Description

The scammers came in a bright red Rod pickup truck which looked nice and new. They pulled up in my driveway as I was walking to my kitchen door. I thought they were just going to tun around because they were going the wrong way? No , they kept coming up the driveway with the driver waving a piece of paper to get my attention. My mistake. When the got out the truck, they started the talking about being here before and about their “old man” having a heart attack and in the hospital. They just kept it up as if my husband used them before. They kept telling me gthat they were going to give me all kinds of discounts. In the meantime I was remembering my son-in-law’s advise about getting my driveway done and making sure they put a sealant down. They insistent on doing while they were there. So I agreed. I only remember the one guy’s name because he is the one who spoke to me first and he introduced himself. His name was Santino Mitchell. They did the sealant and then came to the door to get paid. I needed to know who to make the check out to so I asked for a card. The other guy just handed me a paper with company name, phone number, with a list of some of their jobs with a picture of a container with $49.99. The guy said to make the check out to Santino Mitchell and Santino said, “with two l’s.” I questioned why I should make the check out to Santino and not the company name but he insisted Santino. When I asked how much I almost fell over. He quoted me $6,679! I of said,”What!. Then he said I’ll give you a discounted pay $5900. So I replied how about $5500 to see if he would agree which he did. However he made me promise not to tell any of my neighbors how much I paid. I ma de out the check and they left. Afterwards I really started questioning everything and realized I was scammed. All of the took less than an hour—them taking and pushing and me not thinking, When I settled down, I went online and typed, who is Santino Mitchell. To my surprise it came up with the named pictures of a criminal in Florida! Then I did the telephone number and up came the BBB Notice about the paver scammers in Damascus, MD! My bank was closed at 4 and then I started thinking that my money was gone. To my surprise, the ba no called me the next morning. Santino took my check in to cash it and the manager at the bank questioned it and called. She asked if I wanted it stopped. I said”Yes!” Then I called Montgomery County 311, explained what happened. I was transferred to the police; I told my story again. A police officer was sent to my home. Just before the officer came, Santino came from the bank to see why I stopped the check. I told him it was too much and I would still pay but not that much. He was friendly and smiling until I told him that I called the police. He got excited said, “never mind, you got it for nothing.” He kept walking to his car. No sooner did he leave, when the police officer came up my driver. I told the officer the whole story. I showed him the picture of Santino on my iPad and the notice on BBB. He took pictures of both. I am still having a hard time blaming myself for being soooo stupid paying the scammers but I am glad I stopped them! I felt it’s better I felt ashamed but I did stop others from getting scammed.