Sheriff: Citizens should be wary of latest asphalt contractor scam

Franklin County Sheriff Tom Tindle said another familiar scam — involving supposedly good deals on asphalt — is working its way through the area and warns residents not to be duped by deals that are, in reality, too good to be true.

“We’ve heard from individuals — especially in the McCall Creek area — who have been contacted about contractors offering cut-rate prices on asphalt and then wanting to charge a higher price through underhanded tactics,” Tindle reported.

“This kind of scam typically involves a company or individual claiming to be doing paving work and just happens to notice the condition of the potential victim’s driveway.”

Tindle said these types of scammers also note that since they are already on a job locally, they can give a discount for such work — with many wanting a large percentage of the fee up front.

“Many times, what results is that the scammers will take money and disappear without doing any work, or, if any work is done, it is substandard at best,” the sheriff continued.

“Also, if a potential victim protests about work that is done, the scammers will likely use intimidation tactics, such as threatening a lawsuit, to convince the victims to pay up.”

Tindle said the elderly are typically targets of asphalt scammers because of their desire to keep their property up and because they are generally trusting of others.

“The rule of thumb is if something is too good to be true, it is in today’s world,” he continued. “The best thing to do is tell someone approaching you about doing this kind of work is no thanks.”

The sheriff said most scams involve contractors going out of their way to offer an estimate for work that was never initiated by the individual in the first place.

“The number one most obvious sign that you are being scammed is that the contractor shows up at your door,” he went on to say.

“Most, if not all reputable contractors will not perform door-to-door sales for asphalt services.”

Tindle said it is wise to research companies and contractors before hiring anyone for any kind of project — something that can be done through a simple internet search, contacting the Better Business Bureau at 601-398-1700 or visiting www.bbb.org.

“The thing you need to remember is that there are plenty of legitimate businesses out there that will pave a driveway that will last for years,” he further noted.

“Thinking that you’re getting a good deal or it’s your good fortunate that you happened on to this scenario is a false assumption. It’s also a good idea to ask for the contractor’s credentials and licensing paperwork to help learn if they are on the up and up.”

Tindle encouraged those contacted by scammers to contact his office at 601-384-2323 so his officers will be aware of and can look into these incidents.