RICHMOND, Va. --The Better Business Bureau warns this is primetime for scam artists. Criminals take advantage of the extreme weather and dangerously low temperatures.
These conditions pleague homeowners with problems like freezing and bursting pipes, leaking roofs flooding, all issues that cause a sense of urgency for homeowners and renters. Scamm artists take advantage of that sense of fear and emergency.
CBS 6 did some digging to find out if there is anything you need to be aware of and anything can do to protect yourself from falling victim.
Tom Gallagher, president of the Better Business Bureau says to beware of repair companies preying on homeowners. “What I know from years of experience, there's going to be guys that come through older neighborhoods and take a look at a roof and say you have a real problem and they will talk you through the scenario and you will end up paying for a repair you didn't need.”
Gallagher says the only way to protect yourself from these criminals is to do your research, “check their reputation with the BBB, check them with the Board of Contractors find out who these people are it is not your lucky day just because somebody comes up to you and says you have got the potential for a roof problem.”
