(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney Mike DeWine today warned consumers of common summer scams to avoid this Memorial Day weekend and during the upcoming summer months.
“Con artists often rely on fear and surprise,” Attorney General DeWine said. “They try to get you to do something you normally wouldn’t do. If someone catches you off guard and asks for money or personal information, take time to think about it. Talk it over with someone. If you suspect a scam, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.”
Every year, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office receives hundreds of complaints about potential scams.
Common summer scams include:
- Rental scams: Con artists lift listing information from legitimate real estate websites and repost pictures of houses or apartments as rentals on Craigslist or other websites. When potential renters respond to their ads, scammers tell them to wire a down payment of a few hundred or a few thousand dollars to secure the rental. After sending money, however, the renter finds out that the house or apartment was for sale by someone else, not for rent, and that the online rental ad was bogus.
- Travel scams: Consumers receive an offer for a “free” vacation, but they later find out that they must pay upfront fees or listen to a sales presentation to receive the offer. In Ohio, important exclusions and limitations of an offer must be clearly disclosed in ads, and consumers shouldn’t have to pay to receive a free prize.
- Door-to-door home repair scams: During summer months, traveling contractors go door-to-door offering roof repairs, tree trimming, and other home improvement services, especially after storms. They take large down payments, often via cash or check, and then leave after doing little or no work. To avoid scams, consumers should be wary of door-to-door sellers who fail to notify them of their three-day right to cancel under Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act, and those who demand large down payments, such as half or more of the total cost, before any works begins.
- Charitable solicitation scams: Scammers may invent phony charities or illegally solicit donations on behalf of legitimate organizations, while keeping the money for themselves. Some set up tables outside stores or shopping malls, or at fairs, festivals, and other popular events posing as a legitimate operation. Before making a charitable donation, conduct some basic research. Ask how the money will be used, do an Internet search of the organization’s name, determine if the charity is registered with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and find out whether it has tax-exempt status with the IRS.
Signs of a potential scam include:
- Requests to send money via wire transfer or prepaid card.
- Pressure to act immediately.
- Having to pay a fee to receive a prize.
- Requests for large down payments.
- Refusals to provide written information.
Consumers who suspect a scam should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or by calling 800-282-0515.
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Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840