By Santiago Carneri

Copyright euroweeklynews

An unexpected visit, a non-existent gas leak and €273 almost lost – it could have been much worse. That was the ordeal suffered by an 83-year-old British woman who has lived in Denia for 25 years, she told Euro Weekly News.

Two men rang her doorbell one morning claiming they needed to carry out a routine check on the gas installation. Trusting their story, the woman – described by a close friend as honest and kind – let them in.

They appeared to work for some time before warning that a piece of pipe had to be replaced. The cost, they said, was €273. Feeling pressured, she reluctantly paid with her card just to make them leave.

But it did not end there

“They started saying there was a gas leak that had to be repaired and that it would be another €300,” a close friend of the victim told Euro Weekly News. “That was when she refused, said she had no more money, and they left – without fixing the supposed leak.”

The friend added: “We realised it was a scam when they left without repairing anything. A genuine inspector would never do that.”

The woman then noticed other suspicious details: the men wore no Repsol uniforms, despite claiming to work for the company. Distressed, she immediately called relatives and friends, who went with her to the authorities to file a complaint. She even managed to photograph one of the supposed inspectors, a key piece of evidence for the police. Thanks to this, she was able to recover the €273 taken from her card.

“My concern is that there are many pensioners living alone,” the friend added. “Now they are very nervous and distrustful of Repsol. Older people need to be aware and protect themselves, because other pensioners could be targeted.”

The Guardia Civil has issued warnings about this type of scam and offered the following advice:

Fraudsters pose as gas, electricity or utility inspectors and claim they need to carry out checks.

They pretend to carry out technical work, often making minor changes such as replacing a piece of hose, before presenting a bill.

In some cases, they take advantage of the distraction to steal valuables or commit robbery through intimidation.

Recommendations:

Do not open the door to inspectors unless the visit has been arranged directly with your utility company.

Always ask the supposed inspector to show official identification from the company.

Remember: companies must call beforehand to arrange any inspection. Protect your home and do not fall victim to these scams.