Full Notification

The Newark Police Department has been made aware of a possible scam targeted at senior citizens. A caller, in this case a woman attempted to set up an appointment for a furnace & air conditioning equipment inspection at what was described as "half price" of $60.

She told the potential victim they would be "in his area next week." The caller then attempted to gain the trust of the would-be victim by small talk, asking specifics about the age of the equipment, and pressuring the homeowner on the offer while trying to obtain the address of the potential victim.

As detailed in other community alerts these types of calls can potentially led to a crime.

One scenario is when these people show up for an inspection; they will invariably find major problems, usually in perfectly good equipment that needs to be repaired immediately usually at a very high cost. That is assuming that these people actually do any repairs. The more likely scenario is that they will repair or replace NOTHING.

The second likely scenario is that while the "technician" is distracting the homeowner with the furnace-air conditioner issues, a second "technician" will be roaming the house looking for valuables to steal.

To avoid unscrupulous scam artists here are some tips to follow:

• Do not allow someone into your home or backyard that you do not know or trust.
• “We're in the neighborhood doing another job!"- Find out where and check with that neighbor to see if they are actually offering quality work.
• Confirm that they have the appropriate license and bonding and that It is valid (don't take their word for it, take the license number and call the appropriate government licensing board, located in the government section of your telephone book or online).
• Ask for references, but keep in mind those providing the reference may be acquaintances of the service person, so use caution in accepting the comments of references
• If they claim no permit is required confirm this by calling the planning or building department yourself.
• If unsure, don't agree to anything! If you are in doubt over whether or not to do something, ask a family member or a trusted friend to weigh-In on your decision and have a second set of eyes take a peek!
• Contract, contract, contract! Do not agree to something verbally; only proceed after you both have signed a contract (In many cases it is advisable to have a qualified third-party or legal counsel review a contract before signing).
• Only pay a down payment on the project and agreed upon amounts as the work progresses.

Remember a strong Neighborhood Watch is a proven deterrent to crime. For more information on how to help prevent crime or start a Neighborhood Watch please contact:

Tim Jones
Community Engagement / Newark Police Dept.
(510) 578-4209
[email protected]