Attorney General Warns of Potential Home Repair Scams

Posted on August 19, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI
  
Hoosiers who sustained storm damage as a result of this week’s torrential rains are urged to proceed with caution when it comes to making repairs. The Indiana Attorney General’s Office warns home improvement scammers often lurk and prey on situations such as these by conning people into paying for shoddy, overpriced work.

So-called storm chasers travel door-to-door and urge immediate action or tempting discounts. Their goal is to keep the customer from checking the company’s references. Such contractors are often based out-of-state and offer to do work on the spot. Although such offers may be tempting, the attorney general’s office warns they can be risky without research.

They’ve received more than 950 home improvement scam complaints so far this year. The most problems were reported with roof repair, chimney and gutter work.

Consumers are urged to do their research into what they can afford and want done, get multiple price quotes from different contractors and check with the Better Business Bureau and Attorney General’s Office to see if any complaints have been filed.

Before hiring a contractor, make sure he is locally licensed, bonded and insured. A performance bond provides the most direct consumer protection. Check with your local building or code enforcement department for information.

Also ask the contractor for references you can contact directly to determine the quality and timeliness of his or her work. If the contractor came to your door unsolicited, make sure you receive a notice of your ability to cancel the contract within three days for a full refund before signing any contract.

Never pay for the entire project before the work begins. Do not pay more than a third of the total cost as a down payment and make sure that any subsequent payments or “draws” correspond to definite, significant and tangible job progress.

Make sure all required permits are obtained. Your local building department can tell you when they are needed and advise if they have been pulled by the contractor.

Visit home improvement scam for more information. If you believe you’ve been scammed by a home repair contractor, visit IndianaConsumer.com to file a complaint or call 1-800-382-5516.

Facebook Malware – Think Before You Click That Link

Published: July 29, 2015 By: Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Unwanted, overly personal updates from acquaintances isn’t the only thing you have to worry about as a Facebook user these days. One pesky concern is Malware. Malware is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. In attempt to steal personal information from your Facebook account deceitful tagging is utilized.

Here’s how it works; you would receive a notification claiming a friend has tagged you in a video. You may see that several other friends are also tagged. As soon as you click to view the video, it will prompt you to download a flash player before you can proceed. If downloaded, the Malware can take over your Facebook account and carry out the same trick on any of your unsuspecting Facebook friends.

The Better Business Bureau has some tips to follow in order to avoid having personal information compromised. First off, stay away from promotions that say exclusive, shocking or sensational footage. If you suspect a video you’ve been tagged in by a friend is faulty, try contacting them through another means to confirm the legitimacy of the post. Be cautious of shortened links because link shortening may be used as a disguise to malicious links. Don’t trust FB friend’s online habits. There is a chance they may have not actually “liked” anything and may also be a victim of a hacked account.

If your account has been hacked, contact Facebook. The Facebook Help Center page offers remedies to several potential problems.

Better Business Bureau Warns of Questionnaire Scam

Published: February 3, 2015
By: Anita Goodan, WKVI
 
If you received an email that claims to be a Better Business Bureau standard business questionnaire, BBB officials warn you not to open the attachment.

The email went out on Friday morning to businesses across the country. The email has a ZIP file attachment that links to a site that can download malware on the user’s computer. Ben Steinberg, Chief Information Officer for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, said security vendors were immediately notified, and the website will be taken offline.

The emails are originating from the domain “BBBL.org” that is not a domain name used by the Better Business Bureau.

The IRS, FBI and Fortune 500 companies have run into similar phishing scams that have victimized consumers and businesses.

Better Business Bureau officials urge you to not open any links or open attachments in unsolicited email. If you get an email like the one previously described, tag the email as spam and report it to your internet service provider.

For more information about known scams, visit http://www.bbb.org/council/bbb-scam-stopper.

Better Business Bureau Warns of Social Media Scams

By: Mary Perren, WKVI
Published: March 4th, 2014

Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are a great way to keep up with friends and follow sports and celebrities. They can also expose your computer to viruses and possibly make you vulnerable to identity theft. The Better Business Bureau recommends never installing a game or application you are not sure is legitimate. Also be careful when clicking on a link or video shared by a friend. Just because someone you know shared it, that’s not a guarantee it is safe to click. Go through your privacy settings and be aware of who is viewing your personal information and what they can see. The more personal information you share with the public, the easier it is for someone to steal your identity. Never give out personal information on sites you are unsure about. Always double check friend or follower requests, and do not automatically accept new requests. Always check the person’s profile and verify the request is from a real person. On Facebook, watch for posts containing poor grammar, as scheme Facebook posts are often full of typos and poor English. If you spot suspicious activity coming from a friend’s social media account, let the person know directly. If you suspect your account has been hacked, change your password, and do not share your new password with anyone.