Fraud Protection for Fiberglass RV Owners
Owners of Older RVs Become Gelcoat Fraud Victims
Jul 12, 2009
Owners of fiberglass RV units in California beach campgrounds have been falling victim to a renovation fraud. The scam was first reported in Moorpark and Rincon Beach in Ventura County in mid-June, 2009, and according to Greg Gerber in RVeNews (July 9, 2009), reports of the fraud have continued into July and into other areas in California.
How the RV Gelcoat Scam Works
The scam proceeds in several well-defined steps:
- The scammers look for a fiberglass trailer or motor home on which the original gelcoat is aged and has faded or cracked.
- They approach the owner, who is often elderly, and suggest that the RV has suffered "sun damage" or is otherwise in need of immediate repair.
- To fix this, they offer to spray on new gelcoat to return the vehicle to "like new" condition, even revitalizing and sealing RV decals.
- They explain that they can do this right in the camp site for a fraction of the cost of a gelcoat application at an RV service center or fiberglass repair shop.
- The reason they can offer such a good deal, they explain, is that they have unused gelcoat left from a previous job that will otherwise need to be trucked back to their shop or discarded. (In similar frauds, the scammers say that they are moonlighting and want to make a little money from material that will otherwise be thrown away.)
- The criminals will distract the owner from observing the application process by sending him or her on a task, such as getting cash to pay for the job. In some reports, the owner has been asked to help look after a boisterous and active child brought along for the purpose.
- When the owner returns to the shiny glistening RV, the owner is warned not to touch the newly coated surface for up to 15 hours, saying the chemical resin could burn fingers or stick to skin, and to allow it time to set….and also to allow the scam artists time to escape with the cash they have requested for the job – from $50 for an ultralight Boler-sized trailer to $1,000 for a larger motor home.
The scam is that the material that has been applied to the vehicle is not gelcoat but a few dollars worth of automotive or machinery grease.
After the Scam
According to some sources, the grease may damage the original gelcoat; in any case, it will soon be covered with dust and insects, and may turn milky when damp. It can be washed off with soap and hot water and considerable effort.
Fraud Protection for Fiberglass Trailer Owners
Renovation scams are common for homes as well as for RVs. Seniors especially need to be wary, but anyone can fall prey to a smoothly run scam. Signs to watch for include:
- The homeowner or RV owner is approached by someone offering an installation or application.
- The offer sounds too good to be true, and includes a significant discount.
- The scammer offers a reasonable-sounding explanation for the discount.
- The workers insist on a cash payment, again for reasons that may sound plausible.
- They require a quick response, with fast talk and pressure to "act now to take advantage of the offer" because of limited time, someone else who may buy, etc.
Any RV owner who is approached by someone offering this or any other offer should be suspicious.
- Remember that anything that sounds too good to be true most likely is.
- Telephone local police (but not right in front of the scammers; they may react with violence).
- Ask to see a valid vendor licence, tradesman's licence, local business permit or anything else that can be verified. If they can't produce any such paperwork, refuse to do business.
- Refuse to pay cash in full at the end of the job. Offer half the amount on inspection mid-way through and the balance on completion if the job is satisfactory. If the workers refuse to accept this, refuse to do business.
The Moorpark Community Services/Crime Prevention Unit urges anyone who has been victimized or approached by the scam artists to call local police immediately.
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Captain Ron Nelson, Chief, Moorpark Police Department for providing a copy of the original media release written by Senior Deputy Robert Berger on June 22, 2009. This document was used to verify details of the scam.
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