Tackling bogus callers is a priority for Tayside Police

Officers working with customs staff said they had boosted the amount of intelligence on rogue traders operating in the area.

Tayside Police have made tackling bogus callers a priority following problems throughout the force area.

Officers also snared several people working while still drawing benefits.

Det Ch Insp Colin MacKay, in charge of the operation, said bogus callers had mainly been targeting elderly and vulnerable members of the community.

'Sub-standard work'

"In order to trick or distract their victims, those involved in this type of criminality may take many forms, including bogus officials, persons purporting to be bona fide workmen who carry out sub-standard work at inflated prices, or persons purporting to need help," he said.

Det Ch Insp MacKay said that some of the crimes were committed by people from outwith Tayside who were also regularly targeting other parts of Scotland, such as Edinburgh and Fife.

He added: "This operation has been successful, not only in terms of the number of people detected, but also in terms of the amount of intelligence that we have gathered.