Can you spot the cable guy? How about the furnace technician? Would you know a real mall security guard?
If you went to the Westfield Trumbull Mall Wednesday, you would have learned how to spot a fake, as the real McCoys strutted their stuff.
With Fairfield Police Chief Gary McNamara and Trumbull Police Chief Thomas Kiely emceeing, workers from Optimum/Cablevision, AT&T, Southern Connecticut Gas Co., UI, Standard Oil, police departments, fire departments, home health care workers, UPS and FedEx explained how to tell if they are the real thing.
All carry identification and would never show up without an appointment. A protective services worker does show up without warning, but would be driving a state vehicle. Even then, a resident can call police to verify the worker's identity.
Most have color-specific uniforms with distinctive markings.
But if you are still unsure, refuse a worker entry and call 911.
Police advised never to open the door even a crack to a suspicious person because an attacker could then force his or her way inside.
They added that residents should always feel free to hang up the phone or refuse to answer the door on someone whom they feel is suspicious.
Police also caution not take unsolicited offers for work such as driveway sealing, or send money in a box or in any other form without first investigating where it's going and the source of the request.
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