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Police warn of local home repair scam

Police say two men claiming to be a father-and-son home repair team are actually scamming people in the Quad Cities area.

Police say two men claiming to be a father-and-son home repair team are actually scamming people in the Quad Cities area.

One man in his fifties or sixties and another in his thirties are reportedly approaching homeowners in East Moline, Moline and Rock Island.  The pair offer small home repair services such as painting, caulking and tree trimming, with initial estimates often less than $100.  When the work is done, the two men reportedly demand thousands of dollars in payment.

The men are driving a white older model boom truck with Minnesota plates and a US DOT number on the site.  There is no business logo on the truck, but police said the men may identify themselves as being with Above the Rest Tree Service. 

The suspects have stayed in local hotels and used an address from Nebraska.

“It is best to research the workers of company and obtain multiple estimates from reputable companies prior to accepting the work bid.  Unsolicited door-to-door sales from companies with no local connections should raise our concern,” said Lt. Darren Gault with East Moline Police.

Lt. Gault also recommends checking company websites, the Better Business Bureau and references from the company.  You should obtain copies of the workers’ insurance and withhold final payment until you are satisfied with the work completed.

If you have information about these suspects, contact East Moline Police at (309) 752-1555 or Crime Stoppers at (309) 762-9500. 

For more tips on how to avoid home repair fraud, please visit the Illinois Attorney General website at http://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/tips.html.

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