While incidents of con artists posing as utility workers have been in the news of late, another scam targeting seniors has surfaced in Northeast Philadelphia.
A senior citizen became nervous after receiving a call from someone who said they were with an organization that replaces smoke detector batteries for senior citizens. The man had made an appointment with the caller to come out to his home.
Concerned that something was not quite right, he contacted NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community), which connects Rhawnhurst seniors to services to help them age in their own place.
"Fortunately, (the caller) never showed," said Officer Stephanie Ahrndt, the 2nd Police District victim assistance officer.
According to NORC project manager Elaine Griffin, the Philadelphia Fire Department assured NORC that it was not sponsoring such an initiative. ••