With the prospect of cooler weather coming in the fall, many Californians are considering making home improvements – and that has consumer watchdog groups warning homeowners to beware of con artists offering steep discounts. Managing editor Tami Roleff warns homeowners to beware of con artists offering steep discounts…
Fraud fighter Bob Denz with the AARP says home repair and improvement scams rake in billions of dollars each year from unsuspecting consumers.
“They often work in pairs, and the con artist needs to rush you into it. They’ll offer a low-ball figure, but say ‘you have to tell me now.'”
Denz also says scammers typically say they “happened to be in the neighborhood,” and “have a crew available right now.” The Better Business Bureau ranks this kind of scam among the top 10 currently preying on consumers in California and around the nation.
Denz says seniors are at extra risk for this scam because many can no longer do the work on their homes themselves. He says it only takes a couple of steps to increase the odds of getting a reliable contractor.
“Make sure they have a license, and make sure they get a recommendation from a neighbor or friend that did some repair work,” he says. “And take your time, take your time.”
A contractor’s license can easily be checked by going to the California Contractors State License Board. You can also sign up for watchdog alerts at the AARP website at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
