A WOMAN who was duped out of £7,000 by cold callers has urged elderly and vulnerable homeowners in East Hampshire not to repeat her mistakes.

A warning has also been sounded by Hampshire County Council (HCC) Trading Standards following the prosecution of three men who led a loft insulation scam.

The men, who went under the company names Energy Foam Seal Ltd and Thermaroof Ltd, made false and misleading claims to sell an Icyene insulation foam that was unsuitable and unnecessary for the victims’ roof spaces.

Southampton Crown Court heard the trio targeted more than 30 vulnerable and elderly people across the South through cold calling with 13 suffering a combined loss of £53,000.

“I was very stupid but I do feel I was taken advantage of,” said Pamela Hanham, a 69-year-old from Waterlooville who handed over £6,898.

“I had been nursing my husband who was effectively bed-ridden for the last 18 months of his life and one of the symptoms of his condition was that he felt the cold terribly.

“Normally I wouldn’t have been caught out but it was a stressful situation and I wanted to help my husband feel more comfortable.”

Pamela will receive some compensation after £28,554 was frozen in a bank account linked to lead fraudster, Stephen Rosen.

The 47-year-old company director from Wokingham was given a two-year suspended sentence and 300 hours community service after admitting to two offences of participating in a fraudulent business and five of fraud by false representation.

Energy Foam Seal Ltd salesman, Gary Holzman (41) of Bracknell, was given an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours community service after admitting to eight offences of engaging in misleading commercial practice.

The company’s director, James Dellaway (36), of Bournemouth, was handed a 12-month suspended sentence and 100 hours community service after admitting to an offence of engaging in unfair commercial practice.

“Trading Standards officers know this is not an isolated case and cold callers are targeting elderly and vulnerable people with a range of products they simply don’t need,” said Cllr Roy Perry, HCC leader.

“We are warning people not to show any interest any offers they receive through cold calling or leaflet drops.”