Ferndale Police Warn of Water Department Imposter Scam

are warning residents about a scam involving two men pretending to be from the water department and stealing money from elderly residents.

Around 2:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report that two men claiming to be from the water department had stolen between $5,000 to $7,000 in cash from a Ferndale home while the resident was distracted.

According to a police report, the 80-year-old man reported that the "scam" was pulled on him by two men who looked to be Arabic and with heavy accents. He said they came to his door and said they were from the water department, claiming they had a truck on the street behind him and needed to check his residence because they were having problems in the area.

The suspects reportedly claimed the resident was due a refund of $30 and gave him a $100 bill and asked for change. After the resident provided $70 change from his drawer in the bedroom, one of the suspects asked him to go to the basement to check the pipes. The second suspect was upstairs while they were checking the pipes, and after the men left the home the resident noticed money missing from his drawer, according to the report.

The resident estimated he had $5,000-$7,000 in the drawer that was taken.

The resident described the first man as being 40-45 years old and the second man around 35 years old. They were last seen driving eastbound toward Hilton and then southbound in a gray four-door vehicle.

Ferndale Police Lt. William Wilson said the crime is similar to an incident that took place May 22, in which the suspects attempted to get an elderly couple to change a $100 bill after gaining entry into the home through deceit. That incident involved an Arabic-looking man around 45 years old and a black man as the second suspect. They were seen leaving in a dark four-door vehicle.

"In both incidents the victims were probably seen working in their yards prior and were targeted randomly by the suspects who may have been driving in the area looking for older victims," Wilson said in a statement about the incident.

If you have any information, you can call Ferndale Police at 248-541-3650.