QUITMAN, Ga. — Older adults in Brooks County are being urged to watch for home-improvement scams that can lead to financial exploitation, particularly from unsolicited contractors offering expensive repairs with “no money down” financing.
The Brooks County Sheriff’s Office warned residents and families to be cautious of contractors who show up uninvited and push deals that sound too good to be true. The agency said warning signs may include pressure to sign or pay immediately, prices that seem excessive for the work offered, refusal to provide an itemized written contract, offers to drive the customer to a bank, requests for routing numbers, account numbers or other banking information, and discouraging the customer from speaking with family members or trusted advisers.
Before agreeing to any repairs, the sheriff’s office encouraged residents to get multiple written estimates, verify a contractor’s credentials and insurance, review all financing terms and ask a trusted person to examine the agreement.
The sheriff’s office also stressed that people should never provide banking information under pressure and said a legitimate contractor should not object to giving a customer time to review a contract or seek a second opinion.
Residents are also being asked to check on elderly relatives, friends and neighbors. Anyone who suspects an older or vulnerable person is being financially exploited is urged to contact local law enforcement and Georgia Adult Protective Services at 1-866-552-4464, option 3. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
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