Lexington Police is warning citizens to be aware of home improvement scams recently being reported that appear to target mostly senior citizens.
The Financial Crimes Unit says scammers may show up unsolicited claiming the home needs repair for damage the owner has never noticed. They may offer work on roofs, gutters, chimneys and driveways, officials said. They may offer a “special deal” citing they have material left over from another job.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
Police urges residents to never agree to have work done on the spot, and before agreeing to have any work done at their homes, to get at least two written estimates from reputable contractors that include specific information about the materials and services provided for the job and check references by contacting the Better Business Bureau, local licensing authorities, previous customers, banks and suppliers.
In addition, police say residents should be able to negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of the job, never pay until the job is done and never pay with cash, but instead use a check or credit card.
