Salzburg-Itzling: fake technicians cheat couple – SALZBURG24
The couple contacted an alleged emergency service about a clogged kitchen drain on December 3, the police announced today. Shortly afterwards, two alleged employees of the building services company arrived to destroy the clogged toilet.
Technicians cheat on the couple in Salzburg-Itzling
Half an hour later, the two asked the Salzburg couple around 1,000 euros without actually having repaired the damage. After a short time, the same problems with the toilet reappeared. It turned out that the expensive components were not installed. The couple reported the men.
Usury in emergency services
According to information from the police, emergency services of any kind can be affected by usury, i.e. the commercial exploitation of predicament, recklessness or lack of judgment on the part of another. Examples are locksmiths, plumbers, sewer and pipe emergency services or exterminators.
These are criminal groups who place professional advertisements on the Internet and pay search engines to be placed in the first place. The homepages are designed extremely professionally and are difficult to identify as fakes.
Homepages simulate regionality
Even if the emergency numbers would often simulate a local operation, the calls would be forwarded to a switchboard abroad. The invoices would be issued to non-existent companies with invented tax numbers.
Crime prevention tips
When choosing an emergency service:
- Get information in advance from the Chamber of Commerce / Chamber of Labor / Gütesiegel Aufsperrdienst in order to be prepared for an emergency.
- Contact your known locksmith / installer etc.
- Attention: Often the first ranked homepages of the search engines are fake companies.
- Research about the companies on the Internet (experience reports) and check the imprint of the website.
- Agree on the costs in advance and ask for a payment slip for high bills.
Generally gold-plated, pay attention to:
- Car: write down the license plate number / brand / type
- Professional work clothes and tools
- Look over the shoulder of the skilled worker: does he appear professional or does he need YouTube videos to help?
Should it come to a “service” with a horrific bill:
- Don’t let yourself be pressured
- As soon as you have doubts about the seriousness, do not pay the bill and contact the police!
(Source: SALZBURG24)