Police Warn Of Contractor Scam In University Heights

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH — Residents are being warned about a possible "home improvement" or "contractor" scam.

University Heights Police shared their warning on Tuesday morning. The police department said that residents should be skeptical of any contractor that pops onto their doorstep without advance warning.

"The good [contractors] are usually too busy to roam around in search of work," the police department said.

The police department added that residents should be weary of contractors that say they can offer a lower-than-expected price for a project because they may be using surplus material, or overbilled another customer. Police said it's also possible the contractors didn't finish work they promised they would.

Here are other tips the police department offered:

• Before hiring a contractor, ask for references.
• Residents should pay for contract work with a check or credit card, but never in cash.
• Verify all work is completed before making a final payment.
• Don't pay a large deposit up front.