Neighbors: Man casing Golden Gate homes posing as inspector

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NAPLES, Fla.- Golden Gate Estates residents are warning others to be on the lookout for a man posing as an inspector who they say is really casing homes.

Neighbors have run into the man walking around their yards near Santa Barbara Boulevard, Green Boulevard and Everglades Boulevard.

“He walked around the woman’s house and she asked him what he was doing,” said Leah Dearborn who is alerting people about the scam. “He says he is inspecting for wind mitigation.”

Dearborn says the man drives a white truck and carries around a blank piece of paper. The paper is supposed to resemble the Florida wind mitigation forms but it’s a blank sheet of paper.

When residents have run into him, the man claims he needs to check the outside of their home and then check inside. Neighbors believe he is casing their homes; he has been inside three homes in Golden Gate Estates.

Naples Security Solutions wants to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“Always ask for ID or a company ID,” said owner Chris Knott. “Someone that provides a service for you will typically call or notify you that they are coming out or it will be because you requested it.” Knott adds, “They prey on fear, people’s goodwill.”

A wind mitigation specialist can only be called to your home by you, the homeowner. The specialist will need to take a look inside and outside of your home. They will look at how you home holds up to strong winds. A wind survey is typically done to help lower your homeowner’s insurance.

If something like this happens to you, call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

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