Use caution when hiring a home improvement contractor, especially following a major storm, flood , or weather event, when many homeowners are trying to repair their homes. However, contractor scams can happen anytime, so be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and fly-by-night businesses. Con artists will take homeowners’ money and deliver (or not deliver) less than quality work.

How the scam works:

Home improvement scams can start with a knock on the door, a flyer, or an ad. The contractor may offer a low price or a short timeframe. One common hook is when the scammer claims to be working in your neighborhood on another project and has leftover supplies.

Once started, a rogue contractor may "find" issues that significantly raise the price. If you object, they threaten to walk away and leave a half-finished project. Or they may accept your upfront deposit and never return to do the job. Following a natural disaster, scammers persuade homeowners to sign over their insurance payments.

One consumer shared the following experience with BBB Scam Tracker: "He requested for cash to purchase the materials. He came to pick up the cash and said he would schedule the day & time to do the job. After numerous exchanges of text messages promising to find me a schedule he couldn't come up with one. If he did he wouldn't show up at such time. I then asked for a refund which he agreed to do but never showed up again."

Tips to spot this scam:

Watch out for "red flags." Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Not all “storm chasers” are con artists, but enough are that you should be cautious any time a home contractor contacts you first…especially after a natural disaster.

Ask for references and check them out. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information, and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework. If you can, get references from past customers, both older references to check on the quality of the work and newer references to ensure current employees are up to the task. Check them out at BBB.org to see what other customers have experienced. And always get a written contract with the price, materials, and timeline. The more detail, the better.

Know the law. Work with local businesses that have proper identification, licensing, and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits, and make sure you know who is responsible for what according to your local laws and that your vendor is ready to comply.

Visit BBB's home improvement HQ to make your next project a success.

To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.

If you’re traveling internationally, you may need to renew your passport. Consumers unaware of the passport renewal process may fall victim to online scams. These scams trick U.S. citizens into paying a fee to fill out a renewal form that is a free download on the government’s website. As a result, consumers may be tricked into providing their personal and financial information on potentially unsecured websites.

As of this writing in June 2024, eligible U.S. citizens can renew their passports online through a new test system. If you do not qualify for online renewal or do not want to use the online renewal system, you can still renew your passport by mail.

How the scam works

You have planned an exciting international trip, so you go online and search for how to renew your passport. At the top of your search results is what appears to be the U.S. passport renewal website. The site tells you what forms need to be provided and that you can fill out the forms right there. You’re asked to provide your personal information, such as your social security number, home address, birth date, and much more.After completing the form, you’re asked to pay a “processing fee” or an “application fee.” You’re then told that you’ll receive your completed form as a PDF in an email confirmation. (Easy!)

When you receive your confirmation email with your completed PDF form, you are told that you still need to pay money for the actual renewal of your passport. At this moment, you may realize you’ve been scammed into paying to fill out a form instead of actually paying to renew your passport. On top of that, you may have just handed your personal and financial information over to a scammer.

BBB Scam Tracker has received reports of online passport renewal scams. One consumer shared the following experience, “I went into the site assuming it was the State.gov site because it resembled it completely, including the URL. I did not notice that it ended as state.com, not state.gov. By the time I had submitted the application for my passport renewal and payment, I noticed that it was a fraud by the language on the confirmation page.”

Another consumer reported this experience, "I went online to renew my father's passport. I inputted all his personal information and was charged 68.00--this company is posing as a government agency and scamming people."

How to avoid similar scams

Do your research. Before renewing your passport, look up the most recent information on the renewal process. Check with the U.S. government to confirm if online renewal services are available for passports. Remember that you should not have to pay a fee to fill out the required forms for a passport renewal – you’ll only need to provide payment for the renewal itself.

Give yourself plenty of time when renewing your passport. Processing times for passport renewals can change often. In addition to the indicated processing times, you should also consider the time it takes for your passport to arrive at the passport agency and then be mailed back to your home address. Check state.gov to see current processing times and plan ahead. Giving yourself plenty of time may reduce your likelihood of searching for quicker options, some of which could be scams. You can expedite your passport renewal with the U.S. government for an extra fee, but it may take several weeks.

Confirm the website’s URL before providing sensitive information. It can be easy to click on a sponsored ad or an impostor website without noticing. Remember, government websites end in .gov but always take a closer look. Scammers can trick you into thinking URLs look legitimate when they aren’t. Before typing in sensitive information, check that the website and link are secure.

Be wary of third-party websites. There are legitimate passport assistance services, but check with BBB.org and BBB Scam Tracker first to ensure you aren’t sharing your personal or financial information with a scammer.

If you see a scam or fall victim to one, help others by reporting it to BBB Scam Tracker at www.bbb.org/scamtracker.

The Ogle Center at Indiana University Southeast is pleased to announce its 2024-2025 Ogle Center Presents season.

“The Ogle Center is where our community comes together to share its mutual love of the arts in southern Indiana,” said Kirk Randolph, Ogle Center director. “We have assembled an exciting variety of performances by nationally-touring groups along with the return of the annual Holiday Pops concerts that have become a family tradition for so many.”

According to Randolph, “the Ogle Center really has been the heart of arts and entertainment for the southern Indiana region for nearly 30 years, and we’re thrilled to be able to add to the quality of life for our community.”

Along with its signature series, THE OGLE CENTER PRESENTS, the Ogle Center is pleased to welcome back the LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA for its 2024-2025 NightLites series of concerts, featuring incredible classical pieces presented in the intimate setting of the Ogle Center’s Stem Concert Hall. Audiences can also enjoy performances by the students of the IU Southeast Music Department and the IU Southeast Theatre Department.

In addition to live performances, the Ogle Center will continue to host university events, lectures, art exhibits, and other community events. 

Tickets go on sale August 19, 2024.

Tickets should be purchased online at oglecenter.com.  In-person ticket sales are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, email the Ogle Center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (812) 941-2525.

Free parking for Ogle Center events is available in the Dogwood lot directly in front of the Ogle Center and the Hickory lot directly behind the Ogle Center from one hour prior to the start of a performance until one hour following the conclusion of the event. Vehicles parked in other locations and/or at other times may be subject to ticketing.

For more information about the 2024-2025 season, please visit oglecenter.com or call (812) 941-2525.