Trading Standards officers are warning residents in Gedling borough about what appears to be door-to-door fish-selling scammers.
Nottinghamshire County Council’s Trading Standards team have said they’ve received a spate of complaints about doorstep traders selling fish in the area.
Since February officers have received 12 complaints from residents, but they believe the issue is much more extensive.
Complainants have reported that doorstep salesmen have been offering different types of fish and misleading residents into thinking they are buying small quantities but then hand over a large amount and demand as much as £264 for payment.
It is also not clear what species of fish that they are selling or where the fish was caught, its origins and whether it contains any additives or colours.
Councillor Gordon Wheeler, vice-chair of the Communities and Place Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We’ve had an increase in complaints in recent months about this type of scam and it follows the usual doorstep crime pattern of misleading people about what is for sale and then landing them with unexpected large bill.
“The money lost is not the only issue as the lack of labelling on the fish makes it unclear to the consumer what they are actually buying, so we are advising local people to say a firm no to all doorstep sellers and buy their fish from a reputable trader.”
Anyone who has been approached by fish sellers in this manner should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06.
