Farmers need to go 'on high alert' as rogue traders and scammers turn sights on them: UFU
Farmers across Northern Ireland need to go ‘on high alert’ as rogue traders and scammers target their family businesses.
That’s the stark warning issued by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) this morning, stating that victims have lost thousands of pounds and reports of dodgy dealers are on the rise.
Anyone approached by suspicious traders is to avoid engaging with them and to report all incidents to the PSNI using non-emergency phone number 101 without delay, the union stated.
The UFU’s deputy president, Glenn Cuddy, said the union is “aware of an extremely concerning increase in reports of rogue traders and scammers targeting farms and rural businesses”.
He added: “These individuals often arrive uninvited and appear professional and legitimate, making it difficult to identify their malicious intentions.
“The message is simple – be extremely wary of cold callers. If someone arrives at your farm offering services that you have not requested, do not engage with them. Instead, take the time to verify who they are, what company they represent and whether they can provide genuine references and credentials.
“More importantly, do not allow yourself to be pressured into making a decision or handing over money.”
Mr Cuddy added that “reporting is key”, as if even no offence was committed information about suspicious activity can give intelligence to police that allows the force to identify patterns.
He also encouraged people in rural areas to look out for their neighbours.
According to the union, the PSNI has assured officials that the force has the manpower to deal with the scale of the threat and plans “action days” in response to the increase of farmers being targeted.