Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 8:55am

Pensioner diddled on her doorstep

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Last week, the Press launched a campaign against bogus callers after cops revealed a rising problem in West Fife with pensioners being swindled – often out of thousands. Here, we speak to a 75-year-old Dunfermline pensioner who lost money after being conned at the door in November. She"s lived in her home for 50 years without any problems but now she"s fearful of reprisals for speaking to the Press. We have withheld her identity to prevent this from this happening.

"I was on the phone and this young chap, nice-looking, came to the door. He looked alright, he was well enough dressed and everything and he just says, "I"m doing your neighbours" rhones, would you like me to do yours?"

I asked him how much it was and he said £20 but because he said he was doing the rest of the street, he said I could get it a bit cheaper – £15.

I should have thought then it was funny because he said then we might not see them but we would maybe hear them.

I said that"s alright then and then the phone went again. I thought I heard ladders at one point and I never thought more about it.

He came back to the door a wee while later and I gave him the £15. Quite affable he was, he said he would come back tomorrow with a receipt.

I never thought any more about it until the police came at night.

One of my neighbours had called the police and they wanted to see if we could identify him.

I was sure I could but when they show you all those photographs you just get confused.

They did tell us later they had caught him. It was someone from Kirkcaldy.

I was amazed because we are not usually taken in. They catch you when you are busy. We do sometimes get things done if others in the street are and one can recommend to the other. That"s why I thought this time, well if they"re doing the rest...

It"s the fact he had diddled us. He looked such a nice, plausible man. I have got grandchildren and he looked just like someone who was starting up for himself. I never thought he would do that.

I go to things at the church and I"ve told the minister and the older ones there. I would tell anyone now, "Don"t take anybody at the door. Don"t do it." They are so plausible.

I was glad they caught him but do they get enough when they are caught?

What happens to them? They just go to another district and start again.

It wasn"t much to lose but it could have been a lot more – you hear of folk done out of thousands. You say it will never happen to you but then you see how easy it is to get taken in.

It"s so easy – especially when they are well dressed and look a nice young man.

I mean he had curly hair, I was so sure I could identify him.

If he came to the door now he wouldn"t come back! I"d say to him, "Give me my £15 back"."

This feature was produced with help from Fife Constabulary. If you wish to report a bogus caller, contact community safety officers Martin Bamford on 318745 or Kenny Grieg on 318645