1  Cash—Why is cash necessary? Whenever someone asks you to hand over a large sum of cash, be cautious.

2  Secret Plans—Why are you being told not to tell anyone? Be cautious whenever anyone tries to draw you into secret deals involving valuables.

3  Get Rich Quick—Any scheme that promises you rich rewards should be carefully reviewed. Consult with others before making your decision.

4  Something For Nothing—When you are promised something for nothing, you usually get nothing.

5  Contests—Make sure the contest is not a "come-on" to draw you into a money-losing scheme.

6  Today Only / Last Chance—If it is a chance worth taking, why is it offered on such short notice? And if it is something worthwhile today, it is likely to be available tomorrow.

7  Too Good To Be True—It is probably not good and not true.

The Most Dangerous
Con-Game of All:
“The Home Invasion”
Every year thousands of senior citizens become victims of this type of crime. In most cases the actors are males, but females are used as well. The purpose is to gain entry into your home to remove cash and jewelry. They will pose as legitimate workers, such as, the local electric company, water department, cable company, city, township or borough inspectors, surveyors, tree trimmers, roofers, paving or other building trade workers. Always ask them for company identification, and call that company. Most companies will notify you that they are coming to inspect your home or property. If your local government requires a permit to go door to door, ask to see it, and call to verify the permit.
   
Other means are also used to gain entry to your home by pretending to be ill or lost, looking for a pet, or needing to leave a note for a neighbor. The scheme is to either gain entry or to get you out of your home to help them, so someone else can enter the home to remove your cash and jewelry. Always tell them you have or will call the Police to help them. They will leave or make excuses why you should not make the call. These schemes are played out by males, females and even children. Most of the time you will not know that anything is missing until you go to get cash or a piece of jewelry.
   
Remember they have been on vacation this winter spending the millions they have taken from people just like you. Know that it's spring again, and they're back and they're looking for someone just like you.

Types of Schemes
Switch Schemes
The success of this type of scheme depends on the swindler's ability to gain the trust and confidence of the victim. The rehearsed script misleads the victim into believing he or she is about to receive a large sum of money, but must first show his or her own money for a short time. In the end, the victim will have in his or her possession some type of sealed package, an envelope, sack, bandana, etc., supposedly containing the large sum of money. What it actually contains, is worthless shreds of paper.

The Pigeon Drop
Initial contact with the victim is made in any public place an elderly individual may be: a shopping mall, grocery store, bank, etc. The man or woman makes the initial contact, engaging the victim in a conversation. During this time the man or woman uses a variety of ploys to gain the victim's trust. In a short period of time, the two have developed a rapport and the victim becomes interested in helping the man or woman, who apparently needs his or her guidance. Once the man or woman feels he or she has a potential victim, the other person is signaled.
   
The other person approaches claiming to have found a wallet, purse, envelope, or package, and claims to not know what to do with it. It is decided among the three to open it. Once it is opened a large sum of money is shown quickly. This is referred to as a "flash money." A note is usually with the money showing that is from an illegal source, such as narcotics, gambling, etc., with no way to determine the owner.
   
The next step in the scheme is to convince the victim that all three will share the found money, since they were all present when the package was opened. One of them will explain that his or her boss is an attorney, and can advise them what they can do about the found money, and leaves to make the call. The person returns and explains that if the money is not reported stolen they can legally split it between themselves. At this point, numerous variations are used to get the victim to produce "good faith "money. Once the victim has come up with his or her share of the "good faith " money, the person who called the boss or attorney states that they should place the money in a envelope, or package, which they have already prepared with paper. If the victim insists on holding onto the envelope or package, a distraction is used and the victim is left holding nothing but paper, and the con artists leave the area with the victim's money.

The Bank Examiner Scheme
This scheme almost always is targets elderly females. The caller will call the victim pretending to be an officer of her bank, or a federal bank examiner. The caller will seek out information from the victim very skillfully explaining that there is a problem with the bank computer. The questions are designed to gain information about the victim's account and to determine if she lives alone. The caller will explain that the information given to him does not match that which the bank has and will call her back after checking into the information.
   
A few minutes later he will call back and explain that he has not been honest with her about the computer problem, but needs her help to catch an employee taking money from numerous accounts, and that her account was one of them at the bank. The victim is advised that a new account will be set up for her and that her money will be transferred to that new account. In the meantime, she can use her account to help catch the dishonest employee. If the victim agrees to help, they advise her how and when to withdraw the money from her account and that agents will be following her and not to worry. After leaving the bank, the victim will be taken or asked to be met at a prearranged location. There, the agent will give her a receipt for the bank's money, because she is under the belief that her money has been placed into a new account. This scheme can either take place over the phone or in person by coming to your home.

