Door-to-door scams can feel like something of the past, especially now that so much business is being done electronically. In recent years, many scammers have transitioned to the faceless route of scamming people over phone, via email or through other online channels.

But door-to-door scams are still an issue that we need to be aware of, particularly business owners. Door-to-door scams are still surprisingly common, and they can cost your business a huge amount of money.

Being aware of door-to-door scams, and ensuring you have a robust security solution, can go a long way in mitigating the risk that you will fall for them.

What are door-to-door scams?

One of the most common door-to-door scams is when a criminal offers a quote for work that needs to be done at your business. 

They will often give you a reduced or discounted rate to make the price more attractive. This might be something like paving your parking lot, replacing your roof or changing your flooring. You agree to have the work done, sign a contract and provide a down payment for the service. 

The criminal then takes the money and moves on to their next victim, without doing the work for you. 

Because a contract was agreed on, this sort of fraud usually becomes a civil issue. This means you have to file a suit against someone who you don’t know and a company that doesn’t exist. Sounds difficult? It is. And it can lead to thousands of dollars in losses. 

How to identify door-to-door scams

The problem is, legitimate businesses still use door-to-door marketing campaigns. To help you determine whether you should be dealing with a door to door sellers, consider the following: 

• Ask for identification and documentation so you know who you are dealing with.
• Ask the seller for the company’s name, address and telephone number – employees should be able to quickly provide the name and phone number.
• Check to see if the phone number works. If it does, ask the person on the other end questions about the business. Don’t just assume that someone answering means the business is real. 
• If the offer seems like it’s too good to be real, that should be a red flag. 
• Keep a copy of the contract and always be careful about giving down payments. 
• Don’t accept any free gifts or invite a door-to-door salesperson into your business, especially if you are not open to the public or they want access to areas that can only be accessed by employees. If they’re a criminal, they may be trying to gain access to your premise to scope it out or commit a crime, putting you and your team in danger. 
• Before signing a contract, committing to a service or providing a down payment, do research. Go online and ask other local business owners about the seller. You can also reach out to the Better Business Bureau, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your local Consumer Protection Agency to ask about the business. 
• Never provide the seller with information about your surveillance systems or other security measures without verifying the legitimacy of the business. 
• Ask for time to consider the offer. A real employee or business owner will understand you need time to verify and think about the offer. 
• Stay up to date on your local contract legislation to be sure you and the seller are meeting obligations and local rules. 
  
  

How to deter door-to-door scammers from targeting your business

One of the most effective methods in deterring door-to-door scammers is by installing video surveillance. 

Not only can it help you by capturing images of the “salesperson” (fraudster), which can help you track them down and notify others if the deal goes sour. Surveillance systems can also deter criminals from knocking on your door in the first place.

In instances where criminals return at a later time to commit a theft, verified video can help local police forces to catch them red-handed. If you use monitored surveillance, this theft will be captured and reviewed by security professionals who will contact the authorities immediately.  

If you’re interested in learning more about the scams you need to protect your business from and how our security system can help, contact us today.