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Tag: Deceptive business practices
Fraudster Contractor Arrested In Bucks County, Authorities Say
A fraudster has been arrested in Bucks County after police said he scammed a client out of money.
Walter Charles Porter Jr. accepted a payment for hardscape work in April 2021 under "Walts Outdoor Living Spaces," Bedminster police said.
As of April 2024, Porter never completed the work, nor did he provide, materials or a refund to the victims when asked multiple times over the years, police said.
Porter was charged with home improvement fraud, deceptive business practices, theft, and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned with bail set at $100,000 and is barred from having any contact…
PA Collision Center Owner Surrenders After Submitting $426K In False Insurance Claims
A Bucks County collision center owner who submitted nearly 300 false insurance claims, pocketing more than $426,000 in payouts has surrendered to authorities, they said.
John Paul Reis, 56, of Newtown Township, turned himself in on Thursday, Aug. 25, on charges of insurance fraud, deceptive business practices, forgery, and theft by deception, all third-degree felonies, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
The charges come after a four-year investigation by county detectives that began in Sept. 2018, after they received a referral from officials with …
PA Contractor Ripped Off $86K From Clients, AG Says
A contractor in Pennsylvania has been charged after he accepted deposits to build elevators in six residents' homes but never did any of the work, authorities said.
Michael Bloom, of Williamsport, agreed to the projects, which totaled $86,110, AG Josh Shapiro said. He provided little or no services in return and refused to give his customers refunds.
Five of the homeowners left in the lurch by Bloom were over 60 years old, the AG said.
“The law is clear on this,” AG Shapiro said. “Contractors can’t enter into a contract, accept money from a homeowner, and then fail to deliver — and that’s …
