Two men have been charged in connection with a rogue trader scam after vulnerable victims from across Kent lost thousands of pounds.

The alleged offences involved homeowners first being tricked into paying for costly and unnecessary repairs to their homes, and then being targeted a second time by fake police officers claiming those responsible had been caught and could be prosecuted for an additional fee.

In one incident, a man in his 60s from Chatham lost a total of £103,000. Other victims included two other men who were both in their 80s, one from Herne Bay and the other from Dartford.

Sonny Maughan, 27, of Brakefield Road, Gravesend, and Emanuel Scarrott, 28, of Hovefields Avenue in Basildon, Essex, were arrested on Tuesday after police stopped a vehicle which had been seen leaving one of the targeted addresses.

They have both since been charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. Maughan has also been charged with driving without insurance.

Both men are due to appear before Medway magistrates today.

Detective Sergeant Marc Cananur of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "I would like to remind everyone to be wary of anyone who may call at your home without an appointment and attempt to sell you repair services. If you are considering such an offer, always arrange for additional quotes to be prepared by other reputable tradespeople.

"Also please be assured that nobody from the police or any other organisation will ever charge you money in return for a criminal prosecution. Genuine police officers who call at your home will always be more than happy to provide identification, and if in doubt you can call 101 to confirm they are who they say they are.

"Finally, remember the ABC rule to help protect yourself and others against fraud – never Assume someone is telling the truth, never Believe what they say unless you are confident of their identity, and always Confirm the details they have provided."

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