Police have issued warnings against rogue traders after they tried to charge an elderly Cambridgeshire woman £4,000 for trimming two trees.
Policing East Cambridgeshire said that the "workers" turned up at the woman's home unannounced and offered to trim a few of her trees, but after they finished the job they told her it would cost £3,000.
The rogue traders took her to the bank to withdraw the funds, but because it was closed and she offered to write a cheque, they said it would now be £4,000 for the inconvenience.
The force said that luckily the woman's son recognised the scam and immediately cancelled the cheque.
This was not the only report of rogue trading this month however, with the police also warning against an incident involving a gravel driveway.
Policing East Cambridgeshire said that two strangers offered to top up a homeowner's gravel driveway for £35 with some spare they had on their truck.
However, after they began unloading it, the rogue traders declared it would actually cost £450 so the homeowner demanded they stop and refused to pay.
A statement to Policing East Cambridgeshire's social media reads: "Rogue traders often operate during the summer months when the weather is better and people look to tackle outdoor DIY projects.
"Spot the signs and keep yourself and vulnerable friends and relatives safe."
More information on door-to-door fraud can be found on the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website.
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