What it looks like
"Morning! We just finished a driveway down the street and have some asphalt left over. I can do yours today for half price, cash only. We just need half up front for materials."
An example. Real ones change their wording, amounts and names all the time.
How it works
Home repair scammers go door to door, often right after a storm. They may say they noticed missing shingles or a cracked chimney while working nearby. Some offer a deal on driveway sealing or tree trimming with materials 'left over' from another job. The offer feels friendly and convenient.
Once you agree, they ask for cash or a large payment up front 'for materials'. Some never come back. Others do a fast, poor job, like a thin coat on a driveway that washes away in the first rain. Some climb on the roof and come down with photos of damage that may not even be from your house, then raise the price.
It fools careful homeowners because home repairs are a real need and storms do cause damage. The pressure to decide today is the warning sign. A good contractor will give you a written estimate and time to check their license and get other quotes.
Signs it is fake
- A contractor knocks on your door saying they are 'in the area' or have materials left over from another job
- They find damage you did not see, often on the roof where you cannot check
- Pressure to decide today, and a request for cash or full payment up front
- No written contract, no license number, and no local address
- They show up right after a storm, offering to handle your insurance claim
What to do
- Do not hire anyone who just shows up at your door. Get two or three quotes from contractors you find yourself.
- Check the contractor's license with your state or county government, and ask for proof of insurance.
- Get a written contract with the price, the work, the start and finish dates, and the license number. Do not pay the full amount up front.
- If you sign a contract at your home, you usually have three business days to cancel under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule.
If you already clicked, called or paid
- If you paid and the work never started or was poorly done, contact your state attorney general's consumer protection office.
- If you paid by credit card, call the card company and ask to dispute the charge.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and call your local police if someone took your money and disappeared.
Being fooled is not your fault. These messages are made by professionals to look real. Acting quickly is what matters. See what to do if you paid a scammer.
Not sure about a message?
Forward it to Uncle at +1 208 214 0093, or send a screenshot. He tells you plainly what looks wrong. He never asks for passwords or codes, and he never texts first. How it works.
Worried about a parent? With the Family plan, you get a heads up when a likely scam reaches them.
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Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
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