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Home » Authorities Warn Of Roofing Scammers Targeting Elderly Residents

Authorities Warn Of Roofing Scammers Targeting Elderly Residents

by CLAYCORD.com
19 comments

Authorities in the Bay Area are sounding the alarm on a disturbing roof inspection scam targeting homeowners, particularly elderly residents. Perpetrators are prowling neighborhoods in vehicles adorned with counterfeit roofing service decals, luring unsuspecting victims with promises of complimentary roof assessments or low-cost repairs. However, their intentions are far from benevolent.

Once granted access to a homeowner’s property, these scammers engage in a malicious ploy. Rather than conducting legitimate inspections or repairs, they deliberately inflict damage to roofs, subsequently demanding exorbitant payment for their purported services. This deceitful tactic preys on the vulnerability and trust of homeowners, especially those belonging to older demographics. For a trusted and reliable contractor, contact Proliance General Contractors & Roofing Company for assistance.

To safeguard against falling victim to this insidious scheme, consumers are urged to exercise caution and diligence. Before consenting to any repairs or parting with money, individuals should verify the legitimacy of the contractor. One reliable method is to ascertain whether the contractor holds a valid license. This can be done by visiting the official website of the Contractors State License Board at https://www.cslb.ca.gov/.

Furthermore, vigilance is paramount in combating this fraudulent activity. Any instances of suspicious behavior or encounters with these scammers should be promptly reported to local law enforcement authorities. By remaining vigilant and proactive, homeowners can play a crucial role in deterring such fraudulent operations and protecting themselves and their communities from financial exploitation and distress. Remember, when in doubt, seek assistance from licensed professionals and get a free quote for added peace of mind.

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In essence, awareness, verification, and swift reporting are essential weapons in the fight against this reprehensible roof inspection scam. By working together and remaining vigilant, residents can thwart the efforts of these deceitful individuals and safeguard their homes and finances.

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This reminds me of a certain company in this area that many real estate agents use for chimney “inspections”. I’ve actually been inside a home when their “inspector” was on the roof and purposely caused damage to the chimney at the roofline. The sound was unmistakeable. Then he climbed down the ladder to give the homeowner the bad news that the chimney was cracked at the roofline and would have to be restacked from top to bottom and (at that time) would cost about $6000. Often, they will come and do these inspections unannounced, since they can access the roof with a ladder. They know you won’t be there to watch. INSIST on a set appointment time and don’t allow them to come early. Be there, be aware.

For some reason this company is still favored by many agents that don’t know any better and are recommended to their clients. Beware. I will no longer allow this company on any of my personal roofs or those of my clients.

If you ever have roof or chimney inspections done, make yourself visible and vocal throughout the inspection. Make sure they know you’re watching, with multiple people if necessary. I’d even use my phone to video record them on your roof, even if the quality isn’t there, you holding up your phone and pointing it at them is probably enough deterrent if they plan on doing you dirty

Oh, and always check to make sure they’re insured. Getting injured while getting on or off your roof can bring an entirely new set of problems and opportunity for a shakedown.

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SCUM taking advantage of the elderly.

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Like Joe Biden by the Dem party, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
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Please give us the name of the chimney company. I have to have mine inspected and repaired soon!

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What you want is to hire a chimney sweep to clean and inspect your chimney. They have to clean it to inspect it. That’s their only responsibility. Most chimneys sweeps will make little or no repairs to the chimneys they inspect, maybe adding a spark arrestor to the top is about as deep into it as they get.

What you DON’T want to do is hire a masonry contractor to do a chimney inspection. They are a hammer looking for nails, there is a high probability that they’ll find (or in my case, CAUSE) an issue that requires …..wait for it…..a masonry contractor to repair! Even a local masonry contractor that has been in business for decades in an adjoining city to Claycord that has high marks on Yelp and is recommended by many real estate agents doesn’t tell the whole story. People give him 5 stars for inspecting their chimney, finding a problem and fixing it. Great. But was the problem there before they “inspected” it? As a homeowner did you have any idea of what the issue was, how it was caused and if it’s truly an issue? Some of these guys will say that you risk the lives of your family if you ever burn in that chimney ever again…likely BS.

Lastly, if a masonry contractor comes out to do an inspection and does not perform a complete cleaning of the chimney from top to bottom to properly perform a full inspection with cameras down the stack, he’s just eyeballing bricks and freaking you out about some cracks in the mortar. That’s not a chimney inspection, you’re the sucker target.

Dynasty Roofing is a reputable company. We learned about them from word of mouth. They do not advertise, and don’t need to. Their customers recommend them. Did us right at a competitive price. They are local.

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I agree .Dynasty put a roof on my house. A neighbor recommended them. They were reasonable and did a fantastic job. I was
especially impressed with their cleanup afterwards. Everything was spotless when they were done. You couldn’t even tell they had been there except it had a new roof.

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Even if you have an inspection what are going to do with your report? Are you going to add anchors for seismic retrofit? Are you going to be burning wood in there or are you going to go gas? I am sure commenters will call me ignorant but in the land of BAAQMD a chimney inspection isn’t really all that useful. Might be better off just having it cleaned and planning on not using it and make sure no one sleeps in front of it like during the Napa quake.

I don’t remember the name of the company, but they did a fabulous job in inspection and cleaning our chimney. We use it all winter. We have been in this house now this will be the third winter. We had the chimney done before our first fire. It has been 2 years and we will get the inspection and cleaning again. Time to see if we can find that company again. If not, we will make sure we research well before hiring. Too many scammers out there.

Would appreciate a good recommendation.

My comment was intended as an add on to Be Wary’s comment.

So much the elderly have to worry about. Not just the roof and chimney, but also the shingles! 😬

Stop It!! 🤣

Isn’t there a vaccine for that? ROTFL

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SCUM.
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Just like “free” furnace/HVAC inspections. It’s a way to get their foot in your door.
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Of course they’ll warn about a potential for a gas leak or your ducts are filthy and need cleaning.
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Let loose wild dogs if they come on your street!!!!

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Arrest the scammers. Set a trap. Warning old people won’t stop it.

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Funny, cause the older I get, the less I care about roofs. And a bunch of other stuff.

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“ ,.. but if we wait a day or two the rain will go away and it won’t need a fixing on such a sunny day…”

Peggy Lee —- “Mañana”

https://youtu.be/7ikUCavp2yA?feature=shared

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