East Cascade Security Hopes to Help Solve an Old Problem with New Vehicle Wraps

While many businesses use vehicle graphics as advertising, one company has found another reason for their use: as an anti-fraud measure. East Cascade Security hopes their newly designed wraps will become so recognizable and synonymous with their company that it will help to solve a problem of mistaken identity.
Nationwide, alarm companies have been warning their communities about fraudulent sales people and criminals posing as alarm company representatives. Central Oregon is no exception. While some of these con artists try to entice homeowners to sign suspicious long-term contracts, others are criminals wanting to gain access to homes as a means to case them for a future burglary.
Paul Vodrup, manager of East Cascade Security explains, “When someone has dishonest intentions, they attempt to impersonate someone trustworthy, someone with a good reputation. Well established security companies throughout the country are dealing with this issue, and it affects us here
in Bend.”
Concerned, Vodrup advised, “If anyone pulls up unannounced to your front door, claiming to be your security company, you should be on guard. East Cascade Security doesn’t do door-to-door sales and we schedule our service calls — we never show up unannounced.”
East Cascade Security asked for help from local company, Dealin’ In Signs, to come up with an exclusive vehicle graphic design. Vodrup defined what he hopes will happen as their vehicle wraps become more recognizable.
“We’re hoping that if a stranger shows up at someone’s door claiming to be from East Cascade Security, in a vehicle that doesn’t look like our unique vehicles, that it will send a warning signal that something is wrong. We hope homeowners will call us first, before giving out any of their personal information or signing any fraudulent contracts.”
East Cascade Security fights these misleading identity battles on the ground level, but also on the internet. If you Google East Cascade Security, you will find their website, but you may also see an ad placed above them with their name on it. That ad uses their name but does not have any affiliation with their company. “It violates Google’s ad policies to place ads in this way,” Vodrup explains, “and we asked Google to take it down, which they did. However, this ad was back up within hours using a new URL address. We keep asking Google to take it down, but this misleading ad, with no traceable source, is popping back up anyway.”
“Occasionally, we get calls from upset people who submitted their information online and never received a phone call from us. We believe they are sending their information to this ad, not to us. It can be very confusing for people.”
Vodrup wants to warn about common misleading stories used by con artists to get their foot in the door of your home. One of the more common stories, he revealed, is that “…your alarm company was sold or has gone out of business, and they are stopping by to update your contract or your security equipment.” He states, “The stories they come up with are limitless. The bottom line is this: if someone comes to your door unannounced and wants to talk to you about your security system, do not let them in. Call your security company and verify their claims. Do not let yourself become a victim to these scams.”
www.ecssecurity.com