Archive for July 2010
Door-to-Door Con Artists Making the Rounds
From the Denver District Attorney:
As reliable as hot July weather, fraudulent door-to-door scams are on the increase in Denver and the surrounding area. Particular scams that have been reported include charitable book sells, and tree-trimming services. Perpetrators in these scams have been reported acting alone, or with another person, and their preferred target is the elderly.
The first step of prevention is to be aware of how con artists select their victims, and the ploys they use to carry out their scams, as follows:
- Select older neighborhoods where older adults are most likely to reside
- Commonly solicit victims outside in their lawns, or at the door
- Perform quick, shoddy, or bogus work
- Tell “down on their luck” stories to gain sympathy (e.g., book sale scams)
- Pressure victims for “unanticipated”, or inflated costs once work is done
The following is information from the Denver District Attorney’s Office on how consumers can protect themselves:
- Don’t do business with door-to-door contractors or solicitors
- Keep doors, including garage doors locked at all times, especially when working in the yard.
- Install security doors with metal grillwork and key locks
- Don’t hide keys under the doormat or rocks.
- Secure sliding glass doors with anti-slide blocks or a slide bolt.
When selecting a contractor, always get three bids, insist on a written contract detailing what will be done, and don’t pay in full until the job is done. For more information on choosing a contractor, contact the Better Business Bureau at www.denverbbb.org/consumer-tips/
Denver DA’s Fraud Line: 720-913-9179
