CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A new scam involving fake door hangers is spreading across Northern Ohio, prompting warnings from the Better Business Bureau.

The fraudulent flyers feature bright orange or green paper with bold “URGENT” warnings that demand residents call a private investigator immediately.

The Better Business Bureau says the door hangers have appeared from Toledo to Sandusky and now Cleveland.

“They are asking you to react. It is a warning, we need to hear from you. You are in violation of some city code. Please contact us and we have seen two different phone numbers listed on those door hangers,” said Ericka Dilworth, VP of Operations for Cleveland BBB.

The flyers claim an investigation is underway and cite “ORC 4749.0.”

However, when BBB staff called the numbers listed on the hangers, they were not connected to any private investigator.

“It just rings. So there is no way to know what is the end game,” Dilworth said.

In Streetsboro, Police Chief Patricia Wain said her department does use door hangers for legitimate purposes, but there are clear differences from the fake ones.

“We use them for a variety of reasons. Typically if want to let someone know that we were at their house or their place of business. To notify someone that we were their for an alarm drop and we found a door that was open or a window that was open,” Wain said.

Legitimate police door hangers display the police departments name at the top with their phone number directly underneath.

Wain advises residents to always call their local police department to verify information.

“Make sure the phone number is accurate. That is going to be your first line of defense because I could put any phone number on any of these cards and you could be calling whoever,” Wain said.

If residents find one of the fake hangers on their door, they should not call the number listed. Instead, they should report it to local police and the BBB, then throw it away.

“The scammers are out there. They are working hard. It is their job and we have to keep up with them and find the new ones and try to stop them from getting away with it,” Wain said.

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CLEVELAND — An Ohio lawmaker has introduced legislation that would extend the deadline to pay parking tickets and limit late fees.

OH Rep. Darnell Brewer (D-Cleveland) says H.B. 653 would give drivers 30 days to pay parking tickets and cap late fees at $20 per ticket.

Brewer said the legislation would reduce an unfair burden on residents who cannot afford the fees, which he said are “excessive.”

“You should not pay double of what the parking ticket is,” Brewer said.

Brewer said he introduced the legislation after he was charged late fees that exceeded the original amount of his parking tickets.

He said he received three parking tickets in Cleveland, which were each for $25.00.

After 15 days, the city began charging late fees. By the time Brewer paid the tickets, the late fees had accumulated to $190.80— 154% of the original fines, he said.

Brewer said several municipalities charge similar late fees.

For example, in Parma, parking ticket costs quadruple after 30 days.

Brewer said drivers need more than 15 days to pay or contest a parking ticket.

“Things happen in life,” he said. “We didn’t expect this many snow days to come. The city has been shut down for two days. There’s two days you cannot contest those tickets.”

Lakewood resident Aaron Cropper said he supports Brewer’s proposal.

He said a $25 parking ticket eventually cost him over $100 because of late fees and other costs.

“I think that it’s extortion,” Cropper said. “People have to park. People have to go to work.”

Cropper also said cities shouldn’t impose hefty fees for a minor infraction.

“I don’t believe that it’s fair,” he said. “I think they should give people the time to pay for a common mistake. It’s not like you committed a terrible crime. You parked somewhere.”

Brewer emphasized that his bill isn’t about avoiding accountability. It doesn’t propose changing municipalities’ ability to impose parking fines.

“We’re not trying to say escape the tickets. We’re just saying give us more time and cap the fees,” Brewer said.

Cleveland officials declined to comment on the legislation Thursday.

They said they are still reviewing the proposal.

The Cleveland Browns era with head coach Todd Monken is officially underway, and Monken is wasting no time in bringing in position coaches. The Browns announced that Monken would be hiring offensive line coach George Warhop to the Browns to coach the same position. 

Warhop is following Monken from Baltimore, where the two had worked together on the same staff for the past two seasons. The Ravens’ offensive line ranked at No. 16 under Warhop in 2025, which was a step back for the team from 2024. Warhop was promoted to the offensive line coaching position back in 2024 after the death of offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris.

Warhop Returns to Cleveland For Second Stint as Offensive Line Coach

This will be Warhop’s second stint with the Browns. Warhop coached the Browns from 2009 to 2013 and was able to build a strong line around Browns legend Joe Thomas. The Browns will be getting an outrageous amount of experience in having Warhop in the building, as he has coached in the NFL for 29 years.

Warhop will have work to do, and fast, as the Browns’ offensive line finished their 2025 campaign ranked at No. 31 by Pro Football Focus. The Browns had the worst-ranked offensive tackles by PFF, as they combined to allow 21 of the 29 sacks surrendered by the team. 

For as experienced as Warhop is, he does not come without some former struggles. Warhop was fired by the 49ers in the middle of the season in 2008 after his line had allowed a league-worst 29 sacks. 

Cleveland Browns Could Target Offensive Tackle in 2026 NFL Draft

The Browns have the No. 6 and the No. 24 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the offensive line could be an area the team looks to strengthen. Browns guard Joel Bitonio was the lone bright spot, arguably of the entire offense, as he came in ranked at No. 8 among guards in the NFL by PFF. The Browns have been predicted by some to pick Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fans with the No. 6 pick. Fano allowed just four sacks in 37 career collegiate games. 

The Browns and Monken still have some big decisions to make on their coaching staff, but if Monken feels strongly enough about Warhop to bring him over from Baltimore, then Browns fans should give Monken the benefit of the doubt with this hire.