The suspects misled the 83-year-old, claiming to be a roofing repair team, and collected an advance payment of PLN 20,000 from him for the renovation of the roof and the replacement of gutters. The two men, however, had no intention of carrying out the roofing service. They have been detained and have already heard the charges, said the aspirant Iwona Kijowska from the Mokotów police.
The police began to monitor Romanian citizens (a 34-year-old and a 31-year-old) after the injured 83-year-old reported the case.
The officers noticed how they drove a gray bus in front of the property of another, this time an 88-year-old pensioner. They told him his gutters were old and clogged. They argued that they needed to be replaced, and they could clear them and replace them for PLN 350.
– The 88-year-old, in the presence of scammers, went to the roof, where he heard from them that the chimney also needed repair. The cost increased to 1.5 thousand. zloty. When it turned out that the man did not have enough money at home, they offered the senior to go with him to the ATM, said Iwona Kijowska.
While the 34-year-old and the 31-year-old were waiting outside the building for the pensioner, they were approached by police officers who detained them.
Police detained men suspected of fraud using the “gutter” methodKRP II
The police warn against fake professionals
The men were charged. The prosecutor applied preventive measures against the fraudsters in the form of police supervision, a ban on leaving the country and a financial surety. They are punishable by up to 8 years in prison for their crimes.
– If you need to use the help of professionals, let’s choose proven companies. Remember to always draw up a contract before starting work, in which, apart from the contractor’s details, the scope of work, the date of its completion and cost will be included. If during the implementation of the contract it turns out that additional work needs to be done or, for example, to buy the necessary materials, it is worth signing an annex to the contract. This will allow us to avoid misunderstandings, and in the event of any ambiguities, it will facilitate the pursuit of our rights – advises the aspirant Iwona Kijowska.
The police warn against fake professionals who offer house owners to replace gutters at an attractive price, and then demand several thousand zlotys.
– Scammers are getting more inventive. They want to make money quickly and a lot, so they come up with various methods to extract money. By cheating “on the gutter”, they most often make offers to building owners, who often live alone or are elderly” – explained aspirant Iwona Kijowska
Main photo source: KRP II