Scam: Someone knocks on your door claiming to be a building inspector (or a county or utility rep)

Although this scam alert comes to us from law enforcement officials in Southern Florida, it’s the kind of scam that anyone living anywhere needs to know about.  This particular scam involves individuals knocking on your door, saying that they are “Building Inspectors” and that they need access to your residential HVAC system.

Similar and variations of this scam have been in existence across the United States for years.

The sheriff’s office in St. Lucie County, Florida, reported yesterday that several residents have contacted their county offices saying that an individual claiming to be a building inspector is knocking on doors asking to check air conditioning units.

He knocks on the front door, shows what appears to resemble a “county badge,” and asks for a serial number and access to the rear of their property. This is NOT a county building inspector. If someone knocks on your door in the evening stating they are a county building official or inspector, please call 911 to immediately to report this issue.

A variation of the scam described above can be seen below.

(1/3) A member of PEC was the target of a door-to-door scam yesterday afternoon in rural Dodge Center. A gentleman approached the home claiming he was from ‘their electric utility’ and that the member was overdue for a furnace and air conditioner check. pic.twitter.com/FiWjbyYtcc

— People's Energy (@Peoplesrec) May 21, 2019

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(Source and cover image: St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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