Stratford police warning residents after report of fraudulent paving company in the area

By Galen Simmons

The Stratford Police Service is warning St. Marys and area residents to be vigilant when dealing with supposed paving companies selling their services door-to-door after receiving a report of possible fraud.

On April 2, Stratford police were made aware of a possible fraudulent paving crew operating in the St. Marys and Perth County area. In previous years, similar paving companies have been known to solicit customers by providing low prices for their services, but failed to complete the job or provided very low-quality work.

“We got information from concrete and asphalt suppliers in the St. Marys area,” said Stratford Police Service community resource and media relations officer Const. Darren Fischer. “They are going to try to turn them away when they attempt to purchase product from them. They typically go door to door and there is no description of them at this time.

“Most of the time, they start a job but don't finish, or they do a job but do it very poorly and don't use enough material. It can be difficult to prove as a fraud sometimes and a lot of it becomes a civil case, but then they are gone and have provided contact information that isn't accurate, and they cannot be tracked down afterwards.”

In July 2024, several people from the United Kingdom were arrested by the Stratford Police Service in relation to a paving fraud in the Stratford area.

The police service is reminding area residents to ask for references and to check those references, as well as research the name of the paving company and business addresses provided. Contact local companies to confirm if what is being offered is legitimate. Look for business names on vehicles and check for company reviews with the Better Business Bureau. Lastly, always be wary of people who ask for payment upfront.

“Most importantly, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is,” Fischer said.