EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Getting swindled out of your hard earned cash is something one couple who lives in El Paso had to find out the hard way.
According to Sergeant Javier Sambrano with the El Paso Police Department, scams happen every day, through many different avenues and anyone can be a target.
“I think everybody is susceptible to that, there is a lot of different ways scams can happen now. We have electronic ways so it can be done through emails or people can be offering services or goods. Especially right now we had some areas that were hit by hail so we had a lot of different roofing, home improvement companies that are offering services. Some of these individuals are legitimate and some may be trying to take advantage of you.”
Which is exactly what happened to Dolores and Francisco Barrio. They needed repairs done to a leaking roof so when a contractor approached Mrs. Barrio in Memorial Park, she jumped at the opportunity to get the work done.
“He gave me his card. I said oh good you do roofs, we’re having problems with our roof. He said he could come over and check it, and I said oh great that would be good.”
The contractor Mrs. Barrio calls Raul came over the very same day.
The Barrios said that the man told them he was a Vietnam Vet, went to church in the area and worked for the government, so they trusted him when he asked for the money up front.
“He even offered a contract for Frank to sign and he said oh no…
