Be Wary of the A New Scam
If you live in Chesterfield County, Virginia, you might want to be on the lookout for a group of scammers going door-to-door and telling people they need new roofs. This so-called “Squirrel Scam” preys on unsuspecting homeowners by telling them that squirrels have burrowed through their roofs and into their attic. The scammers offer to set traps, remove the squirrels, and patch holes with spray foam. One man has already lost $1,500 to these con artists.
Here’s how the scam works:
The scammers will approach homeowners and tell them that they’ve noticed damage to their roofs caused by squirrels. They’ll say they can trap and remove the squirrels for a fee. Sometimes, they’ll even offer to patch up holes in the roof with spray foam.
In one case, a homeowner was quoted a price of $1,500 to have the work done. Thankfully, he didn’t fall for it and called the police instead.
If you’re approached by someone offering this “service,” our advice is to say no. If you have any concerns about damage to your roof, contact a reputable contractor or call your insurance company. Don’t let these scammers take advantage of you!
As silly as it sounds, Squirrel Scams are on the rise. So be sure to spread the word to your friends and family members living in affected areas. And if you see someone falling for it, don’t hesitate to intervene. After all, we all have to beat these scammers together!
Some other scams to watch out for
- Coronavirus and Government Program Scams – While coronavirus-related scams might be losing some steam, you still want to be cautious because scammers continue to use the pandemic
- Phone Scams – robocalls, texts, and impersonators
- SIM Swapping – a thief steals your number and assigns it to a new SIM card in a phone they control. It’s the same process you go through when you get a new phone and the mobile carrier gives you a new SIM card
- One-Time Password Bots – An alternative to SIM swapping, some scammers are using so-called OTP bots to trick people into sharing the authentication codes that are sent to them via text or email, or that they have to look up in an authentication app or device.
- Zelle Scams – Scammers are turning to Zelle, the peer-to-peer payment app, as a means to steal people’s money. The scammer will email, text, or call you pretending to work for your bank or credit union’s fraud department.
- Romance Scams – While romance scams aren’t new, their popularity continues to rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), people lost $547 million to romance scams in 2021, up 80% compared to 2020 and six times higher than in 2017.
According to an article by Experian these are some ways to avoid scammers:
- Be skeptical when someone contacts you
- Enable multifactor authentication
- Research companies
- Be careful with your phone
- Don’t refund or forward overpayments
- Look for suspicious payment requirements
