The Osceola Council on Aging has issued a concerning alert about scammers offering home weatherization services.
The Council’s Weatherization department has received complaints about fraudulent sites offering roofing, window, and door programs on social media outlets. An influx of clients have called saying they have victim to these fraudulent sites.
According to the Council, the scam involves filling out an intake form on these sites, which results in the theft of the client's personal information. When the client attempts to contact the company, they are left without any response or support, since the fraudulent sites do not have searchable websites.
When clients perform a Google search for free windows, doors, and roofing weatherization programs, the Osceola Council on Aging appears as the top search result. A Council official shared graphics posted in social media, using Gov. Ron DeSantis’ picture, stating new legislation allowing homeowners to get new windows and roofs “through a county-approved program.” The Council said victims are then directed to one of a number of websites, such as btnhapprovedprogram.com, and give their personal information.
“When nothing comes of it and those people Google the program, and our weatherization program for seniors is all that comes up,” Council on Aging Vice President of Marketing Belinda Olivera said. “They call us, sometimes frantically.”
“This is leading to confusion among many clients who have mistaken us as the organization they filled out the form with,” a release from OCOA said this week.
The Osceola Council on Aging does not offer applications for weatherization services online, and does not advertise on social media platforms. The only way to obtain their services is through referrals from local organizations. The Council is not affiliated with any of the fraudulent sites that have been reported by their clients.
“Luckily, nothing bad has come of people providing their information,” OIivera said Monday.
