A WOMAN has been left in tears after losing thousands of dollars in a home repair scam.
She only realized the money was lost for good after visiting the bank.
Kathryn Saffran (pictured) lost thousands in a scam this year[/caption]
A man showed up at her home claiming there was damage on the roof[/caption]
In February, Kathryn Saffran, 80, said she spotted a construction truck parking outside her residence in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, New York, per Fox affiliate WNYW.
Moments later, a man knocked at her door, explaining that he and his coworkers were fixing a nearby neighbor’s roof.
While supposedly doing the work, the man told Saffran he spotted something on her roof that “didn’t look right.”
The woman agreed to a free inspection and went to grab her coat to step outside as the man climbed up a ladder to take a look.
When she came back, she told the outlet that there were “shingles and a piece of wood” on the ground.
The man came down and showed Saffran a picture of a hole in her roof and claimed there was water leaking into the home.
SLIPPERY SLOPE
Saffran immediately believed something must’ve been wrong and signed a contract for the repairs with the faux contractor, which totaled $10,000.
Except, the 80-year-old didn’t have that kind of money in cash, and the sneaky scammer convinced her that $5,500 would be enough to not “charge $10,000 with tax.”
Two other workers showed up a day later and started tearing up her roof, and after a few months, she’d paid around $31,000 in cash.
After a while, a bank employee became suspicious and stopped Saffran from handing over any more money.
The senior was devastated at the situation.
“I just felt so bad that I did that, actually guilty when I think about it, you know,” she told WNYW through tears.
Not only was Saffran left out the $31,000, but she had to pay an additional $20,000 to fix the damage that the scammers left, leaving her $51,000 in the hole.
Saffran isn’t alone, either, according to Robert Holden, City Council member for Queens’ 30th District.
Tips on spotting property scams
These five tips on avoiding real estate scams have been shared by The Bellamy Law Firm.
Fake Owners:
- This is where properties are listed for sale by scammers who do not own them.
- They may ask for a deposit to “hold” the property until you can view it to lure in prospective buyers.
- Be wary of people who ask for money upfront and before signing any documents ensure you ask to see the tax records and deeds.
Fake Real Estate Professionals:
- Scammers pretending to be real estate agents.
- Prospective buyers can check the Board of Realtors website for the individual and their real estate license to confirm their story.
Cash Offers:
- Warning phrases for this are: “We pay cash for homes” and “We buy ugly houses.”
- This often sees people sell their homes for much less than the going market value and those who are hard-up are often victims.
Predatory Lending:
- Some mortgage lenders may urge borrowers to repeatedly refinance their mortgages when it is not needed so they can get more cash on hand.
- It is also important to be suspicious of lenders who come to you before you have requested help.
Bait-and-Switch Moving Companies:
- This is where the moving company gives you an estimate for your belongings and then increases the cost when they arrive which pressurizes customers to accept the new offer.
- Another version of this is when movers pick up your belongings but hold them hostage and refuse to deliver them until more money has been paid.
- People moving homes should ask for a license number from the moving company and check for complaints with official companies like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- It is also worth shopping around by getting multiple quotes and holding off on paying until the move has been completed.
Source: The Bellamy Law Firm
ONGOING ISSUE
“It’s an organized crime ring, they’re international,” Holden said while speaking with the outlet.
“Even so, it’s — you know, many of them are coming from the south. The scammers, many have an Irish brogue. Some have an English accent.”
Holden also demanded police do more to crack down on the criminals manipulating the elderly.
“Police don’t realize that this is a scam. Even so, if you call the police, they’ll tell you it’s a civil matter,” he argued.
“And I run into that obstacle for a couple of decades now. And finally, I think this administration is getting wind of it. And now they’re going to actually address this.”
Holden also called the home repair scam a “perfect crime” as “seniors are not going to go up on the roof.”
Several Americans nationwide have found themselves in a similar situation to Saffran recently.
For example, a couple was left seeking the police for assistance in Oregon earlier this year after they paid out $33,000 in roof repairs to contractors who never completed the work.
A 71-year-old in Texas was also drained of $64,000 after a botched home repairs job.
