Police warn of fake handworkers

Tarring the drive, cleaning the gutters, painting shutters or renovating the roof – and then demanding excessive prices - fake handworkers are currently operating in canton Zug. The police urge increased caution.

Last Tuesday, 16 March, a van stopped outside an 80-year-old man's house in the municipality of Baar. Several men got out, posing as handworkers, according to a statement from the Zug law enforcement agencies. After the men had put pressure on the elderly owner, he agreed to let them carry out a refurbishment of a shelter roof.

The pensioner informed his daughter, who in turn immediately reported the incident to the Zug police, who were then able to check the five construction workers. It turned out that one of the men, a 29-year-old Romanian, did not have a valid work permit for the canton of Zug. He received an administrative fine of several hundred francs.

Overpriced bodge
False craftsmen like these have appeared in the canton of Zug time and again, and have pressurised their customers, preferably older people, to let them carry out some kind of work against payment. The offer ranges from roof refurbishment, cleaning the gutters and painting the shutters to the tarring of the drive. The intimidated customers are them asked  to pay horrendous prices for this work.

Beware of doorstep transactions
The Zug police warn against such false craftsmen, who can appear anywhere in the canton. Anyone who is approached by such workers should under no circumstances allow themselves to be intimidated and persuaded, but should close their front door and under no circumstances allow strangers in their own apartment/house. In addition, the police should be immediately notified in such a case (emergency number 117).