A Douglas couple conned out of £1,000 by bogus workmen had been saving the money for a 70th birthday celebration next year.
One of the victims told The Courier she was “gutted” to have been taken in by the two men, who said her loft needed vital repair work.
Police have released descriptions of the two men, who claimed to work for a company carrying out winter checks on roofs, but who never returned after being given the four-figure sum.
The 68-year-old female victim, who lives with her husband on Balunie Drive, said a man came to the door on Tuesday afternoon and told her she had a loose tile on her roof.
The woman, who declined to be named, said: “He came back after an hour with a young lad and asked if he could go into the loft.
“He said a bird had got in and there were maggots and dry rot. He showed me a bit of wood that was crumbling.
“My husband came along and the man quoted my husband £1,000. He started off at £1,500. I said with all the damp, it will have to get done, so I gave him the money.
“He said he would go to the Ferry and get materials and be back in an hour. I asked for a phone number and noticed it only had 10 digits instead of 11.
“The young lad said he keeps forgetting to put the number four down.”
After an hour there was no sign of the two men so the pensioner’s daughter-in-law phoned the police.
She said: “I tried the phone number and a lady answered and knew nothing about it. My son went up to the loft and he saw that they had moved one of the tiles.
“I feel gutted, I was really upset. I felt so stupid.
“I’m 70 next year and I’d been building the money up for a party.”
A Tayside Division spokesman said: “The first male is described as being in his late fifties, 5ft 10in, medium build, with a Scottish accent and wearing a black donkey jacket, black beanie hat and black jeans.
“The second male is about 19, 5ft 6in, slim build, with short brown hair and wearing a dark grey hooded top.
“Police Scotland advises the public that they should always ask for identification of persons calling at their address and should not allow any unexpected callers access to their house until they are satisfied with their identity and purpose.”
Anyone who may have information that could assist police inquiries should call 101 or contact any police officer.
Alternatively information can be passed via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.