London resident cautions neighbours of alleged driveway paving scam

A London, Ont., woman says she wants to warn others after losing $4,000 to a driveway paving business that she saystook her money without completing the job.

Whitehills resident Edna Valk says she was approached by a man at her homein late July who said he heard from a neighbour that she was interested in having her driveway paved. The company appeared to be doing other driveways in the neighbourhood, leading Valk to believe her property would be next.

After Valk agreed, she saw a crew of several workers dig a 30 cm by six-metre-long trenchdown the long side of her driveway, saying they had plans for expansion. Valksays she saw what appeared to be numerous vehicles belonging to the crew, including a paving roller waiting for her to move her car. That's when she handed over the cash for the job, and went back inside her house to get her keys.

But when she returned to the driveway, Valk says the crew and vehicles were gone.

"I'm always on my toes and warning others [about scams]. And this guy, he scammed me," said the 74-year-old widow.

"I went for a visit with my friends and they all wanted to know what happened and I'm telling them, 'Girls, don't do it. If you don't get a receipt, don't do it."

It will cost her $1,000 more to fill in the trenchthe crew left behind in her driveway.

Valk immediately filed a report with London Police. She then posted her experience on a Facebook community page and connected with other neighbours who had complaints about a company called Terrain Asphalt.

One of those neighbours is Herb Hoellstern. He says his driveway was completed, but he was then left with a large pile of asphalt to clean up from his lawn, despite Terrain Asphalt saying in a contract it would do so.

Hoellstern and his spouse paid $6,000 to have the driveway paved, along with $300 to pay another company to come pick up the aftermath.

"Don't get your driveway done by people that come knocking at your door," said Hoellstern. "If you want it done, get it done by a reputable company."

Hoellstern shared dashcam images of the crew with Valk, who confirmed they were the same as those who had appeared on her driveway and taken her cash.

Reports of similar scam in York region

CBC News also spoke with other residents who said Terrain Asphalt had either left messes of asphalt on their lawns or taken their cash while doing shoddy work or not completing the job at all.

Around the same time as Valk's encounter with Terrain Asphalt, York Regional Police issued a media release describing citizens in that regionlosing thousands of dollars in the same scam.

"In most incidents, the victims are outside their home when they are approached by a group of people," the statement reads. "At least one male has an Irish accent. Members of the group solicit same-day driveway paving, for cash, providing no formal written agreement."

Investigators advised residents to trust their instincts if a situation feels suspicious.

The London Police Service was unable to respond to requests for comment on reports by the time thisarticle was published. However, a media relations officer said there have not been any charges laid relating to the nature of the allegedscam.

CBC News reached out to Terrain Asphalt through a phone number and email address provided on the receipt given to Hoellstern, and has yet to receive aresponse.