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My parents, who live in a frum section of brooklyn were the victims of a scam. Someone called claiming to be the utility company, to set up an appointment to inspect my parents house for carbon monoxide. My parents made an appointment for another day and a well dressed man showed up at the appointed time. They inspected my parents’ roof and chimney and claimed that the chiminey was very bad and corrections had to be done immediately. It would have been about $1600. My father even signed the contract. When the scammers asked to be paid in cash, my father got suspicious and called his utility company, using the phone number from his files- not the phone number that the scammers gave him.The utility company said that they never send anyone. The scammers departed hastily but did leave some damage.
Lesson- even when someone calls you to make an appointment- and caller ID seems to have a legit name (Brooklyn xxx)- you might want to confirm with the company- using your own phone number to check if it is really true-
This was a sophisticated scam!
I feel like we can never be one steop ahead of them! These ppl are so busy just getting money (and tires) from innocent ppl! thank you for your post
adorable,
Tires?
you must have missed the post where someone wrote that they were stealing tires off of new cars. BTW I dont rem which thread it was but I saw that you knew Rabbi Wilhelm did you learn in Boston? How many years ago was that?
Mbachur. I think she is referring back to a previous incident that was happening with car tires being stolen in Jersey.
it was a looooooong time ago (at least 8 years ago)
Tikun,
oh
A similar scam involves a company claiming to clean your chimney for some ridiculously low amount and when you invite them in and they inspect, watch out. Suddenly you have an accumulation of gasses and the chimney is about to fall apart and of course they must report this to the gas company right away and shut off your gas. for the mere sum of $1100 they can have everything fixed within 2 hours. If you need your chimney cleaned, call the oil company or gas company you always do business with, call a friend or neighbor and get a recommendation, DON’T invite in someone who cold calls you.
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