So sorry to hear about this. After my husband's father died, some men came to my mother-in-law's house asking if she had work they could do. Before we knew what she was doing she had handed over huge sums for such projects as removing a tree (cutting it down and leaving it laying where it fell), repairing the foundation on her house and repairing her chimney (making a few swipes with a caulk gun) and other things. The sheriff estimated that she had given those con artists at least $20,000, judging by cancelled checks we had and what she told him about giving them cash. I understand that such con artists often read the obituary columns, preying especially on grieving folks who have lost their spouse of 50-plus years.