DEARBORN, Mich. – Police in Dearborn are warning residents — especially seniors — about a growing trend of door-to-door home repair scams.
Scammers are reportedly offering discounted repairs or claiming a home needs immediate work, then taking cash up front and disappearing.
Commander Timothy McHale of the Dearborn Police Department says scammers tend to target elderly residents, looking for well-kept homes and specific indicators like wicker furniture on the porch.
“If someone is knocking on your door telling you that you have a home repair you need to make, you know that’s not normal,” McHale said.
One knock from the wrong person could leave residents paying thousands of dollars for shoddy work — or getting nothing at all.
“It really is fraud,” McHale said.
“They’ll be promises of entire concrete porches being replaced, or driveways, and really they’ll just slap a little concrete or mortar or tar on the driveway; you know repairs that take maybe 20 minutes,” he said.
McHale says Dearborn is seeing more of these scams spread across its neighborhoods, leaving some residents thinking twice before answering the door.
Dearborn resident Linda Scott says living alone makes her especially cautious.
“By me being a senior, an older woman that is living by myself. I wouldn’t answer the door,” Scott said.
Police say scammers often show up looking unprofessional and ask for full payment upfront — major red flags residents should not ignore.
“They’ll make them feel like it’s a safety issue, and it needs to be repaired now,” McHale said.
The Dearborn Police Department advises residents to never pay the full amount before work is completed and to always ask for identification, proof of licensing and written estimates before agreeing to any repairs.
“It’s human nature you want to see the best in people. I can promise you these individuals want nothing but your money,” McHale said.
Scott says she has little sympathy for those running the schemes.
“That’s not right. For those that are doing it. They’re going to get what’s coming to them,” Scott said.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a home repair scam is encouraged to contact the Dearborn Police Department.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Click Here For The Original Source.
