ATHABASCA – The Athabasca RCMP are asking the public to be on the lookout for ongoing paving scams or other fraudulent contractor services following a series of recent incidents.
According to a May 24 release from the Const. Kyle Hotchkiss, illegitimate, out-of-town companies have been offering discounted asphalt paving services to small town residents and other rural properties across the province.
Contractors claim to have leftover materials from previous jobs and offer to pave driveways or other services at a reduced price. They may use business names to suggest they are affiliated with government road maintenance departments and often provide false addresses or contact information.
After the contractors leave — after collecting payment — customers find the work is poorly done, with sub-standard materials being used.
With that in mind, the Athabasca RCMP recommend the following tips to help protect against similar scams.
Ask for the names of previous customers and see if they were satisfied with the work. In a similar vein, research the company through social media, the Better Business Bureau, or the Consumer Investigations Unit, a provincial service.
Be wary of quotes that don’t provide the quantity and quality of materials being offered, and seek estimates from other reputable companies to compare the costs. Fraudsters will often pressure a potential victim into saying yes, and will refuse to take no for an answer.
Above all else, be leery of the classic “too good to be true” deals.
If you suspect a paving-contractor scam, the Athabasca RCMP ask you contact them at 310-RCMP (7267) or make a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501.
