An 88-year-old Florida woman paid thousands of dollars to replace damaged ductwork in her home. Her handyman later checked the attic and found that the promised work had never been done.
Amjad Otor, 32, of Tampa, is now accused of taking $4,000 from the Palm Coast resident through the home-repair scheme, according to News Daytona Beach.
The woman initially hired a business operating as Universal Air Duct Cleaning LLC to clean her home’s ductwork. After completing part of that job for $500, the workers told her some ducts needed to be replaced and offered to do the additional work for $5,000.
Investigators say Otor collected $1,000 in cash, showed the woman a piece of new ductwork that was supposedly going to be installed, then later told her the job was complete and collected two additional checks.
The $500 Cleaning Turned Into a Much Larger Repair
The case began in February after the woman hired Universal Air Duct Cleaning to work at her Palm Coast home. Two men arrived in a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup truck without company branding and cleaned part of the system for $500. They then told the homeowner that some of her ductwork needed to be replaced.
The proposed replacement job was priced at $5,000, with the workers asking for half upfront and requesting that part of the payment be made in cash. Otor later told the homeowner that the replacement work had been completed, investigators say.
The woman then provided two more checks worth a combined $3,000, bringing the amount investigators say Otor received for the replacement work to $4,000.
Detectives later determined that the checks had been deposited into the company’s bank account. Investigators also say Otor had given the homeowner a false name during the service call.
Her Handyman Checked the Attic
The homeowner became suspicious and asked her handyman to examine the work. According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the handyman determined that no one had been in the attic to replace the damaged ductwork.
The woman then contacted the company and asked workers to return and complete what she had paid for. Investigators say the company stopped answering her calls. She reported the suspected fraud in March.
Detectives later determined that Otor was the registered owner of the Chevrolet pickup truck used during the service call. Investigators said the vehicle had been at the woman’s home for less than an hour and a half.
A Certified Inspector Reached the Same Conclusion
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating with assistance from Seniors vs. Crime, a partnership involving the Sheriff’s Office and Florida Attorney General’s Office.
A certified inspector examined the home’s ductwork and confirmed that it had not been replaced. The woman later identified Otor in a photo lineup as the man she had paid during the service call.
The Company Had No Current License
Investigators contacted the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation while examining the company behind the service call.
Authorities say the department confirmed that Universal Air Duct Cleaning LLC is out of business and does not hold a current license. The Sheriff’s Office also said the company had an F rating from the Better Business Bureau and multiple complaints involving unfinished work.
The company’s owner, Tomer Nahmani, 25, of Altamonte Springs, had hired Otor as a subcontractor, according to investigators. The Sheriff’s Office said Nahmani is not a licensed contractor.
Otor Was Arrested in South Florida
Flagler County detectives obtained a warrant for Otor’s arrest on Aug. 12. The Sheriff’s Office’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit then worked with Fort Lauderdale Police to take him into custody without incident.
Otor faces charges of organized scheme to defraud and theft from a person 65 years of age or older. He was later released from the Broward County Jail on $10,000 bond.
The charges remain accusations and have not been proven in court. The Sheriff’s Office said additional charges are pending as investigators continue examining the case.
Authorities are also asking anyone who paid Universal Air Duct Cleaning LLC, Otor or Nahmani for work that was not completed to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911.
Verify a Contractor Before Paying for a Major Home Repair
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation allows consumers to verify a professional’s license by name or license number. For construction businesses, the state also recommends checking that the individual contractor properly qualifies the company offering to perform the work.
Homeowners should also get the details in writing before work begins. DBPR’s guidance for hiring licensed professionals recommends that a contract identify the contractor, include the license number and provide a precise description of the work, materials and expected completion date.
Suspected unlicensed contracting activity can be reported to DBPR. Florida consumers who believe they have been targeted by contractor fraud can also file a complaint with the Florida Attorney General’s Office and report suspected criminal fraud to local law enforcement.