The Okotoks RCMP are warning the public about scams involving paving and contractor services.
Several recent incidents have involved “illegitimate, out-of-town companies” purportedly offering cheap asphalt paving in small towns.
According to the Okotoks RCMP, contractors will offer these discounted services under the guise of having excess materials from previous jobs.
In some cases, the companies have used business names that suggest affiliation with government maintenance departments and often provide customers with false contact information or addresses.
The contractors abruptly disappear after collecting payment, leaving customers to discover shoddy work done with poor quality materials.
The RCMP offered a few tips to avoid falling victim to these scams:
- 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!
Anyone who suspects a paving-contractor scam or believes they have been affected is encouraged to contact their local RCMP detachment or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.