Swampscott scam artist arrested

SWAMPSCOTT – One individual involved in a door to door paving scam in Swampscott has been arrested.Detective Ted Delano said the individual was canvassing the Walker Road area of town in what appeared to be a paving scam.”An individual was going to several residences inquiring to see if the owner wanted his/her driveway paved,” he said. “He would engage the resident in discussion and quote a price for the asphalt work. He would attempt to get some money up front and stated the truck of asphalt was on the way.”According to police, Robert J. Mannke, 77 Princeton St., Medford was charged with possession of a Class D substance and an unrelated warrant out of Cambridge District Court.Delano said Mannke was not charged in the paving scam because no money actually exchanged hands before the police intervened.”As far as we can tell he works for a paving company,” Delano said. “But he was going door to door using high pressure tactics and deceit. He was telling residents the asphalt was around the corner when there was no truck at all. His truck of asphalt was fictitious.”Delano said residents should be aware of the paving scam and other warm weather scams, which are not infrequent on North Shore at this time of year.Residents should be aware of this scam as it happens frequently in the summer,” he said. “These individuals would state that they are doing a job in the neighborhood and have extra asphalt as well. They usually will go to houses that have driveways in need of repair or target the elderly.”Several years ago there were a lot of issues in town with travelers, bands of individuals, who came up from the south during the summer months scamming area residents.”This scam was not per say a gypsy thing,” he said. “But we do want to warn people this time of year that people do go door to door and misrepresent themselves. And at this time of year we see an increase in gypsies or travelers.”Delano pointed out most solicitors are required to register with the police department before going door to door.”As always, if someone comes to your door and you feel like something is not right, call us,” he said.