Three people have been arrested in Jerez on suspicion of numerous counts of fraud after posing as gas inspectors and preying on elderly residents, charging exorbitant fees for a supposed inspection and leaving the premises in a state of disrepair.
The individuals did not hesitate to threaten people with cutting off their gas supply if they refused the inspection or telling them that they were putting the safety of other residents in the block at risk.
The ‘bogus gas inspector’ is a popular scam everywhere, the perpetrators often using intimidation against the more vulnerable in society, such as the elderly, or against tourists unfamiliar with the law in Spain.
Gas inspections are compulsory by law in Spain every five years, but only when an individual householder makes an appointment with the accredited gas inspection companies in a particular locality. These companies never solicit business door to door and the golden rule for anyone appearing at your door claiming to be a gas inspector is never, ever let them in, regardless of how persistent they become or how much documentation they produce.