In 2025, scammers are adding more tech to their scams while continuing to rely on the tried-and-true methods of door-to-door sales and targeting the lonely and elderly.
In their day-to-day work with garage door installers through the Garage Door Marketing Syndicate subsidiary, the staff at Vectis.Marketing has heard several concerning stories of scams surrounding garage door repair.
Garage doors make for the perfect scam opportunity. For one, very few homeowners are well-versed in their garage doors. The most educated homeowner may be aware that the main spring can be dangerous, but that is the extent of common knowledge. This makes it easy for scammers to charge exorbitant prices for their repairs.
The second opportunity for scammers arises when a vehicle is trapped inside the garage. If the garage door has failed in a manner that prevents it from opening and keeps the homeowner stuck. This creates added stress to the situation, making the homeowner vulnerable to high-pressure sales tactics.
The third opportunity for scammers lies in the tried-and-true door-to-door sales tactics. As these scammers talk homeowners into purchasing upgrades from new garage doors to added automation, these “sales reps” require a deposit from the homeowner. Of course, following the deposit, these scam artists disappear.
At the heart of this increase in scams lies the ease with which Google reviews can be faked. In most communities, there is only a handful of legitimate garage door installers. Two to three main companies may handle all of the calls for a 200,000 community. This means that new installers can easily enter the game, collect a few “reviews” from friends and family on their Google profile, and begin competing in the market.
What makes this an ideal market for new businesses also makes it a perfect opportunity for scam artists to create fake businesses with fake, 5-star reviews. Whenever the larger companies are backed up with work, the overflow of calls trickles down to these nefarious actors.
In one particularly concerning case, bad actors in Massachusetts have launched multiple websites with names similar to Chelmsford Garage Door Repair. These sites emulate the name and address of a legitimate repair company and then swap out the phone number, trapping unsuspecting callers with their unscrupulous business practices.
With all of these concerns surrounding garage door repair, what can the homeowners do to protect themselves? Here are several action items.
Verify the Business Address: Some websites hide the address of the business. Before paying them any money, verify the address, and even research that address by searching it in Google or Bing to verify that their business is truly operating at that location.
Read the Reviews: Make sure the reviews are in-depth, contain photos, and refer to specific service techs who performed the work. While reviews can be faked, this is a necessary starting point.
Read Reviews on BBB and Yelp: BBB and Yelp tend to contain more pointed reviews and are often the places where frustrated customers turn to vent their concerns. Because of this, the total review score tends to be lower than what it is on Google. That said, “warning flags” often appear on these sites first.
Verify Their Business License: Every business must be registered to perform work in their city. One phone call to town hall will allow you to verify that this business has a current business license on record. Many cities now make this information publicly available on their websites for easier access.
Pay With Credit Card: If something goes wrong with the transaction, a credit card can provide added recourse. Thanks to the ability to dispute charges on a credit card, this can provide additional peace of mind and a way to immediately recoup any charges in the event of a dispute.
Never Pay In Advance: Companies seeking a deposit will need even more scrutiny before making that deposit. Verify that the phone number on their truck and the number on their Google listing match. (Many companies use tracking numbers, so these numbers will not always match). Call every phone number variation to ensure that you have the right company and get everything in writing.
Get a Second Opinion: At the end of the day, these scammers only thrive thanks to the perceived complexity of garage doors. By waiting for a second opinion, homeowners protect themselves from inflated prices and outright scams.
Quinton Hamp, the president of Vectis.Marketing points out, “When small businesses invest in their marketing, they are also helping to protect homeowners by pushing out these bad actors.” Over the next few years, it is expected that the market will become much more competitive, making it more difficult for these “bad apples” to operate.
Website of Source: https://vectis.marketing/
Source: Story.KISSPR.com
Release ID: 1265079