Ross Police Issue New Warning About Bogus Contractors

After at least one incident over the weekend, are again warning residents to be very suspicious of any contractor who appears at their home unannounced and uninvited, and offers to do any kind of work. 

One of the most of common services being offered by so-called transient criminals is driveway paving or resealing, according to Ross Detective Brian Kohlhepp. 

“Please remember that permits are required to solicit in Ross Township. If someone comes to your door without one trying to sell goods or services dial 911 immediately,” Kohlhepp said. 

In all cases, these companies were not registered, and did not have identification numbers issued by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, according to an email issued by Ross Police. 

Detective Kohlhepp said there are two common scams that often target the elderly. 

HOME REPAIR FRAUD / DRIVEWAY SEALCOATING AND PAVING SCAMS: 
In these scams, the suspects often approach an elderly resident claiming that they are working in the area and notice that that the victim’s home, driveway, or roof is in serious need of repair. They claim to have leftover repair material from a previous job and offer to make the repair at a serious discount., if the victim agrees to have the work done immediately.

The suspect will hard sell and confuse the victim and often start the work before obtaining permission. The work is quickly completed and often of poor quality. The work is always extremely overpriced into the thousands of dollars and cash or personal check is demanded immediately for the work done.

DIVERSION THEFTS:
In these scams, the suspect will distract the unsuspecting elderly victim often outside their residence with claims that they are sick, or would like a glass of water.  At the same time, a second suspect will enter the residence and commit the burglary.

Another ploy has the transient criminal posing as a repairman from a utility company or from the water company and luring the victim into the basement while a second suspect burglarizes the other areas of the residence. 

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