Baltimore County police want everyone to be on their guard for scam artists posing as home-repair specialists. After the beating our region took from the back-to-back snowstorms in February, the department figures more homeowners are in the market for maintenance work -- and in danger of falling for a con artist.
The police are talking about people who do shoddy work with lousy materials, particularly those who convince homeowners to take them on with a verbal agreement and then demand more money afterward.
"When the customer objects, he or she is told that the materials used were stolen and the police will be brought in if the higher price isn't paid," the county police said in a statement. They urged people to call 911 if they suspect scam artists are at work in the area.
The National Association of Bunco Investigators has more details about these sorts of scams, including warning signs. (Offered a "special price" if you sign up on the spot? Run away.)