. She doesn’t have any money - I look after her. A couple of days ago, I found a flyer in her room with their information.

“There seems to be a genuine website and a genuine number, plus company number but it is all fake.”

With the aid of a public protection officer from Denbighshire County Council’s trading standards department, the woman found that the limited company name on the leaflet given to her mother does not, in fact, exist.

Indeed, the address printed on the leaflet differed from that on Companies House, which appeared to be a travellers’ site.

The woman added: “My mum is soon to be 89 and she’s very kind, innocent, vulnerable and naive. She trusts and believes everyone. She still can’t believe people will do this.

“On the other hand, I am extremely angry it is extraordinary that these people exist and go round to houses to come and take money from vulnerable people.”

North Wales Police said steps have been taken to support the woman, and encouraged anyone involved in similar incidents to report them.

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A North Wales Police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, December 21, we were made aware of a report of potentially fraudulent activity by unknown tradespeople targeting vulnerable people in Prestatyn.

“Following the report, officers have supported an elderly woman who is understood to have been a victim by providing crime prevention advice and possible security measures that can be taken.

“Patrols have also been increased in the area to provide reassurance for residents.

“Enquiries into this incident are continuing and anyone with concerns around cold callers can report any information to police via our website or by calling 101.”