AN ELDERLY couple were cruelly scammed out of $200,000 in a scheme that targeted them where they felt safest – their home.
The vicious scam saw three men trick the pair into agreeing to home improvement services that were either unnecessary or were never actually done.
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A couple in their late 80s, who chose not to be identified, were conned out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Silver Springs, Maryland.
The ploy, known as the “wood chucking” scam, involves con artists convincing homeowners that expensive repairs are needed.
These people often have very little home repair experience, and this is the peak time of year when people most often fall victim to it.
This is exactly what happened to the elderly pair in November 2019, when a man claiming to be Joseph Swanson came to their door.
But his real name is actually Joseph Checklick from Culpeper, Virginia, per NBC Washington.
Checklick has been convicted twice before for home improvement fraud in Montgomery County.
One of the elderly victims described him as “very aggressive”.
The fraudster will now spent six and a half years in prison for his crimes.
He was joined in 2019 by two others, Travis Jenkins and Nicholas Shonabin, the latter of whom is currently being sought out by police.
PURE EVIL
The loathsome trio convinced the couple that they had done work on their house before.
After they had successfully convinced the pair, they undertook services that were never completed, and never actually needed doing.
One of these services included hacking branches off of a sentimental tree in the backyard.
The couple’s children had built a tree house in it in their youth and carved their initials into it.
The scam went beyond home repairs, too.
One of the men allegedly pretended to be sick, and the victims paid the hospital bill.
Over the months they said they were working, they even brought their wives and children to the home.
One of the victims recalled: “I remember once that the kids were coloring on my dining room table with me.”
“SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL”
The scam was ultimately brought down after an anonymous call to Montgomery County police in April 2020.
Det. Cindy Miranda went to the home right around the time of the coronavirus pandemic, and began her investigation.
She said: “As we get the bank records back and we start making spreadsheets of every check that was written… It’s enormous. It’s really upsetting.”
Tips on spotting property scams
These five tips on avoiding real estate scams have been shared by The Bellamy Law Firm.
Fake Owners:
- This is where properties are listed for sale by scammers who do not own them.
- They may ask for a deposit to “hold” the property until you can view it to lure in prospective buyers.
- Be wary of people who ask for money upfront and before signing any documents ensure you ask to see the tax records and deeds.
Fake Real Estate Professionals:
- Scammers pretending to be real estate agents.
- Prospective buyers can check the Board of Realtors website for the individual and their real estate license to confirm their story.
Cash Offers:
- Warning phrases for this are: “We pay cash for homes” and “We buy ugly houses.”
- This often sees people sell their homes for much less than the going market value and those who are hard-up are often victims.
Predatory Lending:
- Some mortgage lenders may urge borrowers to repeatedly refinance their mortgages when it is not needed so they can get more cash on hand.
- It is also important to be suspicious of lenders who come to you before you have requested help.
Bait-and-Switch Moving Companies:
- This is where the moving company gives you an estimate for your belongings and then increases the cost when they arrive which pressurizes customers to accept the new offer.
- Another version of this is when movers pick up your belongings but hold them hostage and refuse to deliver them until more money has been paid.
- People moving homes should ask for a license number from the moving company and check for complaints with official companies like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- It is also worth shopping around by getting multiple quotes and holding off on paying until the move has been completed.
Source: The Bellamy Law Firm
Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy added: “There’s a special place in hell for people that steal from individuals like this.”
Experts have said that the best way to defend yourself against the scams is to be knowledgeable on the tricks used.
On June 15, the Montgomery County Elder and Vulnerable Adult Task Force will hold a safety forum at the Holiday Park Senior Center in Silver Spring.
It will take place from 10am to 11:30am and will also be livestreamed.
You can call 240-777-4999 during business hours to register.
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