As Spring arrives, international travelers may approach Boston residents offering home improvement services. In past years, residents have lost tens of thousands of dollars on driveway, masonry, roofing, and other repairs—only to be left with unnecessary, poor or incomplete work. What begins as a $1,500 job can quickly escalate to $30,000 in damages.
Common Scam Tactics:
- Door-to-door offers with basic flyers (e.g., “A1 Paving”)
- Claims of “extra materials” from nearby jobs
- Urgent pressure to start work immediately
- Intimidating behavior after work begins
- Requests for checks made out to individuals, not companies
Many of these individuals are from the UK or Ireland and are not legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Protect Yourself:
- Be wary of anyone who approaches you unsolicited, Home Improvement mailbox “flyers” and overly designed websites
- Always get at least two quotes from licensed, insured contractors
- Verify permits and references
- Report suspicious activity to your local police with details (e.g., vehicle info)
Any unknown person approaching you to do ANY work on your home should be viewed as a potential scammer. Residents who feel they have been victimized should contact their local police district and provide as much information as possible including vehicles and plates.
Residents are also reminded much of the work being done by these scammers requires City of Boston Building Permits. For permit info, visit: Boston.gov – Building Permits