Door-to-Door Scams: Don't Be A Victim

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) - "I lost 380 bucks, but I got a phone number.  I'm hoping that somebody can track this woman and get my money back.  This person should be caught ... This person is belligerent.  It's been over two weeks now, and she still (has) the nerve to have her phone still on," said the victim of a con artist.

He has a warning to others -- be careful who you trust when strangers knock on your door.

The suspect in this case posed as a DTE worker offering help to settle an account.  Sadly, the lesson learned is that DTE never collects money from customers at their homes or businesses.

It's springtime and that's when the scam artists seem to come out of the woodwork, and they can be so convincing.

Melanie Duquesnel is the president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau and Southfield Police Lieutenant Nick Loussia is trying to catch these people before they get to your house.

We've had other recent stories include a man posing as a Comcast worker and another as a water department worker.  We asked Duquesnel how bad is this getting.

"It's springtime, so this is the time you're starting to see more of these door-to-door scams going off," she responded.

"When you get somebody to come to your door that you do not know is coming -- that you've not planned, you've not requested service -- the first thing you need to do is ask for their identification.  If it's a solicitor -- such as they want to put a roof on or they want to re-side your house -- ask them for the permit, as well.  Case in point, City of Novi requires everybody but charitable organizations to be properly permitted in order to be a solicitor in their city."

Next, we asked Lieutenant Loussia if the con artists ever get caught or whether they just keep moving to different neighborhoods.

"They are hard to capture because they do only stay in one location for a short period of time, then they move on," he said.

"They do tend to prey on the elderly, and it's sad.  We advise people not to open the door.  Speak to whoever's outside through the door.  Do not open the door if you do not know who the person is," Loussia added.

What about people who come to your house offering home repairs or even sales people?  Aren't some of them okay?

"Some of them are okay.  Again, if they're properly documented, they have shirts that have the branding of the company on," said Duquesnel.  "Talk to them through a closed door and see if they'll leave the materials on the porch for you ... If you don't want their service, you don't need to open the door, but if you want their service, ask them to leave the materials and then ask them to call you back and schedule an appointment."

If people are approached in these springtime scams, what should they be doing to help the police get these guys off the street?

"Be a good witness.  If they think something is suspicious, call 911.  Once again, don't open the door.  Call 911 and get a good description," Loussia said.

Bottom line -- beware the people you don't know, especially those who come to you without you calling first.

Click here for other scan prevention tips from the Better Business Bureau.