It was a dark and stormy night. Rain pounded on the roof. Lightning strikes hit nearby. The wind was whipping the tree branches all over the place. The lights were flickering. Then the phone rings. “Grandma?? Is that you? I’m in trouble.” (It’s spring break time. Where IS Jimmy?) Can it get any worse?? Oh, yes. Yes, it can. You can get scammed, too. These incidents can set up a scammer’s smorgasbord of possibilities!
There are a lot of scam opportunities that can present from a series of common events. We’ve seen several inches of rain fall in one day. You can see where lightning strikes have taken down trees in past storms, and where winds have caused limbs to crash into homes. Power outages are not infrequent and can be caused by a downed power line. Think about some of the spring storms that have hit in our area!
It also isn’t uncommon for scam repair people to approach residents whose neighborhoods have been ravaged by storms. They look like legit repair people or legit utility workers. They may have a uniform with the company name. They may have a logo on their truck.
You need to be careful if you’re approached. Check their ID carefully. Call the company and check out their identity. Do not leave them alone in your home. Do not pay utility workers. If there is a charge to a utility repair, the company will let you know.
Be careful about how you pay a roving repairman. Do not be forced to rush a decision. Check out housing repair scams at the Federal Trade Commission website or the FoolProofMe website.
You may also be approached (especially in the spring and summer) by someone who offers to offload the remainder of their product (asphalt or cement) to resurface your driveway. Be careful of these offers. Will they do a quality job? What if they do part of the job and promise to come back but they leave with your money, your driveway is partially paved, and you never see them again? The Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan offers tips on scams to avoid.
Not all roaming repairmen are scam artists. There are many service people out there who are just doing business. But you need to pay attention and be proactive. You don’t need to be paranoid but you need to be cautious.
The scam that plays on our families and our emotions is the “Grandparent Scam”. The scammer calls and impersonates a grandchild without giving a name. The worried grandparent says, “Jimmy? Is that you?” Bingo! The scammer now has a name! They have a grandparent whose grandchild needs help, and they have a name! Don’t fall for this. Have a code word to use with your family in case of emergency. Don’t rush to action. CALL your grandchild or check with your children about the kids. Do not send WalMart cards or ITune cards or other gift cards. Stop. Breathe. Think.
Common occurrences such as weather-related issues, natural incidents, and now the nice weather all bring out opportunities for scammers to get between you and your money. Stay safe.
