Redford Township woman loses $1,800 to phone scammers who posed as cleaning service clients

Overview

A 65-year-old Redford Township woman, April Salace, reported that fraudsters scammed her by phone while posing as potential clients for her house cleaning business, April Fresh Cleaning Service. She said the scammers drained about $1,800 from her bank account—described as taking her entire Social Security check.

How the Scam Worked

According to Salace, the scam began Saturday after someone contacted her through the Nextdoor app, where she had posted information about her business.

• Two men then texted and called her (including a 734 area code number).
• They claimed they wanted their house cleaned.
• They said they would pay using services such as PayPal, Cash App, and Chime.
• The men allegedly convinced her they had accidentally sent $500 twice.
• She was persuaded to refund the extra $500, which resulted in the withdrawal of her funds.

Expert Explanation

Cybersecurity consultant Dave Hatter described the scheme as a common “overpayment refund” scam, comparing it to phishing tactics.

He said criminals often target people and businesses they find through social media and messaging platforms.

Recommended Actions

Hatter advised victims to:

• Change bank passwords
• Check for malware on their phone (with the help of their phone carrier)
• Freeze credit or place a fraud alert with credit reporting agencies
• File a police report

Status of the Investigation

Salace said she attempted to call back the suspected scammers, but the calls were unsuccessful and the numbers no longer worked.

Redford Township police told 7 News that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Presenters / Contributors

• Tony Gus
• Dave Hatter (Cyber security consultant with Enrited)
• April Salace (scam victim)