Wilmington Police Warn Of Unregistered, Unsolicited Contractors

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington police warned Tuesday of unsolicited and unregistered home contractors. They encouraged residents to only hire reputable contractors and to report suspicious activity to the police. Nearby towns have reported scammers posing as contractors and then not completing the work.

In Burlington last month, police warned residents Wednesday of a string of home improvement scams in the area. According to their release, four Burlington residents, as well as residents in several nearby towns, had been victimized by the scam. In the scam, men posing as contractors approach residents at home and offer to do home improvement work at low rates. The men "reportedly have an Irish accent."

They take a small upfront payment, and once they've begun, they say there are more jobs that need to be done, for which they raise their prices. "When the homeowner eventually refuses to pay any more money, the suspects leave the property and do not return," police said.

Wilmington police warned residents against contractors who show up uninvited and encouraged people to get written contracts, to not pay large deposits or in cash, and to take precautions like asking for references and checking the Better Business Bureau.

Before hiring someone to do work on your home, take some time to ensure you are hiring a reputable contractor. The Town of #WilmingtonMA requires that door to door solicitors be registered with the WPD. Report suspicious activity to the WPD at 978-658-5071 or 911. #scams pic.twitter.com/SadxYR8jqh
— Wilmington MA Police (@WilmingtonMAPD) November 5, 2019