AN ELDERLY woman has been conned out of hundreds of pounds this week after being targeted by a gang of bogus workmen.

The group cold-called the 85-year-old at her address on Duke Street, Clackmannan, on Monday, June 6.

They offered to carry out a variety of work, which they failed to complete, before then walking away with £750.

A police statement said: “This is a despicable crime targeting an elderly person in their own home and we would urge anyone with any information that may be useful to contact the Police at Alloa.”

The woman was approached at around 4pm on Monday, when a man offered to clean her driveway, for which she agreed to pay £350.

Following the agreement, two other people came out of their small blue van and started working. According to officers, the lady noted one was scraping sand out of parts of her monoblock driveway and the other ran a hose over the area.

The first male then suggested the team would clean off a white substance on the garden walls, police say the substance appears to be a naturally occurring environmental issue, for £400. The lady agreed.

Two men worked for around an hour and left, saying they would be back the next morning.

Around 11am the next day, the first male returned with four other younger people. He approached the lady again and asked for a down payment for cleaning materials for the white substance on the walls. She gave him £140 and he left.

The crew returned with a bottle of green liquid and used it to scrub the walls.

Later, another older male attended in a different van. The lady indicated to him that areas of her back wall also had the white substance on them. The male offered to clean them too, for £5000. This was thankfully declined by the lady and the male left in his van.

The first male then approached the lady and asked for the remainder of the £750, she gave him £610. He stated that the crew would leave for lunch and all of them left in the van.

They never returned.

Issuing advice, a police statement said: “Make sure you always get documentation and paperwork whenever any kind of work has been agreed and check the identification of anyone who knocks on your door out of the blue.

“Anyone who is genuine will be happy to give you their details. If you are not convinced the person is genuine or do not feel comfortable about the situation, never hand over any money and report it to police on 101 or trading standards."

Those who have any information are asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.

To remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.