Hurstville Council has warned residents to beware of bogus council tree officers.
The warning comes after an elderly Riverwood couple were scammed for $700 by a man claiming he was from the council and offered to chop a tree on their property.
An angry relative rang the council saying it had no business charging elderly people such an excessive sum of money.
Council staff told him it was a scam.
A council spokeswoman said that council’s tree officers wore clothing or vests which had the Hurstville Council logo, carried business cards with contact details, did not enter private property and never asked for money.
She urged residents to ask for identification if approached and to contact the council on 9330 6222 if they were concerned or needed verification.
‘‘These types of people tend to sprout out every few months,’’ she said.
Do you know more or have you been approached by the bogus tree officers?