by Cynthia Germain

Those who work in the field of caring for older adults, like the members of the Aging Coalition of Door County (ACDC), are familiar with the many challenges seniors face. One growing concern is the rise of scams. While many are aware of the dangers posed by online and phone scams, fewer realize that in-person scams are happening more frequently than we might think.

Recently, Leslie Boden from Money Management Counselors, and a member of ACDC, shared a troubling email with me. A community member wanted to bring attention to two scam attempts targeting their elderly father. It’s important to share these stories so we can help prevent others from falling victim to similar situations.

Incident 1: The Cleaning Service Scam
The first incident involved a long-time, trusted cleaner—referred to here as the Original Cleaning Person (OPC). As OPC began to semi-retire, she recommended a new person, referred to as TP, to take over the cleaning duties. Although OPC had never met TP, a connection was made, and TP began her service. But right from the start, things didn’t feel right.
TP missed her first scheduled meeting but eventually showed up and began working. During that first session, the elderly father noticed a few things that seemed off. TP claimed she had forgotten her vacuum and used his instead—a rechargeable model not suited for heavy-duty cleaning. She stayed much longer than necessary and mentioned doing extra tasks, such as sweeping the garage, even though no one had asked her to.
More troubling, TP decided to turn down the heat in the home because she felt too warm. She left a note asking the elderly man to keep the heat lower next time, but she didn’t turn it back up when she left. Since the thermostat was difficult to operate, the elderly man had to wait for a family member to adjust it, leaving him uncomfortable for some time.
Finally, TP offered to have her brother fix a loose toilet seat, an offer the family hadn’t requested. Given these red flags, the family decided to terminate TP’s services. However, they were met with defensive messages from her, justifying her rates and hours.

Incident 2: The Unsolicited Cleaning Offer
Around the same time, a second incident occurred. An unkempt man and woman showed up uninvited at the elderly father’s regular morning group, offering cleaning services at an astonishing rate—$45 per hour each, meaning $90 per hour for both of them. The group declined, but the duo returned a week later, again pushing their high-priced services. Thankfully, no one took them up on the offer.

These incidents serve as important reminders: seniors are often the targets of in-person scams, and scammers may exploit their trust and kindness. As a community, it’s up to us to help protect them from being taken advantage of. Here are a few steps we can take:

• Regular Communication: Stay in touch with elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors. Family members would want to have regular conversations about who’s helping out around the house and any new visitors. For friends, checking in every so often to chat and ask how things are going can be helpful. With neighbors, a casual conversation is good if something feels off.
• Verify Before You Hire: Always ask for references and check the credibility of service providers, even if they come recommended. It’s easy to be taken in by someone who seems trustworthy, but a little due diligence can make the difference.
• Be Cautious of Unsolicited Offers: Scammers may show up uninvited, offering services—often at inflated prices. Be wary of high-pressure tactics and always compare rates with trusted providers before making any decisions.

Sharing stories like these is crucial for raising awareness throughout our community. As scammers continue to evolve their tactics, in-person fraud is becoming an increasing threat to our seniors. If you have a concern about a potential scam, reach out to Adult Protective Services of the Door County Department of Health and Human Services or the Aging and Disability Resource Center. By working together, we can help protect our elder community members and ensure they remain safe from exploitation.