“Ma’am, I’m afraid your main sewer line has collapsed. If we don’t dig this up today, sewage will back up into your kitchen.”

It is the sentence every homeowner dreads. Panic sets in. You hand over a credit card for a $12,000 deposit.

But here is the twist: Your pipes were fine.

In 2026, plumbing scams have evolved from simple overcharging to sophisticated, high-tech fraud. We dug into consumer complaints and state lawsuits to uncover the five most dangerous scams happening right now—and how to stop them.

1. The "Bait and Switch" (The $29 Drain Clean)

The Pitch: You see an ad on Google or Facebook: "Any Drain Cleared for $29!" or "Water Heater Flush for $19!" The Scam: No legitimate plumber can roll a truck to your house for $29. It doesn't even cover the gas. Once they are in your door, the "technician" (who is often a salesperson on commission, not a plumber) will find a reason why the $29 special doesn't apply to your specific problem.

"Oh, this is a 'Level 4' clog. That costs $450."
"Your cleanout cap is rusted. I have to charge an access fee." The Defense: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is. Look for flat-rate pricing from reputable companies, not "doorbuster" deals designed to trap you.

2. The "Pre-Recorded" Sewer Video

The Pitch: A plumber offers a "Free Sewer Camera Inspection." They push a camera down your drain, and show you a monitor. The screen shows a horrific image: a crushed pipe full of tree roots. The Scam: In some documented cases, the video you are watching isn't your pipe. Unscrupulous scammers play a pre-recorded video of a damaged sewer line on their monitor while pretending to inspect yours. They use this terrifying footage to pressure you into a $15,000 trenchless sewer replacement you don't need. The Defense:

Watch the monitor while they put the camera in the pipe.
Ask them to identify a landmark (like the connection to the city main) on the screen.
Always get a second opinion (and a copy of the video file) before agreeing to excavation.

3. The "Toxic Water" Door-to-Door Salesman

The Pitch: A person knocks on your door holding a test tube. "We are testing water in the neighborhood and found high levels of contaminants. Can I test your tap?" The Scam: They add a chemical to your water that turns it yellow or brown. "See? Your water is poison!" This is a simple precipitation trick. The water turns color because of harmless minerals (like calcium), not toxins. They use this fear to sell you a $6,000 water filtration system that is actually worth $600. The Defense: Real utility workers do not go door-to-door testing water. If you are worried, send a sample to a certified state lab yourself.

4. The "Hijacked" Google Listing

The Scam: This is a new threat for 2026. Scammers find the Google Business Profile of a legitimate, 5-star local plumber. They use the "Suggest an Edit" feature to swap the phone number to their own call center. When you call "Bob’s Honest Plumbing," you are actually talking to a lead-generation boiler room that dispatches an unlicensed handyman to your house. The Defense: Check the company website directly. If the phone number on the Google Map listing doesn't match the one on the website or the truck, hang up.

5. The "Emergency" Upsell

The Pitch: It’s 2:00 AM. Your toilet is overflowing. You are desperate. The Scam: Predatory companies target emergency callers. They quote a vague "service fee" over the phone. Once the work is done, they hand you a bill for $3,000 for a simple snake job, citing "after-hours emergency surcharges," "truck fees," and "administrative costs." They know you won't argue at 3:00 AM. The Defense: Ask for the Total After-Hours Rate in writing (text or email) before they dispatch. If they refuse to give you a hard number or at least a specific hourly rate, call someone else.

Conclusion: Trust, But Verify

A breakdown in your home is stressful enough without having to fight off a con artist. The best defense is a relationship with a plumber before you have an emergency.

Don't get taken for a ride. Find a pre-vetted, background-checked professional on True Plumber today.

Sources & Investigations

These scams are real and documented. See the reporting below:

KARE 11 Investigates: Phantom Fixers: The "Hijacked" Business Listing Scam
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): How to Avoid Home Improvement Scams
Angi (Angie's List): Common Plumbing Scams & The "Bait and Switch"