UNSCRUPULOUS salespeople are targeting migrants to Western suburbs, police have warned.

Footscray Police Community Liaison Officer Craig Spicer said representatives from some telecommunication companies were taking advantage of non-English speakers, pressuring them into signing contracts without proper understanding.

Speaking at last week’s community multicultural forum, Senior Sergeant Spicer said there had been a number of reports of the dodgy marketing tactics in recent months, particularly among the African community.

“It’s a problem that has been occurring a fair bit,” he said.

“I work very closely with our African community and it’s a common discussion amongst them.

They’re concerned that people have been knocking on their doors getting them to sign up for contracts where they really aren’t aware of their obligations.”

Snr Sgt Spicer said he had personally responded to several reports where migrants had been duped into committing to two-year contracts they could not afford to pay.

“Two people who came to me were pensioners and they were going above their means.

They had the money coming out of their pensions,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the East African Women’s Association who did not wished to be named said, it was a huge problem for her community.

“I’ve seen a lot of people it’s happened to. They come to people’s doors,” she said.

They offer cheaper electricity or phone bills if you sign a contract for two years, but when they enter the contract, the bills are the same or higher, she added.

Some of these people end up with huge debts they can’t repay.

The spokeswoman said the onus was on salespeople to do the right thing when it came to non-English speakers.

“They should have an interpreter with them or they should have clear information,” she said.

Snr Sgt Spicer urged the community to be vigilant about salespeople.

“Do not sign anything you don’t understand,” Snr Sgt Spicer warned.

He said anyone experiencing difficulty with a contract could contact him at the Footscray Police Station.

“It’s not a policing issue but when it affects new arrivals, I take it to heart because I think they are being unfairly targeted,” he said.