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The Office of Fair Trading is warning Sunshine Coast residents and businesses to be wary of door-to-door salesmen following reports of itinerant traders offering to lay bitumen driveways in the Nambour area.

Minister for Fair Trading Peter Lawlor said a group of British, Italian and Asian men had been approaching Nambour premises selling bitumen driveways.

"Itinerant tradespeople often demand cash up front and have even been known to take elderly people down to ATMs to get their money," Mr Lawlor said.

"Their work is usually shoddy too, leaving you with the cost of hiring someone else to fix up the mess you have been left.

"For example, previous door-to-door traders have laid bitumen too thinly on poorly prepared ground, leaving the property owners with the costs of removing the bitumen and having their driveways re-done.

"Some have also used watered down paint or not prepared the surface properly resulting in the paint quickly peeling and cracking."

Mr Lawlor said such rogue traders often used ploys such as pretending to have leftover bitumen from a previous job or pointing out faults in the resident's house that needed attention.

He urged people to undertake the proper checks before getting work done.

"If the costs of the goods or services are over $75, you are entitled to a ten day cooling off period and in this time, door to door traders cannot take payments, including deposits, or start work," Mr Lawlor said.

Mr Lawlor said traders should produce ID, provide a contract, which included information about the 10-day cooling off period, and a proper receipt with the trader's name and address on it.

"Door to door traders can only contact you between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays," he said.

Mr Lawlor said people approached for unwanted work should firmly decline and shut the door.

Breaches of the Fair Trading Act can result in fines of up to $54,000 for individuals and $270,000 for corporations.

If you have any concerns or suspicions about a door-to-door trader visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or contact the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04.