Neighbourhood policing officers across the force area are asking residents to be aware of door-to-door sellers in the area and to call 101 with any incident where sellers are aggressive or intimidating.

There are many types of doorstep scams. Some of the most common scams include:

· Rogue traders: A cold caller may offer a service you don’t really need. They may claim to have noticed something about your property that needs work or improvement and offer to fix it at an inflated price.

· Bogus officials: A scammer may claim to be from your utility company as a way of gaining access to your home. Always ask to check their ID; if they're genuine, they won't mind.

· Fake charity collections: A fraudster may pretend they're from a charity and ask you to donate money, clothes or household goods. All legitimate charities have a charity number that can be checked on the Charity Commission website.

· Made-up consumer surveys: Some scammers ask you to complete a survey so they can get hold of your personal details or use it as a cover for persuading you to buy something you don’t want or need.

· Hard luck stories: Someone may come to your door and ask you to help them out with cash, to use your telephone or claim they're feeling unwell.

We advise that you don't open the door to strangers, or to anyone who cannot provide valid ID. Avoid buying goods from doorstep sellers - the quality of the goods cannot be guaranteed and if there's a problem with the item, it's likely you'll have no means of obtaining a refund.

Further advice about doorstep sellers can be found on Age UK's website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk 

While community awareness is important, rather than just reporting to Facebook groups, please call the Police on 101 or report online at Report | Humberside Police