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Beware: The Season for Door-to-Door Scams

Summers in North Carolina bring more than heat. They also bring out one of the most popular cons—the door-to-door scam. But you don't have to fall prey. Here's how to spot it…and how to respond.

Typically, the door-to-door scammer is seen in a neighborhood going from home to home trying to sell a service like roof repair, driveway paving, house painting, tree trimming, lawn care or chimney cleaning. For example, the scammer will come to the homeowner's door and say they have noticed the house needs painting. They may say they have just finished a large job and have paint left over. They will make the homeowner a great deal on the job, and agree to use a specific number of gallons of high-quality paint and scrape off the old paint as needed.

But here's what can really happen: The scammer will use the least expensive paint they can find, will not take the time to prepare the surface properly, and will also mix the paint with gasoline or paint thinner in order to minimize the amount of paint used. They may have $50 invested in materials, but charge the homeowner anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 for an average-sized house. Because of the poor quality of materials and workmanship, the paint will only last for a short period of time. Criminals offering other types of services use these very same methods.

Homeowners should be wary of doing business with a door-to-door salesperson unless they can verify there is a local office and contact number. If they are legitimate, they will provide this information willingly. It is also important to ask the person to prove they have a contractor's license. If the person cannot produce proof, do not do business with them. Also ask them to provide references in the area, along with contact information. If references are given, the homeowner should always follow up. Verify the reference's name and address, and what type of work the company provided. Ask if they inspected the work and were satisfied with both the price and workmanship.

Homeowners should not allow themselves to be pressured into signing a contract on the spot. If a repair or service needs to be done, they should get quotes from other local licensed contractors before making a decision. It's very unlikely that the repair or service is so urgent that immediate action needs to be taken. If the salesperson tries to tell the homeowner otherwise, it's likely a scam.

Lastly, remember that anyone can put on a nice shirt and carry around a clipboard with official-looking paperwork. These people may not be selling anything; they just want you to think they are. What they're really doing is casing your home—looking for computers or other valuables lying near quick escape routes, seeing if you have barking dogs, or if there are signs of a security system. And if they ask to come in for a drink of water, don't let them in!

If you ever feel you are the target of a scam, here's what to do:

• Ask the person to leave. If they don't, call your local law enforcement agency and ask that an officer come to your residence.
• Keep all printed information the salesperson gives you. Business cards or other information may help identify the scammer.
• Write down a description of the individual and their vehicle, their license plate number and direction of travel when they leave.

For more information on scams like this—and how to avoid them—visit www.ncdoj.gov.