CRIME PREVENTION BULLETIN: Manassas Police warn against scams in wake of storms

Hurricane Joaquin is bound to bring down some trees around your home. In addition to staying safe, Manassas City Police reminds residents to tread lightly when offered unsolicited landscaping or home repair services by door-to-door salespeople.

Some scam artists have been known to exploit catastrophic events such as storms to target victims in dire circumstances.

Oftentimes, criminals will overcharge for work, demand additional work or money in the future, or even commit other crimes such as burglary in the process of scamming their victims.

If you did not initiate the transaction, MCPD encourages you to decline services you did not seek out yourself, even if the salesperson uses high-pressure tactics to try and convince you to allow them to do work in or around your home.

 Know your rights. If you have second thoughts, consumers have three days to cancel for a full refund if they spent $25 or more on the product or service. This right extends until midnight of the third business day after the sale.

This rule applies to any sale made in-person at the buyer’s home or workplace. Additionally, door-to-door sales people are required to explain your cancellation rights at the time of sale, provide you with two copies of a cancellation form, and give you a copy of the contract or receipt.

 Learn as much as you can about a company such as licensing before entering into a contract. The Better Business Bureau is a great place to start.

 Never give out personal or financial information in any form unless you first initiated contact, and never allow a salesperson to enter your home.

 Don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making on-the-spot decisions about these sales. Take some time to think it over and discuss it with a friend or family member.

 If the sales person is pushy, refuses to provide information such as identification or a sales permit, or otherwise acts suspiciously, write down a description of the representative and of his or her vehicle, and immediately contact the Manassas City Police Department (703-257-8000) or other local law enforcement agency.

In addition to these tips, learn more ways you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud or identify theft by visiting the Federal Trade Commission online or MCPD’s Safety Tips.