A Florida woman is in disbelief after returning home to find her entire driveway stolen. The theft took place in Orlando last month.
Amanda Brochu, a single mother who had recently sold her house, was alerted to the theft through her Ring doorbell app. After receiving the alert, Brochu rushed home only to find her once-solid driveway replaced by a muddy track. It is believed that she may have fallen victim to a scam, although the exact nature of the scam remains unclear.
A week before the incident, unsolicited contractors had visited her property to measure the driveway. One contractor claimed that a man named Andre had hired them to assess the cost of replacing the driveway. However, Andre abruptly cut off contact when the contractor requested proof of ownership as reported by Metro UK.
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Brochu promptly reported the incident to the police, who interviewed the contractors involved. Following their conversation with the authorities, the contractors claimed that it was all a mistake and that they had gotten the address wrong. However, a week later, Brochu’s driveway was removed entirely, leaving her in disbelief and frustration.
“After the cops spoke to them, they called me back, and they said that he said it was a mistake; he just got the address wrong; nothing else will happen again.”
‘The target isn’t just homeowners, but contractors as well, who take on the business not fully doing their due diligence and being taken advantage of in the end by the scammer,‘ Brochu continued.
Replacing the stolen driveway would cost Brochu a staggering $10,000 (£7,900), a sum she had not readily available. Fearing that this incident would hinder the sale of her house and her plans to purchase her dream home, she launched a GoFundMe campaign. Fortunately, a local business owner, moved by her story, stepped in and offered to cover the costs. Brochu decided that any funds raised through the GoFundMe campaign would be donated to charity.
While Brochu’s case may seem extraordinary, scams and thefts targeting homeowners and contractors are more common than one might think. Rocki Sanchez, Brochu’s estate agent, shared the incident on a Facebook group for real estate professionals, where several others claimed to have heard similar stories. Contractors, in particular, seem vulnerable to these scams, often falling victim to scammers who exploit their lack of due diligence.
While Brochu’s case may seem extraordinary, it appears that scams and thefts targeting homeowners and contractors are more common than one might think. Rocki Sanchez, Brochu’s estate agent, shared the incident on a Facebook group for real estate professionals, where several others claimed to have heard similar stories. Contractors, in particular, seem to be vulnerable to these types of scams, often falling victim to scammers who take advantage of their lack of due diligence.