Paving Scamers Get Deported -Some Charged

By Ben Meisner

The people who came forward to tell their story of how they were bilked by a group of would be pavers who conned them out of their money, may not get their money back but they can take satisfaction in knowing that they have put the culprits out of business.

In a story carried by Opinion250, six people came forward to say they had been bilked a total of 23 thousand dollars in a paving scheme by a group of people who spoke with an Irish accent. They were told that they would receive a special deal because the paving crew was working right around the coroner. When the unsuspecting residents paid ahead of the job being completed, the crew fled the scene.

The RCMP was put on watch by the Opinion250 story and a couple of weeks later, the house of cards fell apart. Three people were arrested in Edmonton in relation to the scam; they are believed to be part of the ring that operated in Prince George. Seven people (apparently all from one family) were arrested and deported to Ireland. They had been operating a paving scam in the Regina, Saskatoon areas.

While the six local residents in Prince George can hold out little hope that they will ever see any of their money again, they can take some satisfaction out of the fact that the deported people (along with the two arrested in Edmonton) will not be making a return visit to Prince George.

The scam pavers who hit this city had Alberta license plates on their vehicles. It is not known what their connection was to the Saskatchewan group; regardless, deporting them was much quicker than trying to run them through the court system, saving time and money for the state.

The lesson in the end, don’t ever pay for any job up front unless you are sitting on some solid guarantees.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us