The Guardia Civil is once again warning of a continual scam whereas fake gas inspectors visit homes, posing as company employees.
The elderly are the main target of these criminals who charge a disproportionate amount for a service, without issuing a correct invoice, and sometimes not carrying out any work.
The activities tend to intensify with the arrival of colder weather, although the scam continues throughout the year.
The Guardia Civil advise that an authorised inspector will never appear at a home without prior notice and it must be the consumer who chooses which company performs the mandatory review, either because they have a contracted service or because the consumer is the ones who have initiated the inspection.
The person who appears must carry identification containing the company logo, with corresponding accreditation, and authorised number which allows verification through the registry at the Ministry of Industry.
If both these factors are not met, you should not let an inspector into your home, they say.
Once the formal inspection has been carried out, the technician must provide a certificate that, if the inspection was favourable, must be signed and stamped, and if it is not, it must indicate the reason and time needed for the repair.
You must not pay cash at the time of the service but rather through an invoice issued by your contracted company.
If you feel you are potentially being subject to a fraudulent inspection you should contact the Guardia Civil to report it.
