What are the red flags of this scam?

The trader arrived unsolicited — they knocked at the door or cold-called, not responding to a request you placed on a platform or directory • They claim to have 'just spotted' damage from the street or while working nearby on a neighbour's property — genuine tradespeople do not make uninvited damage assessments • They create urgency: 'the roof could collapse tonight', 'this will cost triple in winter', 'I have leftover materials and can start today' — all designed to prevent you getting a second opinion • They want a large upfront cash payment and cannot provide a written quote, company address, VAT number, or reference from previous customers • Their vehicle has no company signage, or the name they give cannot be found via Companies House or a Trade Association register • They use a bait-and-switch: start with a suspiciously cheap offer (e.g. £10 gutter clean) then 'discover' more expensive problems once on the roof or scaffolding

What should I do if this happened to me?

Do not agree to any work offered by an unsolicited cold caller or doorstep visitor — ask them to leave and close the door. • Never pay cash upfront for building or repair work. A reputable trader will provide a written quote with their registered business address and accept staged payments or payment on completion. • Get at least three written quotes from traders you find yourself (via TrustMark, Checkatrade, the Federation of Master Builders, or a personal recommendation) before authorising any work. • Verify any trader via Companies House (companieshouse.gov.uk) and check membership of a recognised trade association such as TrustMark (trustmark.org.uk) or the FMB (fmb.org.uk). • If you have already paid and work is incomplete or shoddy, contact your bank immediately to dispute the payment, and seek advice from Citizens Advice at 0808 223 1133 or tradingstandards.uk. • Report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

HIGH other Last reported: 2 Oct 2026 Share

A cold-caller or doorstep visitor claims to have spotted urgent damage to your roof or driveway — then takes a large deposit and disappears

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. A trader knocks or calls claiming they spotted damaged gutters, roof tiles, or a dangerous driveway while working nearby. They create urgency, demand a large upfront cash or bank payment, then disappear or deliver shoddy work. Multiple prosecutions in 2026 totalled over £1 million in losses. Citizens Advice named trader scams its October 2026 campaign focus.

A trader knocks or calls claiming they spotted damaged gutters, roof tiles, or a dangerous driveway while working nearby. They create urgency, demand a large upfront cash or bank payment, then disappear or deliver shoddy work. Multiple prosecutions in 2026 totalled over £1 million in losses. Citizens Advice named trader scams its October 2026 campaign focus.

Also known as: rogue builder UK, rogue roofer scam, doorstep trader fraud, cowboy builder scam UK, cold call building work scam

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.

What to do right now

1 Do not agree to any work offered by an unsolicited cold caller or doorstep visitor — ask them to leave and close the door.
2 Never pay cash upfront for building or repair work. A reputable trader will provide a written quote with their registered business address and accept staged payments or payment on completion.
3 Get at least three written quotes from traders you find yourself (via TrustMark, Checkatrade, the Federation of Master Builders, or a personal recommendation) before authorising any work.
4 Verify any trader via Companies House (companieshouse.gov.uk) and check membership of a recognised trade association such as TrustMark (trustmark.org.uk) or the FMB (fmb.org.uk).
5 If you have already paid and work is incomplete or shoddy, contact your bank immediately to dispute the payment, and seek advice from Citizens Advice at 0808 223 1133 or tradingstandards.uk.
6 Report to Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Red flags

⚠ The trader arrived unsolicited — they knocked at the door or cold-called, not responding to a request you placed on a platform or directory
⚠ They claim to have 'just spotted' damage from the street or while working nearby on a neighbour's property — genuine tradespeople do not make uninvited damage assessments
⚠ They create urgency: 'the roof could collapse tonight', 'this will cost triple in winter', 'I have leftover materials and can start today' — all designed to prevent you getting a second opinion
⚠ They want a large upfront cash payment and cannot provide a written quote, company address, VAT number, or reference from previous customers
⚠ Their vehicle has no company signage, or the name they give cannot be found via Companies House or a Trade Association register
⚠ They use a bait-and-switch: start with a suspiciously cheap offer (e.g. £10 gutter clean) then 'discover' more expensive problems once on the roof or scaffolding

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Sources