Elderly Sydney woman allegedly targeted by scammer claiming to be a roof repairman
An elderly woman in Sydney’s inner west narrowly avoided losing tens of thousands of dollars after a man allegedly tried to defraud her by claiming to be a roofer.
Police are appealing for the public’s help in finding a man they believe can assist with the investigation into an attempt to defraud a woman in Sydenham on March 3.
Officers began investigating when the 73-year-old woman was at home and knocked on the door when a man “claiming to be a roofer” told her the apartment complex where she lived “was in need of urgent repairs.”
“The man persuaded the woman to let him in; police then believe the man gained access to her personal financial information,” a police spokesman said.
“The next day, the man returned and took the woman to her local bank, where she gave her a check for tens of thousands of dollars after being pressured to prepay for repairs,” he said.
“The woman then canceled the check and reported the incident to Marrickville Police.”
Police have released CCTV footage of a man they say may assist them with their investigation.
Inner West Police District Command Crime Manager Detective Inspector Benjamin Kennis warned elderly residents to be wary of scammers.
“These scammers target older people and claim urgent home repairs are required, charging large sums of money for work that is not needed,” Detective Inspector Kennis said.
“We would always advise anyone approached in this way to take their time and check that they have the correct licences, these details can be checked by authorities such as NSW Fair Trading and Service NSW,” he said.
“It would also be wise to obtain a second, independent quote from tradesmen who are known to be licensed to ensure that your home really needs the work. In any event, police advise older members of the public not to allow strangers into their homes without checking first.”
Police urged people to be careful, never go to banks with strangers, double-check their identification details and involve other family members if possible.
