Deeside: Police warning residents over bogus fishmonger who has been linked to an increase in burglaries.

A door to door trader cold calling in the Ewloe and Deeside area selling fish is believed to be preying on elderly residents.

The scam involves high pressure sales techniques to encourage people to buy large quantities of  poor quality fish where the source, catch method, preparation, storage and weights are unknown.

The salesmen will show a customer a small selection of fish, and when they agree to buy some, they will go to their unrefrigerated van, returning with a large number of packed fish. They may also go into the house and put the fish into the freezer.

The fish is often mislabelled as more expensive varieties, underweight and close to the use-by date. It is often sold as fresh and suitable for freezing despite much of the fish being previously frozen.

Police believe there is also a link to an increase in burglaries where bogus fish sellers are operating.

Detective Inspector Tim Evans said;

“I would ask people to be on their guard against door- to – door sellers and to look out for their neighbours, especially if they are vulnerable. There are legitimate fish sellers operating in the area, but before you buy:

•      Check that the fish is labelled as required.

•      Is the van refrigerated and marked with the trader’s details?

•      Does the trader have a price list of products? – ask for the specific amount you require.

•      Do not let them into your house.

•      If you are at all uncertain ask for a price list and say you will think about it and telephone if you want to place an order – any reasonable trader will be happy to do this if it leads to regular custom.

•      If you spend more than £42 then consider Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Under these regulations where a contract is concluded at a consumers premises for over £42 the trader must give the consumer a written notice of two weeks cancellation. Failure to do this is an offence under the regulations.