A Glasgow man was scammed out of £3,000 by a rogue trader who exploited fears following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, was approached by a cold caller who claimed to work for a company operating on behalf of Glasgow City Council to carry out safety checks.

After inspecting his electricity meter, the trader insisted his voltage levels were dangerously high and recommended installing a ‘voltage optimiser’ for £3,000, linking the supposed risk to the Grenfell Tower fire.

The victim later contacted a local electrician, who confirmed the voltage was normal and the optimiser was worth less than £300, after becoming suspicious of the device.

Trading Standards, which highlighted the case, says that nearly half of Scots (46 per cent) who replied to their poll had been targeted by aggressive or misleading sales tactics.

The ScotPulse survey of 1,063 people also found a third (33 per cent) were conned into a sale but only one in five reported the incident to authorities.

It comes as TSS launches a nationwide ‘Know Your Rights’ campaign to help Scots understand their protections and report scams and dishonest sellers.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 ban companies from using misleading or aggressive sales tactics. This can include high-pressure selling, withholding of important information, confusing product details, fake discounts, or claims that unnecessary work is urgently needed.

It also covers pushy behaviour such as refusing to leave someone’s home, using scare tactics, bombarding them with calls, or trying to make them feel guilty for not agreeing to a sale and pretending to be from trusted organisations such as the council.

Traders who flout these regulations can face prosecution, with Trading Standards Scotland working alongside Police Scotland.

Fiona Richardson, chief officer of Trading Standards Scotland, said: “It is shocking that so many people in Scotland are falling victim to misleading and aggressive sales tactics. This poll shows the scale of the problem, with almost half of people experiencing this kind of appalling behaviour.

“Traders who offer fake discounts or falsely claim extra work is needed are not just being dishonest – they are breaking the law. The impact goes beyond financial loss. It causes stress and anxiety, particularly for older or more vulnerable people.

“We urge consumers not to deal with cold callers. Instead, look for trusted local businesses through approved trader schemes backed by Trading Standards.

“Always research a company before agreeing to any work. Online adverts can be misleading and reviews can be faked. Take your time. A pushy pitch is often a red flag.

“It is vital that consumers feel confident standing up to these tactics and know there is help available.”

Anyone who feels misled or pressured can get support through Advice Direct Scotland at www.consumeradvice.scot or by calling 0808 164 6000.

Victims of fraud should report it to Police Scotland by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.

Join Glasgow Live's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

Sign up to our daily Glasgow Live newsletter here to receive news and features direct to your inbox