Con Men Prey On The Elderly Vacuum Cleaner Scam Seems To Be Occuring More Often

Frank was losing his wife. That’s why a scam artist was eventually able to swindle more than $20,000 from him.

And cases like his are why Spokane police are notifying the public of a family ring of con artists hawking vacuum cleaners to the elderly for $2,500 and more.

Most of the machines are used. They’re worth a few hundred dollars at most, say police.

Detective Craig Brenden said 12 to 15 people have been carrying out the vacuum cleaner scam throughout the Pacific Northwest since 1995.

They operate primarily in Eastern Washington, he said. Police know the identity of most of the suspects, but would not release more information because the case is still being investigated.

Assistant Attorney General Larry Briney said the perpetrators have stepped up activity.

“There have been 41 complaints to our office since the mid-‘90s, but recently we’ve seen an upsurge,” Briney said.

Brenden and Briney spoke at a news conference at police headquarters Monday. Also in attendance was a 95-year-old victim whom officials would only identify as “Frank.”

According to Frank, a con artist was able to swindle more than $20,000 from him before he knew what was going on.

Frank’s wife was gravely ill when the con man showed up in 1998. He befriended Frank, sold him a vacuum cleaner for $10,500 and then “borrowed” money from him until shortly after his wife passed away roughly a year later, Frank said.

The vacuum cleaner salesman was even a pall bearer at his wife’s funeral, Frank said.

“That kind of attention is very seductive,” Briney said.

Law enforcement officials are the ones handcuffed in these cases because no law is being broken when someone purchases a vacuum cleaner marked up by thousands of dollars, Brenden said.

“Some of these cases are bordering on extortion,” he said. “But a lot of them are in gray areas where it’s hard to bring a charge.”

Officials are hoping to hear about a case that will enable them to prosecute. Frank’s case doesn’t fit that category.

Victims range in age from 70 to 90 and are usually single. In the reported cases, elderly victims have lost from $2,500 to $20,000.

Frank encouraged others not to let potential hustlers into their homes.

“When you’re 95, you just don’t have it like you used to,” he said.

This sidebar appeared with the story: SCAMS

Anyone with information about vacuum cleaner scams should call Crime Check at 456-2233.