[:en]The Mossos d'Esquadra arrested 13 people as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of belonging to a criminal organisation, continued aggravated fraud, bank fraud, coercion and theft from inside homes. The group of fake gas operators, which operated throughout Catalonia, took advantage of the vulnerability of certain people to carry out repeated unnecessary, false or non-existent gas inspections, sometimes using coercion.
This type of scam is very common, especially among older people, as criminals take advantage of their vulnerability to gain their trust, take advantage of them and deceive them. Scammers show up at private homes dressed in the uniform of the main supply companies, with all the necessary credentials and adopting the same procedures and speeches as authorized inspectors. Apparently everything seems legal: the fake operator inspects the installation, makes a report, proceeds to charge for the inspection and leaves the property. Normally, it is not until the date of the authorized inspection that the consumer realizes that he has been scammed.
To avoid fraud in gas inspections, the Department of Consumption of the Generalitat of Catalonia gives a series of very interesting recommendations:
- Be wary of unexpected visits from gas installation companies that come to your home to check your butane or natural gas supply, if you have not expressly and previously requested their service or have not been notified by the corresponding companies.
- Request that the person carrying out the inspection be accredited as a gas installation company registered with RASIC (to verify whether a company is registered with RASIC, you can consult this link: infoNORMA: installation companies).
- Think carefully, do not feel pressured and do not rush things and, if in doubt, consult the supplying company, since it is the only company that has to carry out the safety control of the installations and devices.
- If the company that is offering to service butane gas is not a trusted company previously contracted by the consumer, do not open the door to your home.
It is very important to be clear that gas inspections are carried out every 5 years, and that, before each inspection, the supplying company informs its customers on which day the inspection will be carried out.
If you have any questions, contact the supplying company, who will indicate the date of the next authorized inspection. , coercion and burglary inside the home. The group of false gas operators, which operates throughout the Catalan territory, takes advantage of the vulnerability of certain people in order to carry out repeated unnecessary, false or non-existent gas inspections, sometimes employing coercion.
This type of scam is very common, especially among older people, since criminals take advantage of the vulnerability of these people to ensure their trust, profit from them and deceive them. The fraudsters are present at the private homes wearing the uniform of the main supplying companies, along with all the necessary credentials and adopting the materials procedures and speeches that the reviewers authorize. Apparently it seems legal: the false inspector inspects the installation, prepares a report, proceeds to charge the property's basic review. Normally, it is not until the date of the authorized inspection that the consumer admits that he or she has been scammed.
To avoid fraud in gas inspections, the Department of Consumption of the Generalitat de Catalunya provides a series of very interesting recommendations:
- Be wary of unexpected visits from gas installation companies that come to your home to carry out the inspection of butane gas or natural gas, if a tender has not been expressly requested and prior to service or they have not been notified by them. corresponding companies.
- Demand that the person carrying out the review is accredited as a gas installation company registered with the RASIC (to verify if a company is registered with the RASIC, you can consult this link: infoNORMA: installation companies).
- Reflect, do not feel pressured and do not rush and, once in doubt, consult with the supplying company, since this alone is the one that must ensure the security control of the installations and devices.
- If the one offering is the butà gas inspection, it is not a trustworthy company that has been contracted, previously, by you, not to open the door of the house.
It is very important to be clear that gas inspections are due every 5 years, and that, after each inspection, the supplying company informs its customers on what day the inspection will last.
For any doubt, you must contact the supplying company that will indicate the date of the next authorized inspection.[:]