Crime Prevention Tips
Broome County Sheriff David E. Harder Issues Warning About Con Men
Springtime is already here which starts us thinking of home improvements and repairs. "But", warns Broome County Sheriff "watch out for dishonest home repair firms."
The Sheriff offers some tips on how you can avoid home improvements and repair frauds:
- Watch out if somebody offers to do an expensive job for an unusually low price. Once you sign the contract, you learn why: they never deliver the service!
- Always get several estimates for every repair job, and compare the prices and terms. Check to see if there is a charge for estimates before asking for one to be done.
- Ask your friends for recommendations. Or, ask the firm for references - and check them out.
- Check the identification of all "inspectors".
- Call the local Consumer Affairs Office or Better Business Bureau to check the company's reputation before you authorize any work to be done.
- Be suspicious of high-pressure sales tactics.
- Pay by check, never with cash. Arrange to make payments in installments, one-third at the beginning of the job, one-third when the work is nearly completed, and one-third after the job is done.
- Shop around - ask friends, neighbors or co-workers for references. When you find people you can trust, stick with them.
"Sometimes you might not know you've been cheated until it's too late," the Sheriff stated. "If you don't report fraud, you're only helping the crooks, that's just what they want."
Sheriff stresses to report all fraud you've been a victim of and, below, he tells you how to go about it:
Contact the Sheriff's office or your local police. If you're a victim of fraud, they want to know about it. In addition, contact your local District Attorney or the New York State Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Division.
"If we all take special precautions" Sheriff Harder concluded, "we can all outsmart the dishonest people."
If there are any questions about crime prevention contact our Community Policing Office at 607.778.2391.
