Home Repair Scams
How It Works
Someone knocks on your door or calls you. They say they can fix your leaky roof, install new windows, or provide the latest energy-efficient solar panels. They might find you after a flood, windstorm or other natural disaster. They pressure you to act quickly, might ask you to pay in cash, or offer to get you financing.
But here’s what happens next: they run off with your money and never make the repairs. Or they do shoddy repairs that make things worse. Maybe they even put you in a bad financing agreement that puts your house at risk.
How to Prevent It
Stop. Check it out. Before making home repairs, ask for references, licenses and insurance. Get three written estimates. Don’t start work until you have a signed contract. And don’t pay by cash or wire transfer.
Research the company. Ask for references from prior customers, check out the Better Business Bureau website for reports of problems.
If you lost money you should act immediately:
- Call the gift card or debit card company immediately. The contact number is on the back of the card. If reported immediately, you may be able to stop the transfer of funds, otherwise it may not be possible to stop the funds from being withdrawn. It is also important to alert the card company of fraud.
- If you sent cash, report it immediately to the postal service or whatever company you used. If you act quickly you may be able to stop delivery by giving the tracking number to the delivery company.
- If you wired the money, contact the wire service company and report the fraud.
- If you provided your bank account information or sent a check, contact your financial institution and place a stop payment on the check and alert them of the fraud.
- If you gave personal information to the scammer you may be subject to identity theft. Learn what to do.
- Report the scam to the Attorney General’s Office Toll Free 1-844-255-9210 and the State of New Mexico Construction Industries Division.
- Report home repair scams to the Federal Trade Commission: Report Now