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Jun 19, 2009 11:30 pm US/Central
Cleanup Scam Artists Follow Tornado To Austin
AUSTIN, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Overhead view of damage from a tornado that ripped through Austin, Minn. on June 17, 2009.
CBS
Neighbors in southern Minnesota busy cleaning up after a tornado are being warned to watch out for scam artists.
According to Austin police, there were at least three reports Friday of "scam artists" working in the area. Police say the scammers promise to provide services, take your money and then never do the work.
Lt. Rene Pham with the Austin police department said "any vendor like that has to have, has to be registered through the city, and with that they should have proof of registration."
Pham said one scam artist worked his way into the house of an elderly woman.
"When he got into the house, he began to snoop around. The woman got suspicious, told him to leave and then she called police," said Pham.
"I had a scammer this morning tell me to dig out and get the roots and everything cleaned up from $400 a tree," said resident Deb McKenzie.
McKenzie said when she checked with a local contractor he told her that price was too high. She said her calls to the scammer were not returned.
Police are now patrolling areas in Austin that were hit hardest by Wednesday's storm. They want to make sure residents have all they help they need in making sure these scam artists do not succeed in their mission to deceive.
For many folks in Austin, they say the cleanup is even harder when they also have to work to avoid being ripped off.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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