00:00It often starts with a knock on the door and a friendly face offering to fix a roof or tidy a garden.
00:07But for dozens of people across Merliside, that first chart has ended in thousands of pounds lost and months of anxiety.
00:13Doorstep fraud's actually a very old type of fraud.
00:16It's essentially people knocking on your door, offering goods and services and getting you to pay for them,
00:21even though it's not worth the work that's been done.
00:23So in July and September 2025, Action Fraud recorded 35 reports of doorstep fraud across the region,
00:30only one more than the previous quarter, but with total losses soaring from just under Ā£103,000 to more than Ā£292,000.
00:41It's a huge impact, particularly to those who are struggling financially, particularly this time of year.
00:47We know that bills are going up. We know that goods and services, electricity, heating, etc. is increasing.
00:55So particularly for those who are having to watch where the pennies go, this particular crime can be devastating.
01:03Merliside Police say the figures suggest that fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated
01:07using pressure tactics and fake company registrations to appear legitimate.
01:12Recent cases have been concentrated in Southport and St Helens.
01:15Anybody could be a potential victim. What the fraudsters are doing is pressure tactics.
01:23What they're relying on is fear-mongering.
01:27Detective Sergeant John Coulson from the Forces Economic Crime Team says that these scams are especially distressing
01:34because they involve direct contact with victims.
01:37He describes how criminals often return months later under a new name,
01:41claiming earlier work needs fixing before demanding more money for unnecessary repairs.
01:48The main alarm bell with which people should be aware of is the one where you are being pressured.
01:53It has to be there and then.
01:55When you ask, well, I want a second opinion or I want to think about this or get another quote,
02:01it's the no, it needs to be done now.
02:03It doesn't necessarily have to be a male that's talking to you.
02:07We're aware that a number of fraudsters are utilising females to do this,
02:12which again adds a different dynamic.
02:15Some victims, he says, have even been pressured into leaving glowing online reviews,
02:19which then help the same fraudsters find new targets.
02:23My advice to members of the community when there is a knock at the door is don't be frightened to say no.
02:30But on top of that, utilise the time there to think about what's being asked of you,
02:38what's being sold and don't be frightened to go to your neighbour,
02:44speak to your friends, speak to your family.
02:46According to Mirsai, police officers are working closely with local trading standards teams
02:51to identify offenders and bring cases before the courts,
02:55warning that enforcement action will continue throughout the winter.
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