Main Content

How to Avoid Scams That Target Homeowners

Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility. You’ll need to keep up with your bills, cleaning, and maintenance, and have a keen eye for managing your finances. What many people don’t tell you when you buy a house is that you could also become the victim of scammers who specifically target homeowners. Like computer viruses, scams are constantly evolving to stay one step ahead of the game. However, many of them rely on behavior that should raise a red flag for homeowners. In this article, we’ll cover some common scams that affect homeowners and tell you how to avoid them to keep you, your home, and your wallet safe.

You’ve won!

Congratulations! By reading this article you’ve won an all-expenses-paid trip to the destination of your dreams. One of the most common scams affecting homeowners come in the form of phone calls, mail, or even door-knockers informing you that you’ve won some kind of prize. Unless you’ve specifically entered to win a certain prize, you can almost be certain that this is a scam.

Identity crisis

We’ve often heard of the dangers of identity theft, but homeowners, in particular, are an at-risk demographic. Identity thieves attempt to steal your personal information in order to commit fraud or crimes. To avoid identity theft, be responsible with your mail. Always shred mail with personal data and be sure to have someone take care of your mail for you when away from home for extended periods.

I noticed your roof needs to be repaired

Many scams come in the form of people knocking on your door to offer a great deal on a service. People who solicit you and ask to be let into your home or onto your property to “inspect” part of your home should never be allowed in. They may actually be a roofer attempting to convince you to repair your roof (regardless of whether it needs to be repaired). Or, they could be a would-be burglar scoping out your residence. These scammers will attempt to sell you anything from “subsidized” and “energy efficient” home energy products all the way down to fixing imagined water/moisture issues in your basement.

Make $60k a year working from home!

Work-from-home jobs do exist, and they’re growing in number as technology makes it easier and more efficient than traveling. However, some job offers are too good to be true. Be wary of job offers that require you to enter personal information like your social security number before ever having met the employer. Many of these “too good to be true” jobs can be spotted when they ask you for money to get started. They may say to need to pay for your own training but then can make thousands, or will ask for a company buy-in that will pay off later. Regardless, never give money to a potential employer.

I came to read the meters

Someone in a safety vest with a name tag and clipboard knocks on your door and says they’re from the energy company, water company, etc. They seem legitimate and tell you how important it is to have your meter read. The might even say you’re eligible for a refund or subsidy. It’s important to always ask representatives to show you their ID or ask them to call and make an appointment before letting them enter your home.