Police Alerting Local Residents To Recent Paving Scams
ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- Many local roads and driveways are torn up after a long winter.
It may be a good idea to get your driveway fixed, but beware because police say there's a scam going around.
Seib's Pub is a family kind of restaurant where friendly is just part of the menu, and with that comes a level of trust.
"[A] man came in and asked if we wanted to have our holes patched at the bottom of our parking lot," said Judy Seibert, of Seib's Pub.
A few minutes later they got to the bottom line.
"He said $200, and I said, okay fine," Seibert said.
About 45 minutes later, the man was back - job done and seeking payment. That's when Seibert's husband sought confirmation on the agreed to price.
"I said $200, and he said he's telling me $3,000," Seibert said. "And I said, 'Well, no, no, no.'"
Things got a bit confrontational and more unusual.
"He wanted the check made out to another name, not even the name he had given me a card," said Seibert.
She called Ross Township Police who arrived a few minutes later.
"The police had informed me that this had been ongoing, and I want people to understand that they have to be careful," Seibert added.
So far in recent weeks, there have been paving scam incidents in Avalon, Bellevue, and Ross Township, and sometimes there's no asphalt involved.
"In other cases, they'll say I've got to go get the trucks and they never some back," said Detective Brian Kohlhepp, of Ross Township Police.
Kohlhepp says never let anyone into your home and look for credentials.
"They should have an ID number issued by the Attorney General's Office, and you should be able to go online or call the Attorney General's Office and verify that," said Detective Kohlhepp.
"Be careful," added Seibert. "If it happened to our business, what about these elderly people out there; that's my main concern."
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