Two bogus workmen attempted to con an 84-year-old man out of £5000 last Thursday (28 August).

The swindlers – who claimed to be from a company called Thermal Coatings – initially offered to carry out repair work to the Alloa pensioner’s gutter.

On further examination the crooks then reported that the loft was affected by woodworm.

One of the con-artists told the OAP that he was a Christian and could not allow the man and his partner to stay in the house without fixing it. He then offered to repair the damage that very day for £5000.

The pensioner told the fraudsters that he only had £3300 in his bank account. The ‘Christian’ crook agreed to do the job at that price, but would only accept cash. He then asked how much the 84-year-old had in his wallet as they needed money for parts – to which the senior citizen handed over £200.

The OAP then left his address to go to the bank to withdraw £3300. Fortunately on his way into town he stopped by Alloa police office to seek advice.

Officers thereafter attended and are now on the hunt to trace the two males regarding the possible fraud.

If you have information or witnessed the incident, contact the Clackmannanshire community policing team on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Male 1: 50’s, 5ft 10in, slim build, thin face, dark tammy-style hat and wearing dark clothing (no logos could be seen). A witness reported that this male was wearing a navy blue jumper with jeans and had short dark hair.

Male 2: 28-35-years-old, 5ft 8in, tubby build with short dark hair.

Cold-calling Trading Standards advice: - Don’t feel pressurised to agree to immediate work - Don’t agree to buy from the first person who calls - Don’t pay cash up front - Do shop around if you decide you need work done - Do ask what your cancellation rights are - Do report them Police advice: - Keep front and back doors locked - Use the door viewer or nearby window when answering the door - Fit a door chain or bar – and use it - Only let callers in if they have an appointment and you have confirmed they are genuine - Always ask for identification badges of anyone you answer the door to, but don’t rely on them – IDs can be faked - If you don’t know the person who is calling, and you’re not expecting them, don’t let them in - If you have a password with a company make sure the caller uses it - Never let people try to persuade you to let them into your home. If someone is persistent, ask them to call at another time and arrange for a friend or family member to be with you - Never agree to pay for goods or give money to strangers who arrive at your door - Don’t keep large amounts of money in your home - Look out for those in your community, and report any suspicious activity immediately to Police Scotland on 101, or your local authority Trading Standards - If the person refuses to leave your door, or you feel threatened or scared – Call 999 and ask for the police. Remember, it’s your home. There’s no reason why anyone should ever enter your home against your wishes