RESIDENTS are being warned to be on their guard after two bogus callers, pretending to be from the council, conned an elderly Coventry man out of £250.
One of the men called at the home of the pensioner in Treherne Road just after 4pm on Monday, claiming there had been complaints to the council about a tree in his back garden.
The man took £260 from his elderly victim, saying he would return later to remove the tree, but did not show up.
Another neighbour was visited by a second man around the same time, but did not hand over any cash.
It is believed the two men, both white and middle-aged, may have been using a white van, with a scratched-off sign on the side and a set of ladders on the roof.
Police want anyone with any information on the scams to call them on 101.
They are also reminding people to stay alert, always ask for identification from unexpected callers and carry out checks on them.
And they want residents to pass on the message to elderly or vulnerable friends or family members to make them aware the fraudsters are operating in the area.
