Ding-Dong: Watch Out for Summertime Door-to-Door Scams

Summer is officially here, which means door-to-door sales crews are too. But buyer beware, because what they’re selling isn’t always legit.

These scams can show up in a variety of forms. Sometimes it’s solar panels for your home at a "can’t-be-beaten" price or it’s a student selling magazine subscriptions to help fund their school program. Other times it’s a construction worker who says they stopped by because they just happened to be working in the neighborhood. One thing they all have in common is pressure to sign up or pay upfront.

Any “deal” that you have to sign up for right away or that you have to pay for in advance is likely no deal at all. Your best bet is to proactively seek out the services you need. And consider making a deal with yourself to never do a deal with someone before you’ve had time to do your research.

Our state advocacy director, Erik Nelson, sat down with KELOLAND Living to talk about summer-themed fraud and how people can spot - and prevent scams like these.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. Learn how to proactively spot scams or get guidance if you’ve been targeted. You can also call our dedicated helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.