After an 89-year-old woman was scammed out of nearly $10,000 late last week, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler is warning citizens about con artists pretending to work with an electric company.
According to a news release from the sheriff's department, two men approached the victim's home and told her they received a sensor notification from her electric company stating she had a short within the wiring of her home.
The victim was deceived into allowing the men into her home where they told her squirrels had chewed through her wiring in the attic and that it needed to be replaced.
The men remained at the woman's residence about 45 minutes before charging her $9,818.40.
The scam was made by a man in his early 40s, identifying himself as “Gregory Long.” The victim described him as white, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and clean shaven with dark blond hair. Long was accompanied by a 20-year-old man posing as his assistant. The pair were reported to have been driving a white and chrome 4-wheel drive pickup.
After the men left the residence, the woman contacted her electric company which relayed to her that they did not have any such work order and no representatives were sent to her home.
The woman contacted the Parker County Sheriff's Office to report the incident. Sheriff's deputies arrived on scene but were unable to locate any new work or wiring done on the victim's residence.
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The victim attempted to stop payment of the check at her bank, but the check had already been cashed.
"These men heartlessly and knowingly took advantage of the victim," Fowler said. "Family members should warn their loved ones of schemes such as these, so they are not victimized. I cannot imagine how two men could bring themselves to take money from a senior citizen or unsuspecting potential victim. This has to be one of the lowest acts in my book."
Citizens are advised to contact the company and verify the representatives before any work is done to the property. Insist on proper documentation verifying the person's identification.
Anyone with information of the identification of the suspects is urged to contact the sheriff's office immediately at 817-594-8845.
