2025 Update: Protecting Yourself From Home Improvement Scammers

Many years have passed since I shared the story below about the home improvement call scam. Since then the scam has evolved, but the goal is still the same: get you to say yes before you have time to think.

Even with Apple iOS 26 rolling out stronger call screening and spam-detection features, these scammers haven’t slowed down. They just shifted their strategy. They know their best targets are still the elderly. The folks who haven’t embraced smartphones. The ones who answer every call because they were raised to be polite and believe every call deserves a response.

That’s why these scams keep working.

If you have parents or grandparents who still answer every phone call, sit down with them. Show them how to screen calls. Explain that legitimate home improvement companies do NOT cold-call neighborhoods begging for work. Real contractors have:
• A local reputation
• Real reviews
• Real work they can show you
• And no urgency gimmicks

If someone calls you out of the blue offering roofing, driveway paving, siding, or “free inspections,” ask them:
What is the exact legal name of your company?

Where is your local office located?
Are you licensed and insured in my state?
Can I call back on your public business line?
Can you email me a written estimate with your company license number on it?

If they hesitate, deflect, or get defensive, hang up.
You owe a stranger on the phone nothing.

If you want to go a step further and learn how to waste their time instead of them wasting yours, that’s exactly why I wrote Rob Versus The Scammers.

I’ve spent a decade turning these nuisance calls into my own personal entertainment…while teaching others how to protect themselves, their money, and their sanity.

Below is the original dialogue. It’s unchanged. It still holds up.

Sir, we are a Home Improvement Company offering all kinds of repairs like roofing, gutters, windows, doors and plumbing.

{background was filled with at least a dozen callers running through the same script}

Me: Hmm, could you repeat that, all the noise in the background is distracting.

Caller: Sir, we are a Home Improvement Company offering all kinds of repairs like roofing, gutters, windows, doors and plumbing.

Me: What did you say your company’s name is?

Caller: Home Improvement Company

Me: Hmm, never heard of you, what is it you do?

Caller: All kinds of home repairs like roof, gutters, windows, doors and plumbing.

Me: Do you offer electrical?

Caller: Yes

Me: Do you offer siding replacement?

Caller: Yes

Me: Do you offer dog poo yard clean up?

Caller: Sir, you name it we can fix it.

Me: Okay, I can probably come up with a list of repairs you can MacGyver

Caller: Do you own your home?

Me: I pay a mortgage – which means I will probably be dead before it’s paid for.

Caller: So in the future which repairs do you think you will need done to your home?

Me: It’s a home…everything will need repaired at some point.

Caller: May we send someone out tomorrow to give you a quote?

Me: Where did you say you are located?

{Caller then botches the name of my town}

Me: So if you’re local to my area how come you can’t even pronounce the town’s name correctly?

Caller: I’m new to the company.

Me: So you work for a company that has no real name in a town you cant pronounce

{caller doesn’t even acknowledge my question and stays on script}

Caller: So tomorrow doesn’t work, how about the next day?

Me: You’re a pushy SOB aren’t you?

Caller: Sir, we are just trying to make an appointment with you

Me: To do what?

Caller: Give you a quote for repairs

Me: Well you asked if I needed repairs in the future, not if I needed repairs right now.

Caller: But Sir we are in your area all this week.

Me: Well the number you called in on is not a local number

Caller: We are calling from our national call center and we make thousands of calls a day all over the USA

Me: Wow, sounds like you have this scam down then.

Caller: Yes Sir

Me: So you admit it?

{Caller hung up}

If This Helped, Here’s Your Next Step

If you (or someone you care about) has been getting these calls, you’re not alone. These scammers dial thousands of numbers every day hoping to catch someone tired, rushed, or simply being polite.
You don’t have to play along.

I wrote Rob Versus The Scammers to help you recognize the patterns, take control of the conversation, and protect your time, your money, and your peace. It’s filled with real call transcripts, humor, and practical ways to shut the nonsense down before it starts.

It’s not about fear.
It’s about awareness and confidence.
If you want to go deeper, get the book here:
👉 https://www.robversus.com

Share it with your parents.
Share it with your kids.
Tape it next to the phone if you need to.
Stay alert.
Stay in control.
Stay entertained.

Protect yourself against scams…read “Rob Versus The Scammers”

Rob Anspach

Anspach Media | Website | + posts

Rob Anspach is affectionately known as “Mr. Sarcasm” to his friends. To everyone else, he’s a Certified Digital Marketing Strategist, Authority Amplification Expert, Best-Selling Author, Podcaster, Speaker, and Publisher who helps entrepreneurs, experts, and organizations expand their influence, credibility, and legacy.

With more than 30 years of experience building brands and positioning leaders as industry authorities, Rob specializes in authority marketing, storytelling strategy, and digital visibility. He is known for helping experts move beyond simply being known… and become respected, trusted, and remembered.

Rob has authored, co-authored, or produced 65+ books covering topics such as social media marketing, podcasting, copywriting, personal injury law, military law, entrepreneurship, customer experience, life lessons, scams, sarcasm-driven business strategy, and more. His publishing and authority-building clients include attorneys, speakers, doctors, consultants, real estate professionals, coaches, and corporate leaders seeking to elevate their visibility and thought leadership.

He is also the host of The E-Heroes Podcast, featuring 385+ interviews with entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry disruptors. The show is distributed across major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and additional global streaming networks.

Through consulting, publishing, and strategic authority positioning, Rob works with businesses and organizations worldwide to help them increase revenue, strengthen brand trust, and capture high-value online opportunities.

Rob is available for speaking engagements, media interviews, podcast guest appearances, and corporate training programs focused on authority marketing, legacy branding, and strategic visibility.

To learn more or to get started, visit www.AnspachMedia.com or call Anspach Media at (412) 267-7224.