Conmen tradies target Melbourne residents

Victorians have been warned about conmen tradies who have been targeting households in Melbourne's eastern suburbs.

Home renovators and DIYers in Croydon have fallen victim to scammers posing as tradesmen - losing thousands of dollars after the conmen fail to turn up and perform the agreed services.

According to Maroondah Leader reports, the fraudsters have been leaving business cards in mailboxes around the area - giving out quotes and taking deposits for work that is never carried out.

"He was personable, a nice bloke and keen to get the job done. I didn't suspect he wasn't going to do what he said he would do," one Croydon resident told the local paper.

The woman, who didn't want her identity revealed, lost more than $2,000 when the scammer never returned to excavate and concrete her property as promised.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) said there had been a series of similar incidents in the area recently, warning residents to be vigilant about handing over money to tradesmen.

"Residents can protect themselves by only using reputable tradespeople who can provide a quote, previous references and an address rather than simply a mobile phone number," a CAV spokesperson said.

Police urged residents to check tradies' ABN numbers before handing over cash.

Checking out a businesses contact details is always a good indication of a firm’s authenticity - make sure they have a valid address and phone number to protect yourself. Giving the company a quick check through google should also bring up some results - including consumer reviews.