Door-to-door scammers offer illegit paving services
DANIEL RADFORD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 4 months AGO
Attorney General Lawrence Wasden is warning Idahoans about individuals and companies going door-to-door offering paving services.
“This is a common summer scam where the scammers claim they have leftover asphalt and offer to pave driveways or sidewalks for a discounted rate,” the Attorney General’s office said in a press release “The scammers’ work is often shoddy, and they sometimes demand payment for thousands of dollars more than their original quote.”
AG officials urged caution with any door-to-door seller who does not provide a physical address.
While an internet search can help verify the sellers’ cancellation address is a valid physical address, scammers may attempt to use a legitimate business’s address, AG officials said
“Paving scammers may say that they are a local business and have trucks with Idaho license plates,” they said. “Usually, however, the scammers are transitory and have no physical address. This makes it very difficult to locate them for future redress.”
If you are offered a suspicious paving service, especially by a door-to-door salesperson, attorney general staff recommend resident demand they provide the Idaho Consumer Protection Act’s mandatory three-day right-to-cancel disclosure.
“Consumers should never buy from a door-to-door seller who can’t provide the cancellation disclosure or who claims the requirement doesn’t apply to their services,” AG officials said
Furthermore, companies also should have Idaho contractor registration numbers that homeowners can verify through the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.
Anyone who encounters a paving scam or loses money to one, officials advised residents u file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Complaint forms are available at www.ag.idaho.gov or by calling 208-334-2424.
ARTICLES BY DANIEL RADFORD
Sentence reduction request denied
A Bonner County man’s request for reduced sentence on a host of charges was denied in First District Court on Monday.
Man pleads not guilty in drug case
A traffic stop for expired tags ended with a North Dakota man receiving three drug-related charges. Following the traffic stop by Idaho State Police in Bayview on Oct. 19, Wayde Gerald Olsson, 53, was arrested on charges of misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia with the intent to use, felony drug trafficking of methamphetamine, and felony possession with intent to deliver fentanyl.
Man pleads guilty to murdering mother
Gerald Eric Eggert, 57, pled guilty Monday to second-degree murder in connection to the fatal strangling of his mother at a Sandpoint hotel in late September. Eggert is scheduled to receive his sentence on Jan. 20, 2023.