KTI is dedicated to helping people not only in the digital world but in the real world too. We are starting a series called Scam Stories where real, local stories of scams are shared to spread awareness and combat the stigma victims face. Scams come in all shapes and sizes, online or in-person, and anyone can fall victim to them. The more people know about scams that have happened to others, the more equipped they are to recognize the red flags before it is too late.
Our first installment of Scam Stories does not take place online or over the phone, but at someone’s front door:
Pat Nash and her husband decided it was time to have work done on a section of their driveway that was getting pretty worn down. But before they could start looking for someone to do the work, a man appeared at their door and said he was in the area doing asphalt and noticed their driveway looked rough and said he could resurface theirs for a good price with the leftover material from his last job. Pat and her husband thought they were in luck. They discussed what work they wanted done and outlined the section of the driveway that needed fixing, and the man and his crew got to work immediately.
Everything seemed to be going well and a few hours later Pat saw the big truck leave her property. Assuming they were done with the job, Pat went out to talk and inspect their work. She noticed that they had laid asphalt beyond the section designated for work. Pat mentioned this to the man and asked if he was done. The man responded by telling her he wasn’t done, he had just sent his truck out for another load of asphalt to finish resurfacing her entire driveway, not just what was agreed on. Pat asked how much that would cost and the man told her about $10,000. This was not the work that was previously agreed upon, and Pat told the man his services were no longer required. He demanded his payment from Pat, even though he knew the bank was already closed and that payment would be made the following day. When Pat reminded him of this, he said he would need his payment right away or he would start tearing up the couple’s driveway. Pat and her husband were able to pull together the $4,000 to pay him and the man and his crew left and never returned.
These types of door-to-door home improvement scams are more common than you think and they share similar characteristics with other scams. Just like in Pat’s scenario, scammers will contact you first hoping to take advantage of the sudden interaction. Scammers want you to feel a sense of urgency to keep you from thinking critically and asking questions. There were some other red-flags that Pat didn’t notice until the work had been done: no construction licenses, no company names or logos on any of the vehicles or equipment, and no labor costs on the bill even though there was a crew of men. If Pat hadn’t walked out and stopped the work when she did, the man would have resurfaced her entire driveway without permission and demanded compensation for his labor. In some cases, scammers will demand money up-front to lock in the cheap cost and then drive off with your money, or they will refuse to leave your house or property until they have been paid.
Scams can happen to any of us at any time, so it is important to know what to look for. When it comes to construction or home improvement work here is what you need to know:
- Get multiple bids from different contractors
- Don’t hire someone on the spot-ask for licenses and contact information so you can research them first
- Contact your local government to verify licenses or contact the MN Department of Labor and Industry, 443 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155. (651) 284-5069 or (800) 342-5354
- Get everything in writing, including a detailed work description, list of materials, and estimated completion date
- Avoid contracts with blank spaces
- Use a credit card or check instead of cash- they offer more fraud protection than cash
- Don’t accept verbal agreements
- Be wary of contractors who knock on your door looking for business-and NEVER let a door-to-door salesperson into your home
If you suspect someone of a door-to-door home improvement scam, or have been victimized by one of these scams, contact local law enforcement. For more information you can visit https://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/Publications/HomeImprovementScams.asp or contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office as follows: Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101. (800) 657-3787 (Outside the Twin Cities)
Do you have a story to share about a scam you have experienced? KTI wants to hear from you! By sharing our stories we are spreading awareness and breaking the stigma attached to being victimized by scams. Contact Cori Horton via email at horton.cori@gmail.com or by phone at 218-666-8604 to share your story, contributors can remain anonymous by request.
Cori Horton is an ACC AmeriCorps Member serving Koochiching County.