Scammers target Des Moines lawn care business Manscapes via text [Video]

DES MOINES, Iowa — Leah Ackerman with Manscapes Lawn Care in Des Moines said she and her partner receive lots of inquiries about their services, but many recently are “oddly worded” messages.

That’s because scammers have started targeting Ackerman and other small, local businesses providing similar services in the area. The scam-like messages started back in 2020, but potential customers have essentially been ghosting the couple when the arrive at a home for a price estimate.

“There was a ‘for sale’ sign in the front,” Ackerman recounted about a recent estimate her partner went out to. “[The home] looked neat and tidy, so it was like, ‘It doesn’t look like you need our help here.’ And so he decided to ring the doorbell.”

However, …