SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) - The Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) is warning residents of a recent scam involving payment for pine straw and landscaping.
According to CCPD, the department received a complaint from a resident on the Islands who said they were nearly scammed out of $1,400 by two men offering to purchase and then spread pine straw around their landscaping.
CCPD encourages residents to be wary of door to door business, saying it is a "tactic of many scammers who insist on a cash payment in full and before they begin any work. Then, they disappear with the cash and without doing any of the work they agreed to do."
The department added: "It is always best to deal with businesses that you reach out to first, and that you can properly research. If you think someone who approaches you to ask for work is running an honest business, do some research and ask plenty of questions before handing over any money. Get a written estimate, and don't pay more than a small deposit in advance. Once the work is completed, make sure you get a receipt for any work done."