'Bitumen bandits' and other dodgy conmen offer cheap deals valid for 'today only'. They will do most trades such as painting, roof repairs and sealing driveways. They offer a cheap rate and often pressure you to say yes.
Travelling conmen leave the job unfinished or complete the work to a poor standard. They often cannot be contacted again to resolve the problems they leave behind.
If the travelling con men are on your property or in your immediate area, call Police on 131 444. If they have left the area, contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000.
Try to get helpful details for the Police to investigate such as:
- licence plate number,
- make and model of car,
- name and description of the con men,
- flyers or other promotional material and
- any other useful details.
What to look for
Be suspicious of people who:
- knock on your door unexpectedly
- say they were working in the area and have left over materials to use up
- offer cheap deals using words like 'for today only'
- ask for cash up front
- offer to drive you to the bank to get money for payment
- make you feel pressured to accept their offer.
- check advice from WAScamNet
Protect yourself and your community:
If you suspect a travelling con man is knocking, don’t open your door.
- If you do speak to them, ask them to leave. If they refuse, they’re breaking the law. See door-to-door sales.
- Take photos and write down as much information as you can. Report them to Police or Crimestoppers.
- Be suspicious of unexpected cheap deals – they may be much more expensive to finish or fix up in the long run.
- Warn your friends, family and neighbours.
- Share on your local social media groups.
If you need to hire a tradesperson
If you decide you need work done on your house, see our tips on hiring tradespeople.
DO NOT KNOCK
Display a Do Not Knock sticker on your front door or near the doorbell.
Do not knock, by Consumer Protection