Colorado Veteran Scammed of $4,650 — Stranger Helps Finish $17,000 Job for Free

An unfortunate and utterly disappointing case of alleged scamming took an unexpected turn when a good Samaritan stepped in to help. His kind-heartedness and helpful nature prove that hope and light can be found in the darkest times.

John Frank, a disabled veteran from Denver, Colorado was left feeling distressed and hopeless after an unforeseen incident.

The veteran, who is in a wheelchair and can’t do many arduous tasks alone, didn’t know how to remedy the situation. Little did he know that help was right around the corner.

John Frank | Source: YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver

An Unfortunate Incident

Frank said he paid a hefty amount to a man who told him he was a landscape contractor and even gave him a contract. But the Colorado veteran added that he didn’t know what he was signing up for at the time.

Unbeknownst to him, his season of hopelessness and heartbreak would soon change into pure joy and gratitude.

John Frank in a wheelchair | Source: YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver

An Alleged Scam

Frank shared that he wanted a landscaper to work on his yard by adding rocks so it would be easier to manage. However, after he paid a contractor $4,650 upfront, the man vanished without doing any of the agreed-upon tasks. The distraught man expressed:

“I feel that I got ripped off. He took advantage of a disabled person. Obviously, I’m in a wheelchair. I can’t really do the yard.”

But the question was, how did the disabled veteran discover that he had been part of an alleged scam? He was said to have shared the written contract with FOX31 Denver’s team, The Problem Solvers, who studied the documents and were said to have found inconsistencies.

A group of men pictured working in John Frank’s yard | Source: YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver

Missing in Action

Moreover, Frank said the papers were signed by a man named Anthony Martinez, and work was set to begin on August 12, 2022. However, on September 7, the disappointed veteran said no team had arrived to work on his yard.

Even more upsetting was that Frank couldn’t contact Martinez. The Denver resident said he tried calling and messaging the contractor, but his efforts were in vain.

Frank noted that the alleged scammer’s phone was disconnected, and he didn’t reply to any of his emails. Furthermore, The Problem Solvers said they searched two cities for the business address written on the contract and discovered that it didn’t exist.

Hector Alderete | Source: YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver

Gaining Traction

After paying thousands of dollars to the alleged scammer, Frank became hopeless and didn’t know how to fix the situation. He said he was devastated and couldn’t believe he had been taken advantage of, which he considered unethical.

Unbeknownst to him, his season of hopelessness and heartbreak would soon change into pure joy and gratitude. When FOX31 Denver shared Frank’s story, it gained traction and caught the attention of another landscaping company.

Hector Alderete, the owner of Neighborhood Lawn Care, noted that he was moved by the Colorado man’s plight and wanted to help, so he decided to meet Frank and find out the complete details of his heartbreaking experience. Alderete recalled:

“[The story] came on, I was like, ‘Oh no, we’re going to do something about it.’ It was more about his story, it just touched my heart, and I felt like doing it. It was nothing about the money.”

An emotional John Frank | Source: YouTube.com/FOX31 Denver

From Heartbreaking to Heartwarming

Shortly afterward, Alderete’s crew got to work and did an incredible job, changing the look of Frank’s yard. His team reportedly removed tree stumps and added 50 tons of rocks and bricks, among other miscellaneous yard needs.

But what was genuinely heartwarming was that they charged the veteran nothing for the $17,000 worth of work. Alderete said his team would even come in the future if Frank needed any help with beautifying his yard.

The disabled veteran’s reaction wasn’t hard to guess. He was overwhelmed by Alderete’s kind-heartedness and said he was lost for words. He also took a moment to thank Alderete’s crew for their brilliant work and professionalism. A teary-eyed Frank added:

“We need to hear the positive, make people know there’s hope, and that good things can happen.”

The Online Reaction

Several netizens were moved by the profoundly uplifting story of hope, light, and positivity and shared their feedback online:

“That’s a man who hasnt had much kindness his way, his tears say it all. Out of chaos comes this beautiful ending (sic).”

— (@Denim jeanz) September 31, 2022

“What an angel.”

— (@AKGG) September 31, 2022

“Such kindness awesome (sic).”

— (@TheDekysar) September 31, 2022

Thanks to the kindness of a good Samaritan, a story of heartbreak and trauma took a heartwarming turn. If you enjoyed reading this story, please don’t forget to share it with your loved ones.