Bogus Gas Men.

This newspaper article was scanned from the April edition of the Coastrider newspaper, which is available free around Quesada & other areas (Website: http://www.coastrider.net/).
I thought it might be helpful to those who missed it, to read it on here. I should imagine that the general advice, to not allow anyone into our properties, without prior arrangement, or pay for anything at the door, however official these people look, applies to Electric, Water & Suma 'possibly bogus' men also.

Click on the article until it's at the size for reading.

Yes this is terrible. We know someone who know's someone who was ripped off for €500. He was told that the gas fitting and orange pipe to ii was out of date, ended up paying for 2 new ones.

It's good to be made aware of all the scams!

There are so many to keep up with though.

I never give money at the door in Spain or UK (unless it's poppy selling time in the UK!) but my husband was caught out (while I was busy) when we had just moved into the new Spain house 7 years ago. We later found out that bogus charity collectors target new build developments when people are just moving in. This one said it was for a children's charity (probably his own children, we now think !!!) and he had a list of house numbers with ticks and donations written on it, donations seemed to be 5 or 10 euro's. My husband gave 5 euro's and we later found out that some of our neighbours were also caught out by it I somehow don't think any of us would fall for that in the UK!! It may not be a lot of money individually but imagine what the 'collector' could get in a days work, tax free

It was a good, well thought out wheeze though, given that it's obvious that most newly moved in residents are up to their necks in 'moving in 'jobs. I would imagine it is still going on where there are any new developments these days.

Same here Jan. We moved in in 2006 and I was giving this fellow €10 twice a year until I found out a couple of years ago that he was ripping me off.

What a generous fellow you are Glyn - Seriously though it's not nice and doesn't do genuine charities any favours.

There are now many 'beggars around the market with the multi lingual pleadings. All look too clean and tidy to be desperate. We will only give to the animal charities here and poor publicans.

I agree Glyn. There's one regular lady beggar in the Rojales market. She doesn't look Spanish, maybe Eastern European, but we have seen a man dropping her off, bringing her food & drink and picking her up again in his car. We thought it may be her husband but thinking about it, it could be organised begging. I should think there are still some genuine 'needy' beggars, which is sad, but there does seem to be a lot more around.

Dona Pepa is ful of beggars, sorry I meant Fulham fans