We have all heard the same horror stories: unscrupulous sellers try to victimize consumers in their own homes, selling everything from magazines to vacuum cleaners to energy-saving products. These sellers often use high-pressure or scare tactics and sometimes misrepresent the quality and value of their products.

Consumers routinely file complaints about workers who accept money for repair jobs they never finish or who fail to honor warranties on home improvement projects. More often than not, workers hired by you either start the job and then say it will cost hundreds or thousands more to complete it, or they leave town with your money.

Unfortunately, fraud related to housing and home is on the rise. The Federal Trade Commission has identified the following three categories as the most common type of consumer fraud suffered by homeowners:

• Home repair fraud
• Lien law
• Warranties

If you are a victim of home-related fraud, contact Consumer Fraud Online to discuss your options.