Common Red Flags of Asphalt Paving Scams
1. The "Extra Material" Story
These contractors often claim they have "leftover materials" from a nearby job and can offer you a special deal. This is a classic deception - legitimate contractors carefully estimate materials for each job.
There is a Facebook Group where they brag about these scams:
2. Suspicious Business Practices:
- Demand for immediate cash payment
- No physical business address
- Operating from motels or campgrounds
- Vehicles with out-of-state plates
- No written contracts or estimates
- Pressure to decide immediately
3. License and Insurance Issues:
- Unable to provide Florida contractor license. Ask for a copy of their driver's licenses to verify their identity. Some contractors will give you the name of a legitimate contractor that is registered in the state of Florida, but the company is not theirs. By requesting a license to verify their identity. Some contractors will give you the name of a legitimate contractor that is registered in the state of Florida, but the company is not theirs. The same contractor will just look up a legally licensed company and impersonate them. By requesting a copy of their physical contractor's license and their driver's license, you can verify their identity. Not all counties in Florida require a contractor license, but most do.
- No proof of insurance
- No local business references
- No permanent business address. Search the address on Google to make sure it's not coming back to a post office box at a UPS store, a campsite, a motel, or an apartment building that offers seasonal rentals
Protect Yourself: Steps to Verify Legitimate Contractors
1. Check Licensing
Florida law requires asphalt contractors to be licensed in most counties. Verify credentials through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) & County Websites, which allow you to look up a contractor's license.
2. Demand Documentation
Legitimate contractors will provide:
- Written estimates
- Detailed contracts
- Insurance certificates
- Local references
- Business license numbers
- Physical business address
3. Payment Protection
- Never pay cash
- Don't make full payment upfront
- Get receipts for all payments
- Use checks or credit cards for tracking
Typically, out-of-state, unlicensed companies running scams will often not have a company name on the side of the truck. It's not uncommon to see trucks that just say "Asphalt Paving," "Blacktop," "Seal Coating," "Wholesale Blacktop" etc. They are also favorable to magnetic signs, which allow them to mask their true company name or change names frequently. Even being as brazen as fraudulently using company names of legitimate, registered, licensed contractors in Florida.
If a truck is missing the following information, this should be a red flag:
- City / State
- Local Phone Number With A Local Area Code (Not An 800#)
- USDOT Number
- Florida Contractors License Number
Instructions On How To "Instantly" Background Check A Paving Contractor In Florida:
<LEGAL DISCLAIMER> The video and the information provided below offer step-by-step guidance for homeowners and commercial business owners on verifying a paving contractor in Florida. The blog's author is not alleging that the company in this example is acting unlawfully but is highlighting that their legal status to operate in Florida cannot be confirmed through any public online search at the state or county level with the available information found on their truck parked in a Wal-Mart Parking Lot in Jupiter, Florida on 2/11/2023, information from their Facebook page or a search of the owner's name.
How To Verify A Paving Contractor In Florida:
All commercial vehicles from a 10,000 lb pickup truck to large dump trucks and low-boys require a USDOT # to be displayed on the side of a commercial contractors truck for identification on the highway by state police, DOT enforcement officers and weigh station/nspection stations. The easiest way to identify a paving contractor to see if they are, in fact, who they say they are if they arrive at your home or business, offering to pave your driveway or parking lot is simply to go to the US DOT's website at the link below, and search the contractor's USDOT number.
STEP 1: (Search their USDOT Number)
Start with the DOT Number on the side of the truck. If the company is not displaying a DOT number or is trying to obscure that number- this should be a red flag.
Click Here To Search A USDOT Number: https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx
STEP 2:
Using the example from the paving truck in the video and their USDOT #, once entered the following company information was returned:
STEP 3: (Search Google for the company name, telephone number etc)
As you can see in the example above, the contractor is registered and based in New Hampshire. This would also match a Facebook page found for the company when their name and phone number were searched. The Facebook post below shows the same truck in the video, along with a company name that matches the USDOT registry. Even though the name is not on the side of the truck aside from the word "Paving," the company's actual name and location can be found online.
STEP 4: (Search your county website contractor license lookup feature to verify they are licensed)
Florida currently does not have a statewide contractor license for asphalt paving. Paving licenses are obtained on a county basis. For instance, because this truck was spotted in Jupiter, Florida (Palm Beach County), I searched the county contractor license lookup for Palm Beach, Broward, and Martin Counties. All three of these counties returned no results for a contractor's license for the company name, which was found from the registered owner of their dump truck, according to the USDOT search and their social media posts.
STEP 5: (Verify through Sunbiz.org that they are registered to do business in Florida)
A search of Sunbiz.org also didn't return results for the company to be registered in Florida. Any company transacting business in the states must be registered to report their sales, collect/remit sales use/tax, and remit payroll taxes.
In addition, any licensed contractor in Florida is required to have their license number on the side of their work trucks.
Beware Of Contractors Advertising Asphalt Services On Facebook Marketplace:
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If you plan on hiring a contractor from Facebook Marketplace (which is not recommended) to verify they are local, click on their profile information to see what city/state they live in. You will find that 90% of the ads during the winter are from out-of-state contractors.
BEWARE: Most ads are scam ads and do not follow the posting rules of Facebook Marketplace.
Businesses are not permitted to place advertisements in the marketplace section unless they're paid sponsored ads. However, some contractors have found ways to bypass this restriction. They often do this by quoting a price in their listings, which allows them to sidestep the rules. By doing so, they obscure their phone number or contact information, making it appear to Facebook as though they are selling a tangible product rather than a service. This tactic can be misleading for potential customers. As a homeowner, you need to be particularly cautious about how these services are being marketed. For instance, a contractor might advertise pavement sealer at a predetermined cost per gallon. However, as a layperson, you may not have the means to verify the actual quantity of material being applied to your driveway. This lack of transparency can lead to overcharging or substandard work. The same caution applies to contractors who charge by the ton for hot mix asphalt. In my opinion, contractors who advertise in this manner on Facebook Marketplace should be avoided altogether. Engaging with them could result in wasted time and effort, especially if they turn out not to be legitimate or licensed companies in Florida. It's always better to invest time in verifying the credentials and legitimacy of a contractor before proceeding with any agreements.
How to Report Suspicious Contractors
If you encounter suspicious paving contractors:
1. Contact local law enforcement
2. Report to Florida DBPR
3. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau
4. Alert your local consumer protection office
5. Share information with neighborhood watch groups, Nextdoor & Facebook Groups.
Protecting Your Community!
At Fix Asphalt, we're committed to protecting Florida residents from predatory contractors.
If you're approached by a door-to-door paving contractor:
- Ask for their Florida contractor license number
- Request local references
- Get everything in writing
- Never feel pressured to make an immediate decision
- Contact local authorities if you suspect a scam
Follow the advice of America's Favorite & Most Entertaining Sheriff: Grady Judd
Other News Coverage Of Florida Paving Scams:
https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/asphalt-paving-business-scam-uncovered-winter-haven-sheriff
Need Help Verifying a Contractor?
Remember: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Legitimate contractors don't sell asphalt services door-to-door or demand cash payments.
#FloridaPavingScams #AsphaltScams #ContractorFraud #ConsumerProtection #ElderFraud #FloridaContractors
Additional Resources:
Together, we can help protect Florida homeowners from paving scams.
By sharing this information with your friends and family, you can help to spread awareness about paving scams and protect others from becoming victims.
Please note that this blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.
If you believe you have been the victim of a paving scam, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
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