ROGUE traders and doorstep scammers in Surrey were targeted during a joint trading standards and police crackdown.

Trading standards officers teamed up with the police to check vans and lorries, patrol rogue trader hotspots and pursue ongoing investigations into fraud and money laundering.

A total of 207 rogue trader and doorstep scam incidents were reported to county trading standards from 2016-17 and rapid intervention by officers stopped residents being ripped off to the tune of £1.2million.

The three most common scams involved roofing work, with 73 incidents reported, followed by paving or tarmacking, with 41 incidents reported and gardening, with 32.

The highest value scam was an attempted £90,000 building work fraud in Dorking.

A rapid action team of trading standards officers foiled the scam and the perpetrators are now being investigated.

Officers from Surrey Trading Standards and the county police force took part in a national day of action on May 10, known as Rogue Trader Day, which aimed to disrupt the activities of scammers who pressurise residents into sales and fob them off with shoddy work or none at all.

Steve Ruddy, head of Surrey Trading Standards, said: “Rogue traders spell misery for residents and undermine genuine businesses and our day of action with the police sends a clear message to conmen that they’re not welcome.

“The initiative is a key part of our work to make the lives of cold-calling criminals difficult and raise awareness of their tactics but joint work with the police and other organisations carries on throughout the year.”

A doorstep scam in Wormley was among those reported in Surrey over the last year.

But the true level of crime is likely to be much higher as only about 10 per cent of cases are reported.

• Most recorded incidents were in Reigate and Banstead and Spelthorne, both with 27, with Guildford in third place with 25.

• To report a rogue trader, contact the Citizens’ Advice consumer service on 0345 404 0506.