Con Artists Working City Neighborhoods, Police Warn

The Bethlehem Police Department issued an alert to city residents on Monday, warning that as spring and warm weather arrives, so do roving scam artists who often target elderly homeowners.

Two city residents have already been victimized “so we know they are already in the Lehigh Valley,” police said.

In its blog, the department described three types of common scams—distraction burglaries, chimney cleaning and driveway seal coating—to be on the lookout for, all of which have “been conducted in our city at one time or another.”

In the described scams, a person purporting to be a utility worker will knock on the door and ask to come in, or a “contractor” will solicit you by telephone or with a knock at the door for bargain-priced home maintenance.

“Be suspicious of anyone stating they are a utility worker of any kind who needs to come into your home,” police said. “They rely on the fact that you are a trusting person.”

Anyone who believes they are being scammed or are about to be scammed is urged to call police immediately.

“Let us go out to your home neighborhood and try to verify that the person is legitimate,” police said. “The descriptions of vehicles, people you saw, and the last known direction of travel is great information to tell our [dispatchers] when you call us. Calling us will also help in arresting these individuals. They are very hard to catch as they roam from state to state and usually have many aliases.”

Anyone with questions or information about the most recent scamming in Bethlehem is asked to contact Det. Robert Toronzi, 610 997-7675, RToronzi@bethlehem-pa.gov.