Elderly New York Couple Allegedly Scammed Out of $129K in Roofing Fraud Case

An elderly couple in Franklin Square, New York, was allegedly targeted in a roofing scam that resulted in the loss of $129,000, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. The accused, a Queens-based contractor and president of New Dawn Construction, was arraigned on multiple felony charges including second-degree insurance fraud, attempted grand larceny, scheme to defraud, and forgery.

Prosecutors say the contractor approached the couple, aged 80 and 71, at their home, claiming their roof required minor repairs estimated at $2,500. Over the course of five days, he allegedly revisited the property several times, each time claiming new damages and inflating the total repair cost to an astonishing $129,000—a more than 5,000% increase.

The DA further alleges that the contractor presented the couple with a forged insurance approval document, leading them to believe their insurer would reimburse the cost. However, an investigation revealed no legitimate insurance claim was ever filed with Liberty Mutual. Bail was set, and the defendant was ordered to surrender his passport while awaiting the next court date.

This case highlights growing concerns over fraud targeting elderly homeowners, especially involving property damage claims and forged insurance paperwork. Prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of financial scams against vulnerable residents, calling the alleged actions "deplorable."