Scammers are everywhere these days, some even come right to the doors of our San Francisco homes. Keeping your family and home safe means being aware of the threats to your security. One scam you need to be aware of is a home security scam. These scammers prey on your desire to protect your home and your family, but put both at risk. Here’s what you need to know about home security scams.

What Is A Home Security Scam

Home security scams are essentially when someone comes to your door pretending to be a salesperson for a security company. They are often dressed up in a fake security uniform and even carry a fake identification badge. They will ask you a lot of questions and if allowed, will do a full tour of your home. They aren’t actually with a security company though. Instead, they are really casing your home to see if there’s anything they’d like to steal. Sometimes they’ll even work to disable your security system. While others simply try to get you to sign a contract and collect money for no services. These scams are surprisingly frequent in San Francisco, so it’s important to understand when you’ve met a scammer.

How To Recognize A Home Security Scam

Understanding how to recognize a home security scam is the first step in protecting yourself. Most of these scammers use the same tactics to manipulate people and get into their homes. A good rule of thumb is if a home security professional comes to your door, tell them no thank you. However, they may come back with deceitful tactics including:

• Telling you that your home security company is no longer in business
• Telling you their company bought your home security company
• Say your current system has been recalled for safety reasons and they are only there to repair or replace the system
• Present documentation and new contracts to prove their legitimacy

Be vigilant when anyone comes to your door, but especially a home security provider.

What You Can Do To Protect Your Family From A Home Security Scam

If one of these individuals comes to your San Francisco home, politely decline their offer and then take the following steps:

• Contact your home security company and let them know someone came to your home pretending to be a representative with them
• Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commissionor local law enforcement
• Let you neighbors know that there are scammers going around
• Work with a real security provider to review your home’s security and make sure that it’s airtight in case they come back

Taking these steps will help protect you and your neighbors from these scammers. Another good idea is to install a doorbell camera, so you can monitor who comes to your home and speak with them without opening your door. Avoiding scams can be difficult because scammers have become so good at scamming. However, if you are aware of the threats and stay vigilant, you can keep your home and family safe.