Scam Alert: BBB shares home improvement red flags to avoid

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Summertime in Northeast Ohio is an opportunity to get outside, enjoy the weather, and work on your property. Still, it’s also the time for scammers to cash in.

According to the Better Business Bureau, home improvement scams increase once warm weather starts to peak.

According to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, home improvement scams were in the top 5 riskiest scams reported last year.

“You have to start at the beginning. You have to do your homework,” said Ericka Dilworth, VP of Operations, BBB Cleveland.

Dilworth told 19 News she sees these scams all the time. She said stopping these scams starts with YOU recognizing the red flags.

“You need to do your homework. Who is it that you are going to give your money to? What do you know about them? Have you done a background check? Have you googled them?” asked Dilworth.

Here are the dos and the don’ts

• DO: Pay with a credit card, research for references and licenses, and take your time making a decision
• DON’T: Pay in cash, check, Cash App, Venmo or Zelle, trust a business without any research, make quick decisions

“If that person is trying to make you make a decision very quickly. They show up at your door. They have additional supplies from a job they did down the street,” said Dilworth. “Or they are asking you to pay in cash or check for a discounted rate. These are all concerns you should have.”

If you believe you are a victim of a home improvement scam, please report the scam to BBB.org