'Bitumen bandits' and other dodgy conmen offer cheap deals valid for 'today only'. They will do most trades such as painting, roof repairs and sealing driveways. They offer a cheap rate and often pressure you to say yes.

Travelling conmen leave the job unfinished or complete the work to a poor standard. They often cannot be contacted again to resolve the problems they leave behind.

Try to get helpful details for the Police to investigate such as:

• licence plate number,
• make and model of car,
• name and description of the con men,
• flyers or other promotional material and
• any other useful details. 

What to look for

Be suspicious of people who:

• knock on your door unexpectedly
• say they were working in the area and have left over materials to use up
• offer cheap deals using words like 'for today only'
• ask for cash up front
• offer to drive you to the bank to get money for payment
• make you feel pressured to accept their offer.  
• check advice from WAScamNet

Protect yourself and your community:

If you suspect a travelling con man is knocking, don’t open your door.

• If you do speak to them, ask them to leave. If they refuse, they’re breaking the law. See door-to-door sales.
• Take photos and write down as much information as you can. Report them to Police or Crimestoppers.
• Be suspicious of unexpected cheap deals – they may be much more expensive to finish or fix up in the long run.
• Warn your friends, family and neighbours.
• Share on your local social media groups.

If you need to hire a tradesperson

If you decide you need work done on your house, see our tips on hiring tradespeople.

DO NOT KNOCK

Display a Do Not Knock sticker on your front door or near the doorbell. 

Do not knock, by Consumer Protection