Bradenton police warn of fake Verizon, Bright House workers

On Friday, a group of men showed up at The Palms apartment complex going door to door claiming to work for Verizon.

But Bradenton police said Monday that the men, who were wearing red jackets with the word "Verizon," may have been at the 51st Street West complex trying to scam residents.

Detectives said that, since the beginning of the year, several people have filed reports describing young men claiming they worked for Bright House Networks were going door to door to perform "quality service" or a "service check."

Police think it is the same group of men who were at The Palms.

If someone representing Verizon or Bright House knocks on your door, police urge homeowners not to open the door until confirming the person's identification is legitimate.

Police said you should ask for photo identification and confirm it's real before letting the person inside.

Mark Kraus said one of the men knocked on his door Friday.

He said the man identified himself as an employee of Verizon Communications Co. and that he needed Kraus' signature to sign him up for a plan.

Kraus said he immediately became suspicious because the complex is gated and requires permission for anyone to enter.

He asked the man for identification and the man showed him a name badge also bearing the word Verizon. But Kraus said the man took off after he asked for the name of the man's supervisor and then threatened to call the police.

A police report said a neighbor later heard someone in the hallway say, "They're calling the cops, let's go!"

Kraus said when he went outside to try to get a license plate number he noticed three more men also wearing red jackets displaying the word Verizon jump into a Cadillac Escalade.

Police searched the area but didn't find the car or the men.

Bradenton police Deputy Chief J.J. Lewis said he worries how these men may respond if they are confronted about their identification if inside a home. He also said there's a good chance the intended crime is some type of identity theft.

"We do have door-to-door teams, but obviously this is not them," said Verizon spokesman Bob Elek.

He said Verizon sales employees who go door to door typically wear black, not red. Those sales people also carry an official letter from the company.