OLDS – Olds RCMP are warning property owners about ongoing paving scams and fraudulent contractor services in the community.
Marvin Morrison, owner of Trackside Sales & Service in Olds has not only been hit with one of those scams, but others as well.
Paving scams involve illegitimate, out-of-town companies offering discounted asphalt-paving services to residents, sometimes in smaller towns and rural properties.
They claim to have leftover materials from previous jobs and offer to pave driveways and parking lots at reduced prices.
Those fraudulent 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,” an RCMP news release says.
"Victims are left unable to contact the scammers and face expensive asphalt repairs."
Morrison told the Albertan that a couple of months ago, his wife, Koreen got scammed by a company that at the time called itself Eco Paving.
Koreen agreed that the company could patch a couple of rough spots in the Trackside parking lot.
“They were supposed to just patch, was the deal, and then she got busy. I wasn't here,” Morrison said.
Then the company decided to “pave” the entire parking lot.
“He had the gravel all laid down. Then he was supposed to be putting sealer on. But the sealer he was using wasn’t a sealer, it was just diesel fuel and some tar,” he said.
“So we had a big fight over it, whatever. I sent him on his way.
“They were right away going again with another name up at Innisfail within the month.”
Morrison urged people to "be very, very careful," adding "This guy, he had all the equipment and everything. Like he had the big paving machine, and all he had was painted rock.”
The paving scam is not the only fraud Morrison’s company has been hit with.
In another case last October, fraudsters somehow hacked a bank account.
“I never, ever had access to that bank account other than cheques and everything. I don't do online banking,” Morrison said.
A battle with the financial institution Morrison banks with ensued. But it was eventually resolved after Morrison talked to the ombudsman about the matter.
“Once the bank found out I talked to the ombudsman, within two months, I had my money,” he said.
In yet one more case, a man bought a generator using a credit card.
But it turned out that credit card belonged to a man in Vernon, B.C. who said he had never made or authorized that purchase.
“How in the hell am I supposed to stop that,” Morrison asked. “He's got the credit card. He's got the PIN number.
“You get it all the time with credit cards. You’ve got to be extremely careful.”
Morrison was told he sounded remarkably cheerful for somebody who's been scammed several times.
“Well, if you let it get you down, then you might as well just lock the door and go home,” he said.
RCMP have some tips for residents and businesses to avoid falling victim to a contracting/paver 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 group, 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 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 leery of unsolicited offers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Contact RCMP at 310-RCMP (7267) or make a report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 if a paving scam is suspected.
