News Summary
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton fell victim to a scam, losing approximately $4,400 after allowing access to individuals impersonating a cleaning crew. Charges were made for services that were never provided, raising concerns about safety and security for public figures. The incident is now being treated as felony fraud, with no arrests made. Authorities are investigating the fraudulent actions of the scam group, while Norton expressed intentions to run for reelection amidst growing concerns about scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
Washington D.C. – D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton fell victim to a scam, resulting in a loss of nearly $4,400. The fraud occurred on Thursday at her Lincoln Park residence when she mistakenly granted access to individuals posing as members of a cleaning crew.
The scammers charged Norton’s credit card $4,362 for duct and fireplace cleaning services that were never performed. At the time of the incident, Norton’s house manager and friend were not in the home, raising concerns about security and oversight. Following the incident, the house manager reviewed security footage from a Ring doorbell camera, which confirmed that there was no legitimate appointment scheduled for the service.
The fraud was discovered by Jaqueline Pelt, a longtime friend and supporter of Norton, who noticed the unauthorized charges on Norton’s account. Pelt promptly reported the matter to the police, although it is important to note that conflicting reports indicated she might have power of attorney over Norton’s affairs, a position she does not hold.
This was not the first encounter with the scammers for Norton. Police records revealed that the fraudulent group had previously attempted to solicit services from her in August and September, but both times they were asked to leave.
Police are treating the incident as felony fraud, yet no arrests were made at the scene. An internal police report indicated that Norton is in the “early stages of dementia,” a claim that has been contested by her office. They affirmed that Norton does indeed employ a house manager to oversee maintenance services and believed she had inadvertently authorized the visit.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the fraudulent charge, Norton’s financial institution has been contacted to cancel the unauthorized charges. It should be noted that no other items were reported stolen from Norton’s home aside from the facing fraudulent credit charge. Meanwhile, the police report also suggested that Norton’s credit card and driver’s license numbers may have been compromised during the transaction.
Norton, who has served as a non-voting delegate in the U.S. House since 1991, has announced her intention to run for reelection. The incident raises significant concerns about the safety and security measures necessary for public figures, especially regarding the growing incidence of scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
In light of recent events, both the public and law enforcement are urged to remain vigilant about scams. The ongoing investigation continues to uncover necessary details about the false cleaning crew and their methods, as authorities work to curb such fraudulent activities.
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Additional Resources
- NBC Washington
- Wikipedia: Eleanor Holmes Norton
- WTOP
- Google Search: Eleanor Holmes Norton scam
- The Hill
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Eleanor Holmes Norton
- New York Post
- Google News: Eleanor Holmes Norton scam
- Fox News
- Google Scholar: Eleanor Holmes Norton scam
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