Arlington law enforcement arrested a Boston person on Tuesday, Jan. 17, joined to an alleged household-advancement fraud concentrating on city citizens — the second similar fraud more than two times.
Jack Clarke, 23, was charged with malicious destruction of home of far more than $1,200, larceny by phony pretenses of additional than $1,200, conspiracy and unlicensed procedure of a motor car, a information release stated.
On Saturday, Jan. 14, police have been contacted by a resident who considered he was the target of a design scam. The resident documented to police that two men had billed him an extreme volume of income for house-advancement do the job, destroyed his residence and did not return to total repairs.
On Jan. 13, police arrested a few men in link with a separate but related scam. In conditions these kinds of as this, a scammer typically targets seniors for several household-advancement initiatives. The targeted homes ordinarily need legitimate repairs. But a suspect usually estimates a small selling price for a minimal position, then will cause injury without permission and rates a a lot increased rate, persuading the target to pay out a massive sum upfront, promising to entire the do the job, but later taking the payment without the need of finishing the operate.
$14,500 estimate grows to $68,000 invoice
In the Jan. 14 scenario, the victim noted to law enforcement that two males, 1 of whom was afterwards identified as Clarke, quoted him $14,500 to repaint his basement. When the gentlemen started their get the job done on the homeowner’s basement, they allegedly wrecked portion of the basement foundation and then persuaded the sufferer that repairs would value $68,000. The sufferer finally wrote many checks totaling a portion of the whole quantity, which Clarke allegedly cashed.
In this situation, the suspects also supplied the victim with an apparent business enterprise agreement, which alleged scammers in some cases present to support look as a respectable enterprise.
On Jan. 17, Arlington law enforcement have been notified that Clarke had returned to the victim’s dwelling to acquire equipment and other materials left in the homeowner’s basement. Clarke was approached by police, was positively determined as a person of the suspects and was subsequently placed below arrest. Through their investigation, police also determined that Clarke was allegedly driving without having a license.
He was arraigned in Cambridge District Court on Tuesday and was released on particular recognizance.
Chief Juliann Flaherty reported in a statement:
“We persuade all Arlington citizens to be informed of this type of rip-off and to report any suspicious activity to the police section. Individuals carrying out this variety of fraud usually go doorway-to-door. We encourage residents to be wary of anyone likely doorway-to-door giving expert services, and to be careful of who they enable into their residence or start off work on their property devoid of verifying the company first. Scammers often target seniors or others in our group who are vulnerable, and we will perform with the district attorney’s business to prosecute these conditions to their fullest extent.”
Recommendations to prevent ripoffs:
Arlington law enforcement have shared the pursuing strategies regarding dwelling improvement contractor ripoffs from the Place of work of Buyer Affairs and Business Regulation:
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- Scammers frequently approach possible victims for dwelling enhancement ripoffs by cellphone, e mail or by traveling doorway-to-door, and might assert they’ve been carrying out perform regionally and have surplus substance.
- Scammers usually provide their services at a very lower price.
- Verify to make confident the contractor is registered with the Business of Buyer Affairs and Small business Regulation by making use of its property-advancement contractor registration lookup provider. Request a company card or site tackle for the contractor’s enterprise.
- Be wary if the particular person is driving an unmarked motor car.
- Ask for a duplicate of the company’s common contract.
- Inquire about no matter whether the organization will provide a guarantee and how very long that guarantee will final.
- By no means shell out more than one particular-3rd the whole price tag of a company upfront, in income, and only do so the moment you have confirmed that this person is a registered house advancement contractor and you have a deal.







Anyone who thinks they have fallen sufferer to any style of rip-off is encouraged to contact the Arlington Law enforcement Section at 781-643-1212.
Jan. 14, 2023: 3 billed in household-improvement rip-off concentrating on elderly
This information summary was printed Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, primarily based on details from a news release by Leah Comins of John Guilfoil Public Relations.
