Be Alert to Possible Window Scam in Woodbridge

Woodbridge, NJ - The knock on the door came at about 4 p.m. one day last week, the Colonia resident said. He looked out, and saw a man in his early 20s standing on the front stoop of his home near the post office.

“He claimed to be with Renewal by Anderson, and said they’re working in the area, helping a neighbor replace windows. He said he noticed we have windows (duh!) and asked if we’d like an estimate on replacements,” the resident, who preferred to stay anonymous, told Patch. “I told him we’re not currently looking to replace anything, but if he’d give me a card, we’ll keep him in mind. He said he was just looking around after the job and didn’t have any on him. I bid him good luck and ended the conversation.”

But the man wouldn’t leave, the resident said. Instead, he became a little pushy: “He said, ‘We have some really good offers that are only good for today, etc.’” the resident said. “I don’t close doors in people’s faces. I simply told him firmly that they won’t get any money from us. I guess that was enough for him to give up.”

A day or so later, in the evening, a blond, curly-haired woman showed up. “She was looking for support for some political cause,” the Colonia resident said. “But I’ve never heard of the organization she was touting. So I also bid her farewell.”

May be part of a scam targeting Fords and Colonia

Woodbridge police said Monday the two may be part of a scam that’s been attempted at several Woodbridge homes.

“We’ve had a couple of reports of individuals going around from house to house in the Fords section of town, trying to solicit window repairs, installation and siding repairs,” Woodbridge police announced Monday morning. “The man is a possible light-skinned Hispanic and a blond, curly-haired female. Please DO NOT let them in your home. If they do knock on your door, call the police so that an officer can verify their identity. Please warn your elderly neighbors. This may be a possible scam.”

The Colonia resident said he’s not nervous, as crime is usually low in the area. But he is worried about his elderly neighbors. Last Thursday men posing as a tree-removal crew pushed their way into an elderly woman’s home in South Brunswick, and stole $10,000 from her. Police have not said if the two incidents are related. Read that story here.

Door-to-door solicitors are advised to always carry proper ID. “I would have felt much more comfortable if they had IDs and business cards,” the resident said.