Colchester City Council is urging residents to stay alert following a recent incident involving a bogus tree-surgery company posing as council workers and targeting elderly residents.
A resident in his 90s was approached by individuals claiming to be from the council and told that urgent tree work was needed on land near his home, backing onto the Shrub End Sports Centre. The company, identifying themselves as “BMC Tree Care,” entered council-managed land without permission and carried out unprofessional and damaging tree work. They then convinced the resident to pay £450 to “balance” the tree, claiming it was unsafe, and later demanded an additional £1,000 to remove the cut branches.
The group reportedly wore lanyards to appear legitimate and provided a handwritten “invoice” with no proper company details. This behaviour is fraudulent, and we are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness.
Our Tree Officer has since assessed the site and confirmed that the work done was poor and unnecessary. The incident has been reported to the police, and we strongly urge any residents who encounter similar behaviour to do the following:
- Council officers NEVER accept cash, so if money is mentioned, please call the police.
- Do not allow individuals to carry out work on your property or adjacent land without verifying their identity.
- Contact Colchester City Council directly to confirm whether any work is scheduled or authorised.
- Report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
This type of scam deliberately targets vulnerable residents and damages both public trust and public property.
If you are unsure about any tree or grounds maintenance work near your home, please contact Colchester City Council on 01206 282222 before taking any action.
Page last reviewed: 1 July 2025