Bogus builders rip off elderly people

A GANG of bogus builders is targeting old age pensioners, forcing them to withdraw large amounts from their bank accounts.

Gardaí said the gang, which intimidates and holds people against their will, has extorted money, using a variety of scams, from old people in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kerry.

Over a week ago, an 85-year-old woman living in Mallow, Co Cork, was taken to a local bank and forced to withdraw €4,000 for work on her house which amounted to less than €1,000. Fortunately, the bank manager became suspicious. Realising they’d been rumbled, the gang fled.