Turn down the bell on your phone. Ask a neighbor to watch your home and pick up mail. The fall season has arrived and with the coming of the cooler weather, many homeowners are doing last minute fix-up projects before the start of winter. The work that is done by the scam artist is usually incomplete or substandard and the materials used are of poor quality. Once the job is completed, the cost of the work is suddenly more than the original quote and payment in cash is demanded.
Scam artists are professional thieves and can be very convincing in their sales pitch.
If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Keep in mind that legitimate, reputable contractors don't usually knock on your door asking for your business. Fairview Heights currently has a city ordinance which prohibits door to door solicitation of any kind without an approved city permit. If you are apprached by someone at your residence offering home repair, please notify the Fairview Heights Police Department as soon as possible. All of these are good holiday fundraisers for crooks.