AARP Eye Center
Be Wary of Door-to-Door Home Security Sales
The summer months unleash door-to-door sales agents in communities across the country. We’ve received reports of a scam run by con artists claiming to be from home security companies. While many home security companies conduct legitimate business using door-to-door sales agents, be wary of anyone using high pressure tactics or creating a false sense of urgency – common traits of a scam! | ||
| How It Works: | ||
| It may be a scam if an agent comes to your door offering a great promotion on a home alarm system, but you have to act now to get the deal. Or, if you have a home alarm company sign in your yard, the person may say he is a technician from that company and he’s there to install system upgrades. | ||
| What You Should Know: | ||
| · Home security scams are hard to spot because scammers work hard to make the deal look legitimate. · The scam artist may claim you’ll get a big insurance discount by purchasing an alarm system, but that isn't usually the case. · A legitimate alarm company would never send a technician to upgrade equipment without first making an appointment with you. | ||
| What You Should Do: | ||
| · Realize that not all salespeople are legitimate and approach a door-to-door deal with caution. · Rather than accepting offers at your door, get references from friends and neighbors when looking to buy a home security system and then reach out to the company yourself. · When you are approached by a door-to-door sales agent, research the company by entering its name into an online search engine, to see if any complaints come up. · If you do decide to accept a door-to-door offer, read the fine print. The written contract should include everything you agreed to orally. | ||
| If you do sign up for a home alarm system or an upgrade, and then regret it, you have a three day “cooling off” period during which you can cancel your purchase, thanks to a rule by the Federal Trade Commission. It applies if you sign the contract at home or a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon. You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams. Please share this alert with friends and family. Spotted a scam? Tell us about it. Our scam-tracking map gives you information about the latest scams targeting people in your state. You’ll also find first-hand accounts from scam-spotters who are sharing their experiences so you know how to protect yourself and your family. |
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