Crime

Scam Targeting Roofers

Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada-   At least 3 roofing companies were recently targeted by a fraudulent email regarding a roof replacement.

The companies each received an email that requested an estimate for replacing a roof on a recently sold house.  The sender had an American phone number, and made the claim he got information about the roofing company through Yelp.

There were spelling and punctuation errors in the email. Two of the companies were skeptical, did some research and found it to be a scam.  One other roofer was not as fortunate.

After receiving a complete payment (plus a little extra) via check, the roofer went ahead with the job.  The owner of the house came out to find a crane loading shingles onto the roof.

The scammed roofing company had been asked to return the difference through an email transfer.  The scam works when the individual quickly returns the extra money via transfer before the initial check clears (which it won’t).

Always be skeptical of communications you receive that have odd spelling and grammatical errors, suspicious names and/or email addresses, and unconventional offers such as getting paid and then being asked to return some of the money via wire transfer.

Roofer Jailed After Punching Elderly Female Church Officer

Billingham, UK.  A roofer, John Butler punched back after he was slapped by a 69 year old female church officer.   The elderly woman sustained skull injuries and required dentures due to fractures on her front teeth.  Butler was sentenced to 15 months in jail.  The initial incident started over an argument regarding a roof Butler had installed at the St. Cuthbert’s Church in Billingham.  More here.

Con Artist Uses Business Names Similar To Legit Roofer

Ottowa, Canada.  Convicted criminal Philip “Slippery Phil” Slobodzian has used a number of business names that include word “Dynamic” when he has repeatedly ripped-off customers and other businesses. This has been causing problems for businessman Miles Prescott, owner of Dynamic Roofing, who has been making an honest living for more than 20 years in the same area.  Story here.

Scranton Roofer Cheats Nursing Home

Scranton, PA.  Paul J. Wassel Jr., a roofer in Scranton has been arrested for accepting a down-payment from an Elmhurst nursing home without ever completing the work.  Wassel blames drug addiction as the cause for his actions.  Story here.