The Renton Police Department is warning residents to be wary of offers of free cable or cable installation being made by individuals claiming to be employees of Comcast cable.

Although the police department is not aware of a time when the suspects were allowed into a residence, it is believed the suspects are either “casing” residences for future burglaries or contacting residents to scam them for cash or personal or credit information, according to a press release.

Police have received multiple reports of such contacts by individuals reportedly wearing orange Comcast vests and carrying clipboards. In one case, the person was wearing a yellow Comcast baseball cap.
According to police, this appears to be a scam perpetrated by more than one group; some reports have

described a single male, and other reports describe two adult males working together. The suspects have been described as white males, between 30 and 60 years old, and in one case were associated with a vehicle described as a blue Hyundai.

Calls to Comcast have confirmed that these subjects are not employed by Comcast.  Installations and repairs are conducted by scheduled appointments, and Comcast will call the customer directly to set up an appointment.  Comcast is not offering free cable via door-to-door solicitors.

Residents who see someone wearing Comcast uniforms on their Renton property  – and there’s no scheduled an appointment – are asked to call 911 to report suspicious activity.