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Posted: Friday, September 21st, 2012 9:38 AM HST

Elderly being targeted by scams

By Ken Hupp - 67AM KPUA News

Police are receiving complaints about unlicensed contractors that appear to be soliciting elderly citizens to hire them for various residential projects such as power washing and painting homes, paving driveways, performing auto body and mechanical repairs. The solicitor typically seeks full payment up front to purchase materials and supplies, but only completes a portion of the work and never returns to finish the job. In other instances, the victim pays an exorbitant sum, but receives shoddy results or no work at all. And in a recent incident, an 87-year old man reported several valuables missing from his home after allowing a woman inside to shut windows prior to doing a power wash. Police ask that anyone who may have been victimized in a similar scam call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311 or go to the nearest police station to file a complaint.