Snow Removal Scams Plague The Elderly

The lowest of low life scammers generally prey upon the weaker and often the frail. And all too often that is children or elderly. In this case, snow removal scams happen when we have winters like this one where snow is piling up 6-10 feet over the course of the season.

Daily television news reports highlight roofs collapsing as a result of the heavy snow piling up and people go into panic mode and shovel off their roofs. None of this ever may sense to me especially due to the fact you are more likely to fall of the roof and break a bone than your roof being in danger of collapsing.

NECN reports “an 86-year old man who lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts was embarrassed and nervous after police say he paid an area contractor 48 hundred dollars to clear snow from his roof.”

Strangely the contractors’ last name that did the dirty deed was named “Snow”. Title should read “Scammer Snow snows senior with snow swindle” I should be a writer.

“The Snows are known to authorities throughout the area– in fact — across the country for allegedly preying on elderly people, charging them exorbitant prices for snow removal, paving and construction jobs.”

This kind of scam happens much more frequently than one would think. Before you or anyone you are a caretaker for goes and spends any money on snow removal from a roof, contact your local building department to get an idea if your property is at risk.

Otherwise when making any kind of investment in snow removal expect to pay less than $50.00 per man, per hour plus any heavy equipment charges and get an estimate of how long the project will take. Further, demand the contractor provide a certificate of insurance should something go wrong.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing scammers and thieves on The Big Idea with Donnie Deutsch.