In our consumer alert tonight the Attorney General's Office is sounding the alarm on a home security scam. There are reports of people canvassing Little Rock neighborhoods trying to sell home security systems at what they call a discounted rate.
With summer around the corner, the sun is popping out more frequently. And according to Brad Phelps with the Attorney General's Office so are scam artists, many come with lines about performing home improvement projects.
"I noticed that your yard needs cleaning up and if you pay me in advance I'll take care of it. And in some cases they'll pay money in advance and never see the person again," says Phelps.
The latest scheme involves door to door sales people posing as representatives of legitimate security companies offering to put in security systems at reduced rates. What people don't realize is those systems carry expensive long-term monitoring agreements
"We've issued a consumer alert because of reports we received from consumers being sold home security contracts by door to door sales people," says Phelps.
Phelps adds someone knocking on your do is a red flag; most reputable companies don't solicit door to door. And you should also pay attention to some others things they don't do.
"Consumers should be leery of signing up without having them come in and examine your home and talk to them about the type of contract they want and the protection it offers."
If all that fails you have one last protection. By law you have three days to cancel the contract if you become suspicious of a company you've signed up with during a door to door solicitation.
If you have been a target of this home security scam or want more information about a company's credentials contact the Attorney General's Public Protection Department at
oag@ArkansasAG.gov or call
1-800-482-8982.
