Scammers use bogus address to target roofing co.

Eastern Idaho realtors say real estate scams are on the rise, but recent cases are targeting roofing companies.

Tri-State Roofing owners Tom and Denise Rice said they were almost victims of a scam that could have cost them thousands of dollars.

“We got an email from someone looking to buy a house in town,” said Tom. “They said they we’re from Louisiana and recently purchased a home here in Ammon.”

The Rice’s said they do business in the eastern Idaho and western Wyoming area and often work with people out of state who manage local property.

“We’ve had good luck with those clients and we’ve done well with them,” said Denise.

But just a few weeks ago, Tom was emailed by someone wanting an estimate for the work through text message. Tom said the person claimed they were deaf and could not take calls.

Tom and Denise said they became skeptical but went by the home to complete an estimate.

“When I received a text with an address and stopped by the house and took a look at it. I found out it was for sale like it was being identified in the email and text,” said Tom.

But when Tom called the realtor, Brandon Longhurst, he discovered the home hadn’t been sold and the original owners still lived there.

“I actually wasn’t surprised to find out,” said Tom. “After that we really felt like there was no way that we could trust what they were saying.”

“You just have a feeling that it’s not a good situation and so you need to check it out further,” said Denise.

The Rice’s did check it out further. They sent the potential client an estimate, and that’s when they said the conversation got interesting.

“They started sending messages late at night asking if we could do them a favor,” Denise said.

The client asked if the company could charge them $4,000 more than the estimate and then send them the extra in the form of money order or money gram.

Longhurst said he’s seen several scams involving people who claim to be the owner of homes for sale, conning money out of unsuspecting homeowners. But he said he’s never dealt with a scam that involved third-party contractors.

“This is just another way that scammers have found to do that because people have caught onto the rental scams,” said Longhurst.

The Rice’s said the scammer used two different names and believe they intended to use a stolen card to make the transaction, leaving them with a hefty bill once the original card owner disputed the charges.