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"Handyman" accused of scamming elderly couple out of $12,000

Posted at 1:48 PM, Nov 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-17 14:22:18-05

A Wyoming County man is under arrest, accused of scamming an elderly couple out of $12,000.

Howard D. Pratt is charged with Grand Larceny.

Police say he charged the couple, who live in the Town of Arcade, for home improvements to their attic and chimney.

Deputies say Pratt, who is currently on probation in Steuben County, did little work and never returned to the home.

Investigators believe Pratt was doing home improvement/repair scams in the Western New York and Southern Tier area with other people from Cohocton, Avoca, and Perkinsville.

These scammers go door to door with the urgency of alleged immediate work that is needed to be done and then charge large sums of money.

The repairs are not even needed and work is not done when they get the money.

Anyone with information or a similar complaint is asked to contact the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office at 585-786-898