Consumer fraud refers to illegal transactions between merchants or business people and consumers that usually results in false claims, misrepresentation, overcharging, failure to deliver goods, or failure to return a deposit.

Often, seniors are victims of fraudulent home improvement programs and services. The following are some typical ways criminals can take advantage of seniors:

• Scams may come in the form of free home inspections or surveys.
• Perpetrators may demand large down payments or deposits for home repairs and then disappear with the money.
• They may distract the homeowner and then burglarize the home.
• They may quote a low price for home repairs and then raise it exorbitantly after the work has begun.
• They may trick senior citizens into signing home improvement loan contracts, using their homes as collateral.
• Popular home improvement schemes include roofing, driveway repair and plumbing repairs.

Follow these tips to help prevent being the victim of a scam:

• Be skeptical of contractors who solicit business door-to-door.
• Don't rush into any home repair decision and don't contract to have a job done immediately.
• Obtain several written estimates for a proposed repair job.
• Insist on seeing a contractor's license. These are necessary in most states even for jobs like resurfacing a driveway or patching a roof.
• Ask to see references for the contractor and check them out.
• Contact the Better Business Bureau as part of your research.
• Obtain a detailed written contract and job estimate spelling out what will be done, when it will be done, what materials will be used and how much it will cost.
• Pay as little money as possible up front.
• For a large job, consider obtaining a performance bond.
• Inspect the work as it is being done to insure that replacements are really being installed.
• If anyone puts pressure on you to have work done immediately, that should be a warning sign to you to slow down and take your time making a decision.