As the warm weather approaches, Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is alerting homeowners about the resurgence of driveway-paving scammers who often target residents during the spring season.
These fraudulent contractors are a persistent issue in the county and across Maryland, prompting authorities to urge homeowners to exercise caution and take necessary precautions.
According to a county press release, OCP has taken enforcement actions over the past year against individuals performing unlicensed home improvement work, particularly those involved in driveway paving. Consequently, civil and criminal charges have been filed, and several individuals have had arrest warrants issued against them.
Additionally, OCP has successfully suspended websites associated with these criminal operations permanently or temporarily.
“As a community, we must remain vigilant and take appropriate measures to prevent ourselves from being deceived by fraudulent activities,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “It is essential for residents to be aware that the Office of Consumer Protection is an excellent resource available to them whenever they suspect they are being scammed, particularly in cases related to driveway paving.”
The scam typically begins with an unsolicited knock on the door, where the scammer offers to repave or seal a driveway or perform other concrete work. They often create a sense of urgency by claiming to have leftover materials from a nearby project or offering a cash-only deal. However, the quality of work by these unlicensed contractors is frequently substandard, and the final cost tends to be significantly higher than the quoted price.
“These scams involve driveway pavers who aren’t properly licensed as home improvement contractors as required under Montgomery County or Maryland law, or who might be soliciting against County policies,” said Lee Glass, an investigator with OCP, “They knock on people’s doors and defraud them out of money, fail to complete work, perform exceedingly sub-standard work or take their deposits and run. People have relied on the fact that others in their neighborhood have worked with a company, but that is not a fool-proof method of protecting yourself, your property or your assets.”
MoCo homeowners, beware of driveway-paving scammers! These fraudsters may knock on your door, offer unsolicited services, and pressure you into making a hasty decision.
Read our #PressRelease to learn about this scam and how to spot the red flags🚩: https://t.co/95tkcaL4ZA
— Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection (@ConsumerWise) April 10, 2024
Scammers sometimes demand a deposit, bring equipment to the property, or even start the job, only to abandon it midway, leaving the property damaged. There is often no warranty or responsible party to make repairs or honor the promised “warranty.” These scams can result in civil or criminal violations and, in the worst-case scenarios, fraud, theft, property destruction, or elder abuse.
A Silver Spring resident recently reported falling victim to a driveway scam after seeing several neighbors work with the same “company,” which initially instilled confidence. However, the resident ended up with a poor-quality product and felt deceived.
OCP is also working with a victim from Gaithersburg who said, “I was lied to about what they were going to be doing, and I have had three other reputable licensed concrete businesses say it was the worst job they have ever seen, and the whole job has to be ripped out. They also damaged my property by not fixing a broken window and washed cement down the storm drain, damaging the environment.”
To avoid becoming a victim, OCP advises homeowners to be wary of the following red flags that may indicate a potential scammer rather than a trustworthy professional contractor:
- The offer is unsolicited, with the contractor proactively approaching the homeowner with an estimate that was never requested.
- No written contract is provided upfront before any work is done, which is a clear indication of a potential scam or substandard work.
- The contractor does not have a valid Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license number, which is required for legitimate home improvement projects.
- The contractor pressures the homeowner to make a quick decision, rather than providing a written estimate valid for a specific period.
- The offer is cash-only, which reputable contractors typically do not require.
- The individual is from out of state or has an unmarked truck, suggesting they are part of a roaming scam operation.
For more consumer tips or to file a complaint with the Office of Consumer Protection, residents can visit montgomerycountymd.gov/OCP or call (240) 777-0311.
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