St. Charles Police See Uptick In Home Repair Scams

ST. CHARLES, IL — The St. Charles Police Department has seen a recent uptick in home repair scams, specifically seal coating scams and ruse burglaries.

Authorities say the scams are occurring in person where scammers will come to residents door and try to persuade them to pay them to complete home repairs. Police are reminding residents to follow these tips to prevent falling victim to these scams:

• Ask for proper identification.
• See if the person is driving a marked vehicle that belongs to a company.
• Ask for the company phone number that they are working for to confirm they are legitimate.
• Do not give any personal information, or money if you are unsure of the legitimacy.
• Know what you need done on your home, if anything.
• If you are not expecting anyone to work on your home, do not answer your door
• As always, you can always contact the St. Charles Police Department for further assistance and investigation.

The Federal Trade Commission website has more information on fraud, identity theft, scams, and more. The St. Charles Police Department also has handouts with information regarding protection from scams and fraud and those interested in obtaining these materials can reach out to crime prevention officer Kramer at MKramer@Stcharlesil.gov or 630-443-3894.