Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is investigating several cases of fraud in the county in which suspects are targeting the elderly.

Undersheriff Jerry Niles said the cases came to the department’s attention within the last 11 days, and included a man selling lightning rods for houses.

He said the new cases are no different than other scams the department often sees.

Because the three cases remain under investigation, Niles did not want to divulge too many details. However, he said in one of the cases the victims have given more than $150,000 over two years.

The fraud is often committed by “fly-by-night” operations, he said, such as those offering to paint houses or apply asphalt to driveways, or even sell lightning rods.

“These guys keep coming back, coming back and coming back,” Niles said. “People need to ask for references and check them independently and need to have a written invoice or written contract.”

Niles said more than one estimate should be obtained before work is done. If you hire someone to do home repairs or other business transactions, Niles said to ask to see a driver’s license and to get contact information and vehicle information. People should get a second opinion from a local reputable business.

Niles said steps can be taken to make the elderly less susceptible to exploitation or fraud.

“What we’re asking family members is to become more involved with the finances of parents and grandparents,” Niles said. He said relatives should build a rapport with older relatives when it comes to dealing with their finances.

Those running gypsy home repair operations often prey on the elderly simply because they are more trusting and sometime lonely.

“Some people invite them in because they’re lonely and that’s someone who is going to spend some time with them,” Niles said. “That’s someone who is going to repeatedly give them attention.”

These types of scams are prevalent in good economies and bad, Niles said, noting the scams often are cyclical and reoccur every few years.

“Even in the good times, those scams are there,” he said. “These gypsy home repair operations are from out of state. It’s just a business route for them.”

Niles said the sheriff’s office has been in contact with Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and out-of-state law enforcement agencies that have identified some of those perpetrating the scams.

If an unsolicited offer is made or sounds suspicious, Niles said to contact the Better Business Bureau with the company’s name and check to see if any complaints have been made. He also said suspicious businesses can be checked with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Division.

The golden rule for possible victims has always remained the same, Niles said.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true. You pay for what for what you get.”