FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a roof repair scam reported in the area.
A 92-year old man contacted the Sheriff’s Office after he said three men attempted to cheat him out of more than $6,000 for fake roof work.
The trio arrived at his home on Newcastle Drive in a white pick-up truck on Dec. 26th and said he needed to replace his roof vents.
They spent several hours at the home. When the men said they were finished, the resident gave them a check for $6,200.
When he went out to inspect their work later, the resident discovered the men had spray painted and not replaced the aluminum vents on his roof.
The homeowner immediately contacted his bank and stopped payment on the check.
A phone number the bogus contractors had given the resident turned out to be a non-working number.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information on this attempted fraud and exploitation of the elderly to contact the agency at 651-7400 or Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at 863-TIPS.
A free workshop for seniors and their caregivers will be held at the end of the month to help teach them ways to spot potential scams.