ON JULY 4 a gang of rogue traders who had swindled older people across South Wales was jailed.

Age Cymru pays tribute to Scambusters Wales, Trading Standards and police for the two-year operation that led to the successful prosecution.

Operation Cosgrove was the biggest operation of its kind carried out in Wales and involved eight Trading Standards departments, Gwent Police and South Wales Police.

It led to Thomas Connors, Richard McCarthy, Ben Jones and Keith Palmer being jailed for conspiracy to defraud customers.

They had travelled across South Wales, cold-calling older people and carrying out overpriced work, shoddy work and in some cases no work on homes in an area stretching from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff and Gorseinon.

In all, they took in almost £70,000.

Age Cymru also wants to use this opportunity to highlight the call we are making with our ‘Scams and swindles’ campaign for more No Cold Calling Zones to be created across Wales.

Whilst the prosecution of criminals is to be welcomed, Age Cymru wants to see older people better protected from all unwanted callers.

Setting up more zones in a fast-tracked and cheaper way across Wales would give older people better defence against unscrupulous rogue traders and doorstep scammers.

Gerry Keighley Campaigns Co-ordinator Age Cymru