Airdrie RCMP is warning property owners of ongoing paving scams and fraudulent contractor services.

Recent incidents have involved illegitimate, out-of-town companies offering discounted asphalt-paving services to residents in smaller towns and rural areas.

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 sometimes left unable to contact the scammers and face expensive asphalt repairs. In other incidents, contractors attempt to intimidate customers into paying after the work is completed.

Police recommend keeping the following tips in mind:

• Ask for names of previous customers and verify they were satisfied with the work.
• Research the company through the Better Business Bureau, 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 and provincial and municipal licence 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 wary of unsolicited offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Do not pay for services upfront before the work is done.

Anyone who suspects a paving contractor scam can contact their local RCMP detachment at 310-RCMP (7267) or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.