Air duct cleaning is a difficult job that requires a lot of expertise. This industry, like many others, is not immune to deceitful practices. Some businesses have been caught posing as other companies, resulting in negative consequences for legitimate air duct cleaning companies.

The issue of deception has been compounded by the rise of social media platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. Recently, some individuals have been posing as air duct cleaning companies on Facebook Marketplace, misleading people who require this service. This has led some professionals to take action to protect their businesses and clients.

One professional noted that “Deception is always going to be an issue as long as the internet exists.” These individuals were sending quotes and falsely claiming to be a particular air duct cleaning company. To combat this, the professional set up a sting operation. The sting operation involved the professional responding to a Facebook ad and booking an appointment for the company to come to a friend’s home. The professional recorded the interaction with the individual who was sent to the home.

The technician arrived in an unmarked car with out-of-state plates. The technician began the up-sales, trying to sell services that cost thousands of dollars. Initially, the technician claimed that the cost was $199. However, the professional quickly identified that the technician was not from the company that they claimed to represent. The technician claimed to be a contractor for other duct companies, but the professional quickly realized that this was not the case.

Despite the professional calling the police, there was not much they could do, as the situation was considered to be civil. As a result, the professional feels that there is not much that they can do to prevent such incidents from happening again. They advised the public to be careful and cautious when hiring professionals. Recommendations from family and friends, online reviews, and Better Business Bureau ratings are good starting points. People can always ask workers coming to their homes to show identification proving who they are. If workers cannot or refuse to provide identification, it may be a red flag.

Facebook has yet to respond to requests on how it is addressing such situations when they are reported to the company. In conclusion, the issue of deceit in the air duct cleaning industry is a growing concern. However, with awareness and caution, the public can be protected from such malicious activities.