Scammers target painters, remodelers in Joplin area

If you’re a painter or do other home work and you’re contacted by someone from who says he’s from out of town but will “send you a check in the mail” to do work on a home in the local area: Watch out!

The Better Business Bureau says scammers will overpay with bad checks, hoping you’ll return the excess money before you find out their checks are no good.

“If they say I’m in Chicago or wherever but I want to get started on the job …. or whatever excuse …..don’t accept the money and don’t think it’s a real job,” advises Stephanie Garland of the BBB.

Garland says the scam was recently pulled on a painter from Joplin.

She says if someone tries to pull the scam, contact bbb.org. and local law enforcement.