Adelaide has nigger scammers preying on Seniors

[Br.IanVonTurpie]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/east-hills/paradise-83yearold-victim-of-tree-scam-as-men-posing-as-campbelltown-council-workers-slug-her-900-for-hacking-branches/story-fni9lkyu-1226765170336

SCAMMERS have targeted an elderly pensioner in Adelaide's northeast by posing as council workers and forcing her to pay $900 to prune her trees.
                                      
Four men went to 83-year-old Ilse Potitt's Paradise home on Monday claiming to be Campbelltown Council workers sent to cut her trees away from powerlines.
The men "hacked" two trees in half and then demanded $1200 from Mrs Potitt.
"They were wearing orange shirts and came in a car then when I said OK they called someone and a truck came so I thought it was OK," Mrs Potitt said.

"I was shocked because I didn't know I had to pay so I I gave them $900 because that's all I had.
"They said 'you only have $900? Then you better go back to the bank and we'll be back."
Campbelltown Council chief executive Paul Di Iulio said the men were "definitely not council staff" and he "could only assume" it was a scam.

A scam alert has been posted on the council's website and Mr Di Iulio urged residents to seek identification from anyone claiming to be a council worker and contact the council if they had suspicions.

"Council does not work on trees on private property therefore if anyone is approached by people claiming that they are from council to undertake work on their property I would recommend that they ring council to obtain confirmation prior to agreeing to allow them to undertake any work," Mr Di Iulio said.

He said all council workers wore uniform, drove council marked cars or carried ID.
               
Police door knocked the street yesterday and said about seven other homes had been approached by the men and a business card was left at one which they were investigating.
They said it was "too early to determine whether an offence has been committed".

"At this stage it appears there is no widespread scam taking place," Eastern Adelaide Police Chief Inspector­ Christine Baulderstone said.

Mrs Potitt has lived in her Gameau Rd home since 1971.
The widow, who lives with her son Michael, said street was normally quiet.
"It's knocked me about a bit and I feel very nervous now," she said.
               
Mrs Potitt described the men as having dark skin, tall and one had cornrows in his hair.

Mr Potitt said his mother was "shaken and scared" by the incident.
"Mum broke down in tears and was trembling and told me they had forced $900 out of her," Mr Potitt, 46, said.




I'd sure like to send those niggers back to their tree!