Police Impersonators (a.k.a. The Badge Game)
In this scheme the scam takes advantage of the victim's trust in the police. They use items associated with police officers to add validity to their scam, such as badges, identification cards, handcuffs, radios etc.
   
In this scam they will knock on the door and identify themselves as police officers, claiming to have just caught a burglary suspect nearby. They request consent to conduct a search of the house to make sure the burglar did not come from this house. Then they will ask the victim to show them where he or she keeps their valuables to make sure that the items recovered from the burglar do not belong to the victim. Once the valuables are located the victim is distracted and the other impersonator takes the valuables.
   
Note: Most Police Detectives have uniformed officers with them when they check nearby homes. Always look for the marked police vehicles or if you're not sure ask for a uniformed officer to come to your home. You should know what your home town police cars and uniforms look like.
   
The second part of this same scam is the neighborhood watch scenario where police impersonators come to your home to give tips on securing your home from burglaries. The victim is again convinced to show where his or her valuables are kept. A distraction will occur and the theft is made.
   
Note: Neighborhood Watch programs are set up in advance and the home owner makes the request not the Police Department.

Bail Bond Scheme
There are a couple of common schemes, both with similar traits. The person calling will have some knowledge of the victim's family. The person will claim to be a friend of one of the victim's relatives. The person will tell the victim that the relative has been arrested and needs bail money. They will tell the victim that someone will pick up the money or give them a place to meet.
   
The second version is when the person calls the place of employment and gives the same scam to the relative or employer.
   
A third version is a call to the victim stating that a relative has been arrested and that he or she is an attorney and the relative is in need of bail money or down money for his services. Arrangements are then made for the money to be picked up.

C.O.D. Scheme
In this scam they pose as delivery employees. They locate a home where no one is home and obtain the home owners name. Then a fake label is made with the home owner's name and address and placed on the package. Then the victim is approached with the package and asked to accept the package and pay the C.O.D. charges.
   
It is also common for the same scam to be used after the death of a loved one. They will read the obituaries, and once the home is located a label and package addressed to the loved one is made up for delivery. Once again the victim is asked to pay the C.O.D. charges.

Sweetheart Scheme
This scheme is relatively common. An elderly victim is befriended by the suspect (older males) particularly vulnerable to this offense. After gaining the victim's confidence and trust, the suspect manipulates the victim to gain possession of property and money. The scheme will have a female weave her way into the person's life and over a period of time she begins to weave her stories. The schemes can be opening new business, sick loved ones, helping children etc., all with the intent to drain bank accounts and to take possessions. These schemes can go on for days or weeks, and may even include the promise of marriage and sexual relations.

Asphalt Paving (Driveway Scam)
The victim is approached by a door to door solicitor. The victim is told that they are working in the area and noticed that the driveway is in need of repair. They will advise the victim that they have left over materials from a previous job and can make repairs for a reasonable price. They will have trucks, rollers, and spraying equipment, all seemingly very legitimate. The price quoted will be low and is based on linear footage.
   
Once the job is completed they will inform the victim the price did not include labor, and provide a bill based on square footage instead of linear footage. They will use substandard material, applying a thin coating of asphalt and coating the driveway with material used for roofing which will wash away after the first rain fall.

Roof Repair
Like the asphalt scheme the approach is the same door to door. The victim is told that while on the roof other repairs are needed when they are not. A price is given and the work seems to be completed. Just like the driveway scam, materials used are below standard, many times it is a mixture of paint and gasoline or diesel oil. The advantage to the con artist is that most of the victims can not climb ladders or get on the roof to inspect the work that was completed. Even if they could, the newness of the materials would give the impression that the work was completed as agreed to during the quote.

Tree Pruning / Landscaping Schemes
The con artist will offer to prune trees on the victim's property for a very low price. When the work is completed, the bill is much higher. The con artist will advise the victim that the price was per branch and not by tree.
   
Remember, that all these schemes can also be used to gain entry into your home, by luring you outside to inspect the work or to ask questions. You can't watch all the workers all of the time.

What to Do!
These are just a few of the schemes used. For every criminal out there who uses manipulation to gain your confidence and trust, there's a scheme.
   
Ask to see Township Permits, call and verify that the permit was issued.
   
East Norriton Township Administration Building
610-275-2800
   
East Norriton Police Department
610-272-0748  or  610-275-1222

This information is presented by the East Norriton Township Police.