The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is intensifying its efforts against roofing inspection scams, in which deceitful contractors falsely claim roofs are damaged to coax homeowners into undertaking costly and unnecessary repairs.
In response to a surge in such cases, authorities have embarked on a more proactive community outreach, advising residents on how to avoid falling victim to such scams.
The urgency of this crackdown follows a troubling rise in complaints to the National Consumer Affairs Center. In fiscal 2018, there were 923 consultations concerning roofing inspection scams, but by fiscal 2022, the number had tripled to 2,885.
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