Grass Cutting and Unpaid Tax Scams in St. Louis Neighborhoods

The Circuit Attorneys Office has been informed by several South St. Louis residents of two ongoing local scams. The first involves con artists knocking on residents doors and falsely informing the homeowner that he or she has been cited by the City for failure to maintain the property by allowing their grass to grow too long. These criminals assert that they have been assigned to immediately mow the lawn and that the homeowner must pay for the service on the spot.

One Gravois Park resident who reported this scam also received a telephone call from a woman who claimed to represent the City. The caller claimed that the residents property taxes were overdue and even attempted to obtain a credit card number in order to pay the balance directly over the telephone.

Both scams provide new twists on a conventional form of fraud: criminals attempt to use the authority of legitimate government agencies to appear authentic as they defraud honest citizens.

In order to protect yourself from these and similar frauds, remember the following:

1. Do not open your door to strangers- no matter who they claim to be. Ask for photo identification and call the agency the individual claims to represent before speaking to a stranger at your door.

2. If your home needs any kind of repair, you should receive a citation from a building inspector that describes the work to be done and provides a date for you to appear in City Court. You will never be asked to immediately pay a specific party for a repair.

3. No government agency will contact you by telephone or e-mail and ask for immediate payment of a debt, or any personal identifying information (PII). Never provide PII to any person who contacts you, no matter who they claim to be.

4. If you receive any such demand for payment or someone comes to your door and claims that you must immediately repair your home, call 911.

Fraud Assistance Hotline: (314) 612-1412

Office Phone: (314) 622-4941

Fax: (314) 622-3369

Web: www.circuitattorney.org