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LEHI — Police are looking for a man who has been soliciting jobs at people's homes and has gotten away with a lot of money, but it's apparently a scam. Police are now warning people in the Lehi area.
They should be wary of a man roaming neighborhoods, going door-to-door offering to do odd jobs like concrete and other outdoor work, police say.
Members of one Lehi family said they found out the hard way that he was just out to take their money.
"You just sort of automatically trust people that talk to you," said Ashley Swindler. "We are far less trusting now."
You just sort of automatically trust people that talk to you. We are far less trusting now.
–Ashley Swindler
The Swindler family was swindled out of $800 of their hard-earned money about two months ago when a man who calls himself "Fili" offered a good deal to lay some concrete and extend their driveway, Swindler said.
"He was just on foot walking through the neighborhood and he knocked on our door," she said. "We wanted to pour the cement. This is what we wanted Fili to do for us."
But after handing over the cash, approximately half of the cost of the job that they gave him up front, the Swindlers got excuse after excuse from the man.
"He definitely knew how to groom people to make you trust," Swindler said.
The family is warning other Utahns to be on the lookout so they don't get scammed, too.
Lehi police are aware of this con artist and have an open investigation.
They do believe they know who he is and are trying to track him down.
If you have been in a situation similar to the Swindlers', call the Lehi Police Department at 801-768-7110.
