Scam text messages from fake contractors named "Amy," "Dave," "James," and "Michael" are flooding Connecticut phones, and Greenwich residents should be on alert given the town's recent run-ins with text-based fraud.
The texts offer tree trimming, pressure washing, roofing, gutter cleaning, and plumbing services, according to a Daily Voice report published Thursday, July 17. They address recipients by first name, mention crews "working in your area," and ask homeowners to reply directly. No legitimate business name is provided.
Greenwich has dealt with text scams before
The Town of Greenwich issued a scam alert on Friday, April 10, warning residents that fake texts about unpaid speeding and parking tickets were circulating. The town said official notices from the Greenwich Police Department or CT Superior Court come by physical mail only.
The Greenwich Police Department flagged a similar parking-services text scam on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles issued its own warning in March 2026 about fraudulent texts claiming recipients owed unpaid traffic citations.
The Greenwich Police Department has not issued a statement specific to the contractor-name scam wave.
Why responding is dangerous
The Federal Trade Commission classifies these messages as phishing attacks. Simply responding confirms to scammers that they've reached an active phone number, according to the FTC's consumer guidance. From there, scammers use mass texting campaigns to collect personal information or pressure homeowners into paying deposits for work that never gets done.
FTC data released in April 2025 showed consumers nationwide lost $470 million to text scams in 2024, a fivefold increase from 2020. The median loss per incident was $1,000. Older adults lost a median of $1,500.
How to protect yourself
The FTC advises residents who receive suspicious texts to:
- Do not respond or click any link in the message
- Mark it as spam and delete it
- Forward the text to 7726 (which spells SPAM) to alert your wireless provider
- File a complaint at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Homeowners who need legitimate work done should find contractors through personal recommendations, the Better Business Bureau, or review sites like Yelp.
Residents who believe they've lost money to a text scam can report it to the Greenwich Police Department at (203) 622-8000 or file a complaint with the FTC.
