That cheap dumpster deal might be a scam. Check this before you pay.

If a dumpster rental is priced way below everyone else and the seller wants Venmo, stop. Don't send a dime yet.

Local dumpster companies are getting hit by a scam that pulls in regular homeowners. Some of those homeowners are just trying to save a few bucks on a cleanout.

How it works

Someone copies a real local company's name, branding and details. They post a dumpster rental at a price that makes you look twice. You say yes. They ask you to pay through Venmo or another payment app.

Then they order a dumpster from a real company in your name and pay with a stolen card.

You get the dumpster. You fill it. It gets hauled off. Days later, the real company finds out the payment was fake. They're out the money, and since you got the service, they may come looking for you.

You did nothing wrong except believe a good deal. The scammers are counting on that.

The five-minute check

• The business. Search the name yourself. Is there a real website and a real address?
• The phone number. Find it on their actual website and call that one, not the number in the ad.
• The price. Far below every other local quote? Ask them why.
• The payment. Venmo to a person for a "business"? Walk away. Pay by card at a real checkout.
• The answers. Vague, rushed, or annoyed that you asked? Believe your gut.

Real companies don't mind these questions. They get them all the time.

Do this today

Next time you're about to pay for a dumpster, open a new tab and look the company up. Then call the number on their site. That's the whole trick.

Looking for local haulers? On Bulk Off, each profile shows the business name, job photos and any customer reviews, so you can look before you book.