Roofing scam targets elderly in Portland

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -

Police are investigating two recent reports of a roofing scam targeting the elderly in southeast Portland.

In both incidents, reported in June, a pair of men approached homeowners and claimed to notice a problem with the roof. The men offered to fix it, asked for payment in cash and one of the men rode along with the victim to the bank to get the money.

"I just felt like I was scum, you know, just scum," said Elma Matocha, who paid the pair around $7,500 in mid-June.

She said the two men, one older and one younger, walked into the house.

"He acted like he knew us, you know, how you doing? Your roof's been fine?' But he says, I see a bubble,'" she said.

Based on the way he acted, Matocha thought he was the person who once worked on the roof of her house on SE Lincoln Street. She followed the two men upstairs into the attic.

She said the men pointed out water on the wall and floor. Some of it was on some family heirlooms stored in the attic.

Then came the sales pitch.

"They said, we have a job down the street that way and a job down the street this week,'" recalled Matocha. "He said, this isn't a very big job, so we can get this done.' Acting like he knew us."

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Roofing scam targets elderly in Portland