06/30/2026
I’d like to give a heads-up to our fellow local tree companies about a scam attempt we recently experienced. I’m tagging a few companies we know in the area in hopes this helps spread awareness.
We were contacted by someone requesting an estimate to remove trees at a home he claimed he was selling. He said the buyer wanted the trees removed before closing and explained that he was out of town on business. We have plenty of customers who travel for work, so nothing about that seemed unusual. The property was in Pell City, and the house was legitimately listed for sale.
Byron went to the property, looked at the trees, and sent over an estimate.
The quote was approved almost immediately. That’s when things started to feel off.
First, he said he wanted the tree work done on the same day electricians would be at the house so we could “monitor” them. We’re tree guys, not electricians. 😂
Then he told us he would be mailing a check and that once it cleared the bank, we could perform the work. That was another red flag. Most of our out-of-town customers simply ask how we’d like to handle payment, not tell us exactly how the process is going to work.
At that point, we asked if we could have a quick phone conversation since everything had been handled through text. That’s not unusual for us, but when something doesn’t feel right, we like to verify who we’re dealing with. He refused, saying he was too busy to talk.
After doing some digging, it appeared the phone number he had been using was one that he had hacked, and the name he was using did not match the name of the actual owner of the property.
The part that bothers me the most is that this wasn’t just an attempt to scam money. It also put Byron in a potentially dangerous situation by sending him onto someone else’s property under false pretenses. Fortunately, nothing happened, but it easily could have.
Just a reminder to trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Stay safe out there.
