The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of a new "gypsy" scam in the area.

Deputies say, in January, Leonard Lovell of Alabama approached a female at her home near Commercial Way and said her roof needed $70 to $80 worth of repair.

When she agreed, two other men came to the home. One went on the roof and the other continued to talk to the victim.

When done, the men said the repair work actually cost $321. She paid them with a personal check which the men cashed almost immediately.

When the victim's son arrived at the home, he determined that no work was performed on the roof.

In this type of scam, deputies say the suspects are not from Florida, target elderly people and offer to perform some repair work on the home.

The suspects will perform little to no work, collect money and leave the area.

Deputies say Lovell has a history of performing similar scams in Georgia.

The Sheriff's Office claims Lovell probably scammed other Hernando County residents and ask anyone with additional information to call them at 352-797-3728.