http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K1MePV-8kY
An Irish conman who has been offering to do cheap line-marking in car parks in the Coffs Harbour region could be heading north after being reported to Fair Trading.
Fair Trading commissioner Rod Stowe said a Coffs Harbour business was door-knocked on Monday (11 November) by a traveller offering to do line-marking in the car park.
The man, described as having a strong Irish accent, red hair and a crooked eye, was the passenger in a white two-door Holden panel van with Victorian number plates TAF-706 and the sign ‘free quotes’ on the side of the vehicle.
The same business was approached by a second man today, again sporting an Irish accent and making the same offer.
Mr Stowe said the vehicle on this occasion was an older green Tarago with South Australian number plates S133-AUP.
‘On both occasions the men offered to do the line marking at a reduced rate of $3 per metre instead of $10 per metre, because they had “leftover materials” from a previous job.
‘This is a well-known ruse the travelling conmen use and there had been a significant increase in reported sightings of travelling conmen in NSW in recent weeks,’ Mr Stowe said.
‘They get property owners’ interest up by quoting ridiculously low prices for painting or home building jobs, take the money up front and then either disappear or do such an appalling job it will cost thousands of dollars more to rectify,’ he added.
‘I strongly urge everyone not to deal with these men as they can be extremely aggressive and intimidating.’
Anyone with any information about travelling conmen or groups or their whereabouts is encouraged to report them to the Travelling Conmen Hotline on 1300 133 408 or visit the Stop Travelling Conmen Facebook page.
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