Residents are being warned of an ongoing scam in Kingston.
Police say someone is going door-to-door offering to repave residential driveways at a steeply discounted cash rate.
They say the offer requires the customer to pay up front before the work begins.
Investigators say scammers will claim they are doing work on other driveways in the area but work will either be left incomplete, or of poor quality.
They say scammers would often leave large piles of excavated asphalt and earth behind, often blocking the roadway.
Investigators say the suspects in similar cases have been described as having Irish or similar accents.
The business names, websites and advertising are fake.
Police urge caution when homeowners are approached in the following ways:
• Contractors offering their services because they just happen to be in the neighbourhood doing work nearby.
• Contractors offering a special deal because they have supplies left over from another job.
• Contractors offering large discounts for cash deals.
• A price for work that is too good to be true.
• High-pressure sales pitches requiring you to act immediately.
• A demand to pay for all or most of the work in cash before any work is completed.
• Anyone selling services door-to-door.
Anyone who believes they may have been contacted by these suspects is asked to contact Kingston Police at 613-549-4660 ext. 0.
Story by Ken Hashizume
