Consumer Alert: Scammers targeting home security systems

(WOIO) - Alarm systems are supposed to keep you safe, but they also may make you a target for scammers. A woman wants to warn others after her elderly father-in-law was duped by con men who claimed he needed to update his home security system.

William Burnette said he feels safe in his home, but a recent knock at the door rattled his nerves. Men showed up claiming to be with his alarm company, but he later found out, none of it was true.

"Be careful who you let in your house," the 85-year-old said.

The men at the door claimed they were there to upgrade his existing system.

"What they were actually doing is taking the system I had out and putting their system in," he explained.

By the time he realized he had been fooled, the men had already ripped out his alarm system and installed their own. When his daughter-in-law, Susan, got word of what happened, she quickly started working to fix what had happened.

"From what I understand, this is a scamthat is done, especially with the elderly. Companies ride around the neighborhood and look for signs in the front yard for an alert system," Susan Burnette said.

Those con artists not only took out Burnette's system, they also got him to sign a contract. He had no clue what was going on.

His family hopes his story will be a warning to other seniors.

"Beware of signing any contracts if you are not sure about the company. Make sure you protect your identity and that you alert other people to this," Susan Burnette said.

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Consumer Alert: Scammers targeting home security systems