Clarkstown Police reported an elderly Nanuet resident fell victim to a scam on Wednesday. The woman saw two unknown men patching and sealing her driveway. Although she had not arranged for the work, she assumed a family member had taken care of it and agreed to pay them more than $5,000.
The men told her there would be a discount if she paid in cash and then followed her to her bank where she withdrew the money. After paying the men, they told her to meet them back at the house for a receipt but they disappeared. According to police the work was inadequate and substandard.
The police department urges seniors and others to follow basic crime prevention tips to avoid becoming a victim of a scam.
· Be wary of contractors who come to your home unsolicited claiming that your home is in need of expensive repair work.
· Never agree to have work done on the spot.
· Get at least two written estimates from licensed contractors prior to the start of any project.
· Do not pay the full amount up front or other unreasonable advance sums.
· Make sure all work to be performed is thoroughly described in your contract. · Don’t be bullied or pressured.
· Call the police and get a license plate number if a door-to-door contractor won’t take “no” for an answer.
If you are a victim of scam report the incident immediately to the police and get a physical description of the suspect/s and vehicle including the license plate number. Police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact the department at 845-639-5800 or the TIPS line at 1-877-639-6233.
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