The homeowner who was approached about paving work was suspicious and was not taken by the possible scam, Captain Andy Jackson said.
Jackson said someone driving a red car has been going around the city making inquiries about doing driveway paving work.
Asphalt paving and other home improvement scams typically begin to be reported during the spring and summer. “People are looking to do spring projects to improve the looks of their property,” Jackson said. “Quite a few people in town have asphalt drives where after a few harsh winters they looked worn and faded.”
The first sign of possible paving or home improvement scams is people going door to door. “Reputable contractors rarely sell door to door,” Jackson said.
Anyone who says they have asphalt left over from another job is most likely a scammer because reputable contractors take precise measurements to know just how much they need to do the job and rarely have any left over.
“They will try to push you into a quick deal,” Jackson said. “They will make estimates that are valid for one day. Always insist on a written contract specifying all the work.”
Jackson said be wary if a contractor asks for cash or asks for cash in advance. “Most reputable companies take checks. If the deal sounds too good to be true it probably is. If the price quoted seems too low the quality of work is probably low.”
Look for unmarked vehicles and out of states tags. Jackson said people who are suspicious can check with the city’s Planning Department or check with businesses which deal with contractors such as ProBuild or Lowe’s. “Call our local contractors and get bids. We have plenty of local contractors who do great work.”
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