BBB Warns of Winter Weather Scams

ZANESVILLE, OH – With the first snowstorm of the year on our doorsteps, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on alert.

The BBB says when the snow begins to fall is when problematic companies and scammers come out and try to capitalize on the situation.

Lee Anne Lanigan, the Director of Investigations with the BBB of Central Ohio, said the best way to protect yourself from winter weather scams is to do your own research on the services you need done.

“Typically, what you might be seeing, are knocks on the door, and they may or may not be what we call, a storm chaser, and that’s a business that’s not local but may come from out of the area or out of the state and ask you to pay for work up front,” Lanigan said. “Then you pay and you never hear from them again, that’s one way it works. Another way it works is, they agree to do some work and they hand you a piece of paper and while they’re busy having a long, drawn out conversation with you, you’re not reading the piece of paper and it’s not till after you’ve paid the money and they either have not returned or they haven’t performed the work satisfactorily.”

Lanigan said one way to protect yourself from a possible scam is to ask the person at your door if they have their solicitation permit.

She also recommends telling the wannabe scammer that you would like to double check their background online.

“Another thing that you can ask the companies, before you make your final decision, is do you have references?” Lanigan said. “What you’re really looking for is an old reference from about a year ago to see, did the work stand up?, if you had a problem, did they come back out? Then a reference from recently, are they still doing good, quality work that they did a year ago?”

If you or someone you know falls victim to a scam this winter, you can report it at bbb.org.