>>>Ok perhaps I am just getting to paranoid in my old age
Better to be paraniod than scammed.
I have just got the latest Which magazine that says UK people are scammed out of millions and millions every year, because so many people are far too gullible and trusting.
I think people should not trust ANYONE who phones you up out the blue, ANYONE knocks on your door, ANY "dodgy" email you get, ANY "dodgy" text message you get on your phone.
NEVER give anyone personal information - if a person phones up and says "are you the home owner" tell them to mind their own business.
NEVER give out ANY personal information (even your name), NEVER give anyone your userids or passswords (even if you are asked for them in an email), NEVER give anyone your credit card or bank details.
NEVER let anyone in the house you dont know. Anyone knocks on the door selling something tell them to go away.
Sounds tough, but if more of us did this, less of us would be scammed.