Gardai have reason to believe a bogus-caller scam operating in the Tipperary region may extend to the north Cork area.

In mid-January and again last week, two elderly people had callers to their door purporting to be from the ESB. In the first case in Tipperary, the elderly lady was taken to the rear of her property, where she was told a new ESB pole was to be erected. While she was out of the house a large amount of cash was stolen from her. A man being sought by gardai in relation to that incident is described as being clean-shaven with black hair and driving a silver BMW.

In the second incident, which occurred in Nenagh, the ESB ruse was also used and €170 demanded in cash from the home owner for the work to be done.

In the wake of such incidents, gardai in north Cork are warning people answering calls to their door to demand ID and are also advising them not to be lured out of their homes as the bogus callers may have accomplices poised to enter to steal while they are away from the residence.