Anyone notice an increase in scam leads / calls / messages recently?

climbingmonkey24

climbingmonkey24

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
United States
I don't know if it's just me being overly suspicous / cautious, but having done this as long as I have I've gotten some leads this year that to me seem "off" let's just say the least. And you hear all the time about the rise in scams and stuff, so it's got me thinking.

To give an example, today I got an email for someone looking for a quote.

All it said was "Could you please provide a quote to remove the following tree at the location listed below? Ideally we would like to get this scheduled as soon as possible. Please also provide your availaiability with the estimate." Attached was a picture with a tree circled. I considered it for a moment and then checked google earth and found the image was an exact screen shot of what the property looks like on google earth and that imagery satellite was uploaded back in 2024 (google earth usually shows when the imagery was taken). I then got a second email from the same person saying they gave me the wrong address in the first email and the new address was the one that matched the picture.

I haven't responded. Initially I was unsure but the google earth image seems like a red flag and the fact that they sent the wrong address. If you were going to send a contractor pics wouldn't you send updated pics, not screen shots from online? They also didn't include a phone number, which is a usually a sign because they don't want to talk to you over the phone.

Thoughts?


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Also, seperate from this encounter I've also gotten what appear to be some suspect leads from Angi (formerly HomeAdvisor). this year. Leads that are supposed to be different but that have descriptions that have similar phrases or phrases that seem almost seem scripted like they're coming from the same person, etc. These are for opportunity leads, not regular leads...which are ones where you only pay if you accept.

I know there's mixed opinions about Angi but I've had them for years and my experience for the most part has been pretty positive. I don't rely on them for my business by any means, more so use them at certain times or if I see a lead that I'm interested in, etc. I've gotten some really good customers from Angi, some of which have then turned into referrals, etc. In fact, that's how I met one of my past employees of nearly 4 years by doing a job for his neighbor which came from Angi, and then he hired me to do some work for him and that's how he ended up starting to work for me.
 
Over the past 18 months - 5 scams. Two required a lot of time before I realized.
Now for every inquiry I check online records to verify property owners and I check Zillow to see lot lines.
 
Had a call a while ago that was a new one on me - an East Indian or Pakistani sounding fellow asked if we would be interested in bidding for ongoing arborist/ landscaping work - they would forward a form to fill in and it had to be sent to a PO Box with $250.00 application processing fee in order to be considered. A cute variation on the Nigerian Prince needing money I guess. Next call we got from that number, as I recall we answered with" Staff Sgt Smith, RCMP Commercial Crime, How can I help you?" and guess what, we never heard fom them again . . . Too funny.
 
I once stopped a string of annoying calls from the same number/organisation by answering the phone "CRTC. CRTC. This is the CRTC how can I help you?" Stopped cold that day. They were about 15 calls in ! I even said PFO one time as well as of course take me off your list.

A red flag is you say I need to talk to the neighbours to confirm/inform and customer says don't. Often times use of the neighbour's property is very helpful if not in fact simply necessary.
 
I haven't gotten anything scam-wise, but in the 'work flow' thread people are pretty much all saying work is down, and I feel like lean times often lead to an increase in scams. Just a theory. That or your phone number just got into some scammers system and you are getting an uptick from that.
 
Scammers are using AI now to send us text messages offering to help with our website or google ranking. We don't need help with that. The bots are persistent sending multiple texts to "confirm" they got the right number, we never reply but block the number and report spam.
I really dislike those mid stream bloodsuckers who want a piece of my profit by offering a service that isn't needed and is most likely a hoax anyway. - They would make more money lacing up their boots and dragging brush.
 
I get a metric crap ton of scam calls and emails from all over. I have usually just blocked and junked them but I’ve started answering and giving them a run for their money.
I did have a sales inquiry that I almost fell for in the winter. The person actually looked up the title name on a house for sale and posed as the owner. They wanted a large Oak tree removed, obviously seen from google maps. In retrospect I should have know better, but they accepted the estimate and “sent” the payment. They immediately asked me to send some money back to help them with some other costs. That’s when I knew. I immediately canceled and voided everything I could.
I did have the sense right away to call the realtor. They got back to me the following day and confirmed that they were a scammer, which apparently had happened before.
 
Raven said:
Scammers are using AI now to send us text messages offering to help with our website or google ranking. We don't need help with that. The bots are persistent sending multiple texts to "confirm" they got the right number, we never reply but block the number and report spam.
I really dislike those mid stream bloodsuckers who want a piece of my profit by offering a service that isn't needed and is most likely a hoax anyway. - They would make more money lacing up their boots and dragging brush.
Click to expand...
I’m getting a very large quantity of these
 
Bogus bid requests by text.


I don't answer calls unless it's from an established customer.

I'll send a text reply that said I'm on the phone and text me.

I have had a couple real people text or leave a VM.
 
I’m getting more “funding” offers than anything else, that and digital marketing companies.

Assholes texted at 1:30 am offering 100k in capital loans.
 
evo said:
I’m getting more “funding” offers than anything else, that and digital marketing companies.

Assholes texted at 1:30 am offering 100k in capital loans.
Click to expand...
Heard that! There are tons of people offering me money. All so I can “run my business the way I need to.”
 
27RMT0N said:
I haven't gotten anything scam-wise, but in the 'work flow' thread people are pretty much all saying work is down, and I feel like lean times often lead to an increase in scams. Just a theory. That or your phone number just got into some scammers system and you are getting an uptick from that.
Click to expand...

I’ve also heard from others that call volume for actual customers seems lower than usual at times, or people responding to a bid saying they can’t afford to do the project, etc.
 
Scams is one of the reasons why I generally will only do a bid if the owner or whoever is doing the hiring is present when I go to look at a project. Plus the benefit of getting to know the client a little bit, and in the case of pruning / trimming work being able to look at it together and ensuring we are both on the same page with what the other is saying, etc.

There have been a few instances where I’ll make an exception and bid work without meeting with someone, but only if I feel confident that it’s legitimate and even then you still got to be careful.
 
I'd also regard some customers as bordering on being scammers. I did some work for a Wall Street guy last year at around $50 an hour, chain saw work, ground, cutting down sapplings, etc.. This year he called me asked whether I'd "honor" my rate from last year, it would just be a few hours like last time. I told him that due to equipment and other costs I'm at $75 an hour. He stayed after me even bugging me when I was praying at church! I've seen him around town doesn't even say "hi" now. I don't need to feel compelled to work for anyone for some spending money.
 
Did some work for a guy like this a couple of years ago - guy is CEO or COO of a "green" hi tech company, educated in Ivey League school in the US, drives electric Audi's, has the most expensive house in his neighbourhood and a house in the mountains both worth millions and . . . when my wife went to do cash deposits at the bank she found he had shorted me on the job (my fault for not counting I guess but never had to do that before). He'd make a good politician these days - come to think of it he has relatives who are.
 
I guess sometimes the wealthier neighborhoods or clients are the ones where they may want to negotiate the price down or think you’re charging too high. Oh well what you gonna do.

You ever find when you send an estimate and then if you try following up after not hearing back for a while the people just don’t respond no matter what you do? I’m always appreciative if someone does respond or reach out even if to tell me they aren’t doing the work or hired someone else.
 
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