By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorA Hannibal man, who has a history of scamming elderly residents across the state, is facing a criminal charge here in a new incident.Warren County prosecutors last week charged William E. Riley, 50, with a felony charge of financial exploitation of the elderly. A $25,000 bond has been set.Riley is part of a traveling group suspected of running home-repair scams in Warren, Montgomery, Audrain and Cape Girardeau counties and in other states such as Iowa and Texas, according to police.Detectives said Riley has two prior convictions for financial exploitation and was on parole, according to the probable cause statement.Earlier this month, Riley was charged with a similar charge in Scott County and for resisting arrest in Perry County, according to the Southeast Missourian. He is currently lodged in the Perry County Jail.Scott Schoenfeld, detective with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, believes Riley scammed more property owners in the county. Anyone who may have fallen victim to a scam should contact the sheriff’s department at 636-456-4332.In many instances, Schoenfeld said, a crime involving a scam is not reported because a victim feels embarrassed. He urges victims to contact authorities.“The best advice to give, if someone is seeking unsolicited work or offering free inspections, it is something to avoid,” Schoenfeld said. “If you choose to engage in business with someone, before you give money, get two or three bids from a reputable company or get a second opinion before you are pressured to make a commitment.”The sheriff’s department began an investigation Oct. 10 following a report of a possible scam at a home in the 27000 block of Highway F outside of Wright City. A woman stated two men came to her residence and said that the roof on her home needed repairs. After a short time, the men asked for a $2,100 payment and a check was written. Riley cashed the check at a Wright City bank on Oct. 8, according to the probable cause statement. Detectives said they found that some two-by-fours had been installed in the attic area of the home in a haphazard manner.“Usually it’s a lightning rod or pavement scammer,” Schoenfeld said. “This scam was a different twist.When Schoenfeld spoke to Riley Nov. 4, he allegedly admitted that the roof didn’t need any repairs and stated the property owner was overcharged for his work, the probable cause statement said. Riley told detectives he cashed the check and allegedly received a payment of $200 for his participation in the scam.William Riley