2 Men Scam Elderly Arlington Residents Out Of $62K, Police Say

ARLINGTON, VA — Two men were arrested on Friday, March 3 for their role in a fraud scheme targeting elderly Arlington County residents and scamming them out of more than $60,000 in cash, police announced Wednesday.

On September 10, 2016 John Patrick Walsh, 32, of Culpepper, VA, and Mark Sisk, 31, of Boston, VA approached an elderly couple in their home in the 4800 block of N. 27th Street, police said.

The men fraudulently claimed to be contractors working in the area, police said.

They told the elderly residents that their home was in need of serious repair. They told the homeowners that if they didn't repair their home, their home could catch on fire, police said.

Throughout the month of September, Walsh and Sisk misrepresented the need for work and provided false information to the victims. Through a series of repeated home repair scams, the victims were defrauded of $62,100 in cash, police told Patch.

“The individuals who perpetrate these scams target and victimize our most vulnerable populations. While there was a substantial loss of money in this investigation, the greater loss was the victim’s sense of security in their own home," Arlington County Deputy Chief Daniel J. Murray, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division said.

"This prosecution serves as another opportunity to warn residents to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Residents should beware of any smooth-talking salesman who comes to your home unannounced.”

Dubbed "woodchucks," these kind of criminals capitalize on well-intentioned efforts of other Virginia and Maryland-based crews that offer tree and home services typically after storms. Most of them live outside of the immediate DC region, but travel to the area to commit this type of fraud.

Walsh was sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of probation after he's released on the charges of false pretenses and conspiracy, police said. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $62,100.

Sisk was sentenced to six years in prison and three years of probation upon release on three charges of false pretenses, police said. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

Photos: Arlington County Government