Be Wary of Home Improvement Scams

AARP South Dakota advises residents to be cautious anytime a stranger comes knocking, especially if the visitor is trying to sell you goods or services.

“It’s important to be suspicious of someone who says they stopped by because they just happened to be in the neighborhood,” says Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota. “They might offer you a free inspection of your roof or siding, for example. People need to know what questions to ask and what signs to watch for to spot a home improvement scam.”

One thing to remember, Nelson says, is that good contractors are usually too busy to roam around in search of work. And any deal that you can only get if you sign up immediately or pay in advance – is not a deal at all. Home improvement scammers may disappear with your money if you pay in advance. Others will do shoddy work or claim they discovered some hidden problem that needs immediate attention – and significantly raises the cost.

“If you need work done at your home,” Nelson says, “your best bet is to proactively seek out the services you need from local businesses. You can even get recommendations from friends or family to ensure you find someone reliable. And, tell the next person who shows up at your door that you don’t do business that way.”

Be a fraud fighter! If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

For more fraud-fighting tips, visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork or call the AARP Fraud Watch Helpline at 1-877-908-3360.