Article: Tampa Tribune, Fla., Scam Watch Column.

By Jo-Ann Johnston, Tampa Tribune, Fla. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jun. 3--HEAT BRINGS UNCOOL SCAMS: Hot sticky weather can breed air conditioning scams as fast and ugly as mildew on shower tile, the utilities warn us.

Anybody can be vulnerable to a pitch from a disreputable salesperson peddling new air conditioning equipment when it's not really needed. But the elderly are particularly susceptible to bogus promises and scare tactics, utilities representatives say.

For instance, some door-to-door scam artists like to frighten people into buying new units by telling them their external condenser unit is now a fire hazard, said Tom ...

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