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Olds RCMP is warning property owners of ongoing paving scams and fraudulent contractor services.
Past incidents have involved illegitimate, out-of-town companies offering discounted asphalt-paving services to residents in smaller towns and rural residences.
Contractors claim to have leftover materials from previous jobs and offer to pave driveways and parking lots at reduced pricing. Companies may use business names that suggest they are affiliated with a government road maintenance department and typically provide false addresses or contact information.
After contractors collect payment and disappear from the area, customers discover the materials used are poor quality and the work is unprofessional. Victims are left unable to contact the scammers and face expensive asphalt repairs.
Olds RCMP are reminding residents to take extra caution when hiring contractors.
Keep the following tips in mind to avoid falling victim to a scam:
• Ask for names of previous customers and verify that they were satisfied with the work.
• Research the company through the Better Business Bureau in Alberta, the Consumer Investigations Unit, your local Rural Crime Watch, or on social media.
• Obtain a written quote that includes the full business name, address, phone number, GST number, as well as provincial and municipal license numbers, if applicable.
• Quotes should specify the quantity and quality of materials being offered. Be skeptical if contractors decline to provide this information.
• Seek estimates from reputable companies to compare costs.
• Do not agree to a contract if you feel pressured or if the contractor refuses to take “no” for an answer.
• Be leery of unsolicited offers.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! If you, or anyone you know, suspect a paving-contractor scam, please contact your local RCMP detachment at 310-RCMP (7267) or make a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888- 495-8501
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