What's Up Now: RCMP Release

Date: May 16, 2025Share

RCMP warn residents about paving scam

St. Albert RCMP are warning the community about a paving scam that has surfaced in the area, but also in other parts of the province. Out-of-town paving companies, which use different business names, are going door-to-door offering their services for low rates. In most cases the home owner will pay for the services up-front and then receive a sub-standard job. The resident may be asked to pay more than the quote provided to complete the job and/or the job may not be completed at all, with the company disappearing before the resident realizes it was a scam.

Often, these companies will not provide the resident details about their identity and their vehicles may or may not bear commercial company logos. Some of the companies do have legitimate logos, but often are magnetic and can easily be removed or swapped out for a different company name. The scammers will often tell the resident that they have leftover asphalt from a previous job, thus the lower quote but the material is actually cold, recycled asphalt or a mixture of oil and gravel with no lasting properties. Some of these paving companies may also offer roof sealing services.

St. Albert residents should be wary of any contractor who:

• Come to your door saying they are working in the area and offering a deal for leftover asphalt
• Drive vehicles bearing no business names or logos
• Pressure you into making a quick decision or refuse to take “no” for an answer
• Ask for a down payment to buy materials
• Refuse to give you a written quote with their business name, physical address and outlining the services they will provide prior to completing the work

St. Albert RCMP reminds citizens to do their due-diligence before hiring any contractor, including:

• Getting several quotes from different companies for the work being done for comparison
• Checking with the Better Business Bureau of Alberta to see if said companies are legitimate
• Researching said companies with Consumers Investigation Unit and other social media sites
• Making sure to obtain a written quote from the contractor that includes the full business name, full address, phone number, GST number and provincial and municipal license numbers, if applicable
• Realizing if one quote is considerably lower than others received, maybe it is too good to be true

If you or someone you know have fallen victim to this scam or recently encounter any individuals posing as paving contractors in St. Albert and are concerned that it is suspicious, you are encouraged to contact the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.

St. Albert RCMP encourage the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity. Reports tell us where to look, who to look for, and where to patrol in the future. If you see a crime in progress, dial 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

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