Two fraudsters have been jailed after admitting their involvement in a roofing scam which conned elderly residents into paying thousands of pounds for unnecessary repairs – with one Ramsgate resident being conned out of some £25,000.
Nelson Cooper and Scott Smith targeted homes in Ramsgate, Dover, Canterbury, and Swanley between 20 September 2024 and 10 January 2025, convincing homeowners that chimney and roof repairs were needed, starting with smaller quotes but then inflating the costs into hundreds and sometimes thousands of pounds.
An investigation by Kent Police into Cooper’s company, which Smith worked for, found that the repairs recommended by them had been fraudulent. In several cases 39 year old Cooper even escorted his victims to banks and cash machines if they tried to suggest they didn’t have the cash at home.
A victim who had been visited by the rogue traders in December 2024 reported that he was advised by Cooper to tell the bank that he was withdrawing the money for Christmas presents.
When Cooper was arrested on 18 December 2024, his mobile phones were seized and found to contain contact details for Smith, as well as evidence he was knowingly preying on elderly residents.
Officers recovered media messages containing video clips of elderly people, unaware they were being filmed and voice notes which discussed how promising particular areas were for fraud.
Cooper stated in one message to a contact that all of the jobs he had done in Ramsgate were over £2,700, while a second message revealed that in Dover ‘Ladders are going up left right and centre’. He also sent a voice note singing ‘Christmas money’ in reference to the cash he was making.
On 10 January 2025, Kent Police attended a property in Ramsgate following reports of cold callers in the area. Checking a property which had building work taking place, officers found Smith working there and enquiries revealed the elderly resident had already paid more than £25,000 for unnecessary work.
Smith was arrested while Cooper, who had also been there that day but fled at the sight of police cars, was arrested a short time later. They were both charged with a number of fraud offences.
At court they pleaded guilty and on 30 April they were both sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court.
Cooper, of Tillingbourne Green in Orpington, was given a three-year prison sentence and 33 year old Smith of Englefield Crescent in Orpington was jailed for two years and four months.
Investigating officer DC Mark Collins said: “Our investigation into Cooper and Smith’s criminal activities was able to show how far reaching they had been and many elderly victims there were, as they destroyed homes with unnecessary work, took life savings and then didn’t look back.
“When Cooper was arrested and his phones were seized, it was distressing to see how little respect he had shown people, from filming them unaware, even when they were upset about the costly repairs, to singing and joking about the money he was making from his fraud.
“Through determination to uncover the evidence needed, officers were able to bring them before the courts to stop them taking advantage of any more people.
“Rogue traders like Cooper and Smith are often well practiced in their scams and the advice they provide can often sound very convincing. Anyone can become a victim of such frauds so if you are approached out of the blue about repairs needed, don’t be rushed into agreeing the work. Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.”
Advice for residents:
- If someone knocks at your door, always refuse on the spot repairs or maintenance.
- Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into agreeing to have work carried out. If you ask them to leave and they don’t, contact the police on 999.
- Don’t ever go to a bank or cashpoint with a trader; legitimate traders would never do this.
- Use reputable traders who are members of the KCC Trading Standards approved trader scheme Trading Standards Checked.
2years n 2 months be out in just over 1 year scummy c..ts need locking up for at least 15 to 20 years it’s fraud
I was conned out of £250.00 not by these two, but two others who had been recommended by Bark, similar to Checkatrade! They gave a different name to that used to register with Bark, but it was Bark who gave them my phone number!
Thieving 🥧 🔑s
Yes another one for Bark. The poor chap had to have his roof re-roofed and pay to have next doors roof repaired where they had disturbed the tiles and allowed rain to run in to the front and the back of their house. I complained to Bark and they still let the conmen advertise. They did absolutely nothing to stop these conmen from Essex conning more older people. They had registered a Ltd Company at Companies House a month earlier.