She Paid $4K For Ductwork. Her Handyman Said Nobody Had Been In The Attic.

An 88-year-old woman paid $4,000 to have damaged ductwork replaced after workers told her the job was complete. Her handyman later checked the attic and found no evidence that anyone had even been up there.

In February 2026, a woman in Palm Coast, Florida, hired Universal Air Duct Cleaning LLC to clean the ductwork in her home.

Two men arrived in a dark-colored Chevrolet pickup truck without company markings and completed part of the cleaning for $500.

Investigators said the workers then told the woman some of her ductwork needed to be replaced and offered to do the additional work for $5,000.

Authorities said 32-year-old Amjad Otor collected $1,000 in cash and showed the homeowner a piece of new ductwork that was supposedly going to be installed.

Otor later told the woman the replacement work had been completed.

She then gave him two additional checks totaling $3,000, bringing the amount paid for the replacement work to $4,000.

But the woman became suspicious and asked her handyman to check the attic.

According to investigators, the handyman determined that no one had been in the attic and the damaged ductwork had not been replaced.

The woman contacted the company and asked workers to return and complete the job.

Authorities said the company stopped answering her calls.

She reported the suspected fraud in March.

Detectives later determined the checks had been deposited into the company’s bank account and said Otor had given the homeowner a false name during the service call.

Investigators also determined the Chevrolet pickup truck used during the visit was registered to Otor and had been at the woman’s home for less than an hour and a half.

A certified inspector later examined the ductwork and also confirmed it had not been replaced.

The homeowner identified Otor in a photo lineup as the man she had paid.

Authorities said Universal Air Duct Cleaning LLC is no longer in business and does not hold a current license.

The company’s owner, 25-year-old Tomer Nahmani, had hired Otor as a subcontractor and is also not a licensed contractor, according to investigators.

Detectives obtained a warrant for Otor’s arrest on August 12.

He was later taken into custody in Fort Lauderdale without incident.

Otor was charged with organized scheme to defraud and theft from a person 65 years of age or older.

He was later released on $10,000 bond.

Authorities said additional charges are pending as investigators continue examining the case.