Charges filed in Oklahoma City home repair scam

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Fraud charges filed against an Oklahoma City man on Tuesday should serve as a warning to Oklahoma consumers to be wary of home repair scams, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Tuesday, April 6th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Fraud charges filed against an Oklahoma City man on Tuesday should serve as a warning to Oklahoma consumers to be wary of home repair scams, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Scott Robert Ducharme, Sr., 45, was charged in Oklahoma County District Court with four felony counts and one misdemeanor count of home repair fraud for allegedly receiving almost $15,000 for work that was never completed.

Investigators have been unable to locate Ducharme, who operated under the name Southwest Roofing, and are urging anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the attorney general's office.

``Every year at this time, we hear of people who suffer weather-related property damage only to be duped by unscrupulous repairmen,'' Edmondson said. ``Again this year, we are urging people to have a plan for preventing fraud.''

Edmondson urged consumers to be wary of repairmen who demand payment up front and to check for complaints with the Better Business Bureau or attorney general's consumer protection unit. He also encouraged written agreements that spell out details of the work requirements, fees and start and stop dates.

Anyone with information regarding suspected fraud or scams can contact the attorney general's consumer protection hot line at (405) 521-2029.