Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) Serving Greater Cleveland is warning consumers about a deceptive “private investigator” door hanger currently circulating in Northeast Ohio.
The door hangers, often printed on fluorescent orange or green cardstock, feature a bold “URGENT!” headline. They claim that an investigation is being conducted under “ORC 4749.0” and demand that the resident contact a “private investigator” immediately at a provided 1-866 number. Upon dialing the contact number provided on the flyer, BBB staff discovered it was assigned to an unrelated party instead of a private investigator or company.
“This is a classic high-pressure panic tactic,” states Pamela Anson, President and CEO of BBB Cleveland. “The vague, threatening language pressures the recipient to call immediately, which is exactly the intended outcome. This prevents someone from verifying the notice’s legitimacy or consulting a trusted person.”
The scam is resurfacing after flyers were circulating in Toledo, then Sandusky, and now in Cleveland.
BBB urges homeowners to ignore the urge to call right away. What you need to know before you call:
- The cited code is incorrect. The actual Ohio Revised Code (ORC) is from Chapter 4749, which defines the roles and regulates private investigators and security services. ORC 4749.01 clarifies who is a private investigator and a security guard provider.
- Protect your information. Do not call the number listed on the door hanger. The caller is more than likely looking to harvest your information (personal, financial, etc.).
- The bolded “URGENT!” is a tactic. Scammers use panic to trigger a quick response and instil fear.
- Report this scam to BBB’s Scam Tracker.SM. Whether or not you lose money, reporting helps other potential victims.
- Verify the source. Official law enforcement or court-ordered investigators will typically have identifiable credentials and will not rely solely on a generic, brightly colored door hanger without a company name.
In 2024, BBB launched the Scam Prevention Guide. Visit this site to find helpful tips and videos. If you come across a scam, report it to BBB Scam TrackerSM. Your report can help stop others from becoming victims of fraud. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected]. Have a scam to report? Report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
