Warren County authorities urge homeowners to be wary of potential scams in the wake of recent severe weather and flooding that has affected the area. Scams that have been conduced in the county in past years include individuals posing as contractors offering lighting rod inspections, siding, roofing, pole barn construction and driveway or pavement repairs, said Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison. “Some of them may be reputable contractors, but many are scam artists,” Harrison stated, noting that people in rural areas — particularly senior citizens — are more likely to be targeted. “Often they intimidate people into giving them a check for several thousand dollars, and then these people will cash the check and not return to complete the work,” commented Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wright. Rural areas tend to attract scam artists because there are fewer witnesses. “People need to protect themselves,” Harrison remarked. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there looking to take advantage of other people.” However, he noted that there have been no complaints made recently, adding that scam artists seeking to take advantage of severe weather situations tend to focus on “target-rich environments” — areas which sustain substantial damage during storms. “We’ve been fortunate because there hasn’t been a lot of storm damage,” Harrison said.He cautioned people who may have sustained damage to their structures or property to be on the lookout for individuals who make offers which seem “too good to be true.” The sheriff noted that scam artists will offer “surplus” material left over from previous jobs at a significant discount. Sometimes individuals will demand payment before starting work or begin a project and then ask for a payment of several thousand dollars before a job can be completed. Harrison also said that when work is performed by individuals posing as contractors, the material and the work frequently are substandard. He urged people who feel uncomfortable in such situations to call 911 or the sheriff’s department’s nonemergency dispatch number at 636-456-7088. Harrison said if people call the sheriff’s department directly, the dispatch center will still have to be called, which will take more time. “If they’re legitimate, they’ll stick around,” Wright said. “The ones who aren’t are likely to take off.” Additionally, Harrison said the more information people can provide, the better.Information which is helpful includes physical descriptions of the people involved, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers and direction of travel.Harrison also stressed that “time is of the essence” in such cases. He also urged people not to let people they have not previously contacted about repair work into their homes. “If a person seems suspicious, let us contact them,” Harrison stressed. “We don’t want these people operating in our community.” The Consumer Fraud Task Force of the St. Louis Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers these tips: Before signing an agreement for repair work, people should check with their homeowner’s insurance carrier and read policies carefully to determine the extent of coverage offered. Many insurers already have relationships with reputable, established companies. Find out where a company is located and how long it has been in business. People should make sure a contractor has an office in the area, not just a post office box. Residents also should watch for out-of-state license plates and phone numbers. Check to see if a contractor is bonded and insured against accidents or issues with workmanship. Ask to review copies of the paperwork. And if a company is soliciting door-to-door, do they have a solicitor’s permit? Request references from the contractor and contact those property owners. Ask for a written contract and review it carefully to make sure everything is covered that was mentioned by the sales representative.Find out if there is a cancellation penalty if the contract is terminated before work begins. Beware of any company that suggests you do not have to pay your insurance deductible. Such a claim is illegal in Missouri. Obtain more than one repair estimate.Do not pay the entire amount for the work in advance. Hold back a portion of the payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. Contact the Better Business Bureau for a BBB Business Review by calling 314-645-3300 or by visiting www.bbb.org. Home