2 people arrested in alleged driveway paving scam in Kingston, Ont.: police

A Kingston Police vehicle in Kingston, Ont.

Police in Kingston, Ont. are issuing a new warning about door-to-door paving scams in the city, after a homeowner was offered a contract for $6,000 for driveway repairs if they paid cash.

Officers responding to a call at a home in the Sherwood Drive area on Tuesday were greeted by an individual in a white pickup truck with an Irish accent, who then summoned a colleague and left the area at a high rate of speed, Kingston police said.

“The driveway of the home was observed to be in a partial state of repair/construction,” police said in a media release Wednesday afternoon.

“Left behind were multiple shovels/racks and two other individuals, later determined to be foreign nationals.”

Police say the homeowner told officers they were approached by an “Irish-sounding male” around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. When the homeowner agreed to have paving services completed, the man said he would provide them with a contract for $6,000 for repairs and paving work to the driveway if they paid cash.

“The homeowners stated they did not have that amount of cash at the house, at which point the male offered to take them to the bank,” police said.

“The male then dropped off the other two individuals who immediately began preparing the driveway. No contract was provided to the homeowner and no money was exchanged.”

Police say officers spoke with the two individuals remaining at the scene and they were placed under arrest by the Canada Border Services Agency for violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Residents are being warned to watch out for door-to-door paving scams operating in the Kingston area.

“Scammers offer to repave residential driveways at a steeply discounted cash rate, requiring payment up front,” police said.

“The suspects often state that they are doing work nearby, which is why they are offering the discounted rate, which is too good to be true. The work will be left incomplete, or the paving is of poor quality. In past cases, large piles of excavated asphalt and earth were left behind, often blocking the roadway.”