Asphalt Scam Artists (Dallas: landscaping, job, houses)

[EnyaGirl]

I just want to give people in the area a heads up. Yesterday as the movers were moving me in, a man came to my door. He had a thick Boston accent...it was obvious he wasn't from around here. He said that he was working on a job "just up the road" and had some "extra asphalt left over" that he thought I might like to repair my driveway and that he could give it to me for $3 a square foot, a "good deal". Having been a former private investigator, I have a good sense for scams, but I thought nothing of it. I politely declined because my husband wasn't around, and the man left.

This morning I see the same white pickup truck pull up into my driveway. This time TWO men arrived at my house. They seemed startled to see me standing on the deck when they got out of the truck. I said "can I help you?" The guy from yesterday seemed to remember me and said "I was here yesterday about the asphalt." I said "Uh yea, still not interested. THanks." They left, and unfortunately I was not able to get the tag off the truck as by the time they pulled out of my long driveway I was unable to see it from my deck. My house is not easy to forget. It looks like no other house in the area, and I find it very odd that this man "forgot" he was here yesterday.

I decided to look up "asphalt scam" online and came back with a million results of stories about out-of-town criminals who come to areas like this and pull scams on unsuspecting homeowners. Here is a link to one of the articles I found explaining the scam: abc11.com: Asphalt Scam 9/12/05

I have alerted the local police. I am in Dallas, and they seem to be focusing on this area as like I said, this is the second time in two days they have been here. Keep your eyes open, and if you are approached by two men in a white pickup (one closely resembling Ben Affleck with the Boston accent to boot!) and another shorter guy with dark long hair, alert the police!

[coartist88]

very interesting,a good heads up to us thanks.

[loveinbloom]

Thanks for taking the time to alert the police and the board members. As Billy Joel once sang"...we all go down together..."! I am convinced we can change that with folks like you!

[greentown]

This scam has been going on for years around here. My father-in-law lives near Lake Ariel and the same type of scam was attemped several years ago.

[WatsonWest]

It's good to know they're back in the area.
My neighbor (3 houses down) had the same thing happen last year. It sounds like it could even be the same people... white truck with no name (we did see Mass plates) and Boston accent & the same story.

[EnyaGirl]

Originally Posted by WatsonWest

It's good to know they're back in the area.
My neighbor (3 houses down) had the same thing happen last year. It sounds like it could even be the same people... white truck with no name (we did see Mass plates) and Boston accent & the same story.

YES!!!! Did your neighbor get scammed? It has to be the same guys...Mass plates and everything.

[WatsonWest]

No, luckily she didn't fall for it.
We're a little suspicious of strangers walking up to our houses wanting to sell us anything.

[SifuPhil]

These scams take many forms, the asphalt one just seems to be the most recent incarnation. I've seen and heard about roofing scams (a big one), siding, windows, landscaping - you name it, there's a scammer trying to make it work.

Always stick with known, local contractors and recognize that if it's too good to be true it probably isn't.

[NEPMTBA]

I let my "MAX" with "Pointy Teeth" talk to individuals like that! He walks on fours and doesn't know much English, but he always get the "POINT" across... LOL!

[kvysmom]

I remembered reading this post a while back. You should check out wnep.com, there is a story there today about a Massachusetts asphalt scam artist preying on residents of the Poconos. State police are looking for more incidents that occurred. I wonder if this is the same scam artist mentioned on this thread...