Lichfield Residents Targeted by Fake Utility Workers in £480 Doorstep Scam
Staffordshire Police have issued a stark warning to residents following a sophisticated doorstep fraud in Lichfield, where two men posing as utility workers conned a householder out of nearly £500.
Deceptive Visits on Curborough Road
The incident occurred at a property off Curborough Road, where the fraudsters visited on two separate occasions, dressed convincingly in blue jackets with company logos. According to police reports, one suspect carried an iPad while the other held a clipboard, and both wore lanyards with official-looking documentation.
The resident initially handed over £80 during the first visit, believing the men to be legitimate water company employees. In a subsequent visit, the householder was persuaded to part with an additional £400, bringing the total loss to £480.
Police Investigation and Suspect Descriptions
Staffordshire Police were alerted to the suspicious activity on Tuesday, March 3, at 8pm. The fraudulent visits took place between 10am and 10:15am on each occasion.
Authorities have released descriptions of the two suspects:
- One man is described as approximately 25 years old, 6 feet tall, and of Asian appearance.
- The second suspect is described as a black male.
A police spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating: "We are urging people to be wary of individuals pretending to be utility workers demanding cash after reports of doorstep fraud in Lichfield."
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV and doorbell footage from the area and have made a public appeal for information. The police spokesperson added: "We are currently reviewing CCTV and doorbell footage of the area at the time and urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to get in touch."
Residents are advised to take the following precautions:
- Always ask for official identification from utility workers.
- Verify the worker's identity by contacting the company directly using a phone number from a trusted source.
- Never hand over cash to doorstep callers claiming to be from utility companies.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 or use Live Chat on their website, quoting incident number 748 of March 3. For anonymous reporting, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or visit the Report Fraud website to report fraud directly.
