Be Wary Of Asphalt Paving, Seal Coating Scams: Bernards Twp. Police

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Police are warning residents to be wary of asphalt paving and seal coating scams. The police posted the warning on their Facebook page Friday.

Bernards Township Police warning:

Residents are warned to be extremely cautious when selecting a contractor to pave a driveway or parking lot. Each spring and summer, bands of con-artists, often referred to as traveling criminals or gypsy pavers, enter our state in order to scam unsuspecting homeowners and business people. They have been labeled Gypsies or Travelers primarily because they travel as families and groups and because of their nomadic ways. Their favorite targets are senior citizens.

Some of the asphalt paving scams warning signs are:

• Selling door-to-door: Reputable asphalt/seal coating contractors will sometimes offer their services if they are doing a legitimate job in the immediate area. Always ask for references.
• Claiming they have leftover asphalt or seal coating from another job: Professional asphalt contractors will know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they have leftover material. Some of the reasons a contractor might have leftover material are due to weather, equipment problems and cancellations.
• Push you to make a quick decision: Reputable contractors will provide a written estimate that will be valid for weeks or months. If the great deal they are offering you today is not available tomorrow or next week it may be a scam.
• No contract offered: Insist upon a written contract specifying in detail, the work to be performed and the agreed upon price.
• Cash only sales: Most reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms.
• Deals that seem to be good to be true: If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of the work will also be quite low.
• Unmarked truck: Often the trucks they travel in are unmarked or they have an out of town address and phone number. A little research will reveal that they have no permanent address and the phone number is often an answering machine or a cell phone number.

"Please, share this as much as possible and talk to your neighbors and family members, especially senior citizens, who are unfortunately their favorite targets," police said. "We need your eyes and ears to locate these scam artists. Anyone that shows up knocking on your door looking for work should be a clue. Call us and we will be more than happy to come out and check."

To contact the Bernards Township Police call 908-766-1122.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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