ATLANTA — It's 95 degrees in the hot Georgia sun, so you go inside to cool down. But instead of the cold breeze when you open your door, it's just hot and muggy air.
You realize your AC isn't working and rush to get it fixed. But that's exactly what scammers are anticipating.
The Better Business Bureau is warning of a scam that they are seeing hit residents hard this summer.
They say people are falling victim to this scam by googling customer service numbers and clicking the first one that comes up, which is sometimes a fake.
Consumers then set up an appointment for a technician to come out and fix the problem. That's when they pay a fee to the scammers.
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It's not a new scam, but it's the scare tactics that are increasing and putting more than just money at risk.
According to the BBB, they have even confirmed that a fake technician in some cases will come out to your home in order to get more money from you.
"After a phony repair person arrives at a consumer’s house, the homeowner calls the real appliance manufacturer, who confirms that they had not sent anyone to the residence. When asked to leave, the impostor 'demands' to pay a trip fee of $39. Feeling threatened and wanting to be rid of the fake repair person, the consumer pays," said the BBB.
Their suggestions to avoid these kinds of scams aren't complicated, but they involve changing your first reaction to just google and call. Below are some suggestions from the BBB.
- Double-check the customer service number. Scammers make fake ads with fake customer service numbers. Instead of trusting the first search result that pops up in your search engine, get your information from the official company website or warranty paperwork that came with your appliance.
- Find out how warranties and repairs work when you buy. When you purchase a household appliance, find out what is included in the warranty, how long the warranty lasts, what fees you will still be responsible for, and who makes the repairs. Armed with this knowledge, it will be harder for scammers to trick you.
- Make payments with your credit card. Any payment you make with your credit card can be disputed. Paying by wire transfer or pre-paid debit card is like using cash. There is almost nothing you can do to get the money back.
If you believe you've fallen victim to this scam or any others, the BBB says you should report it to them so they can track it and collect data to help officials fight back.
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