Scammers appear to be evolving in either cunning or desperation, as highlighted by the experience of Florida resident Amanda Brochu. In late 2023, she reported the theft of her driveway to the local police, who determined that she had fallen victim to a contractor scam.
Brochu informed local news channel WFTV9 that she listed her house for sale in December 2023 after completing various repairs, including a roof replacement. Soon after, her son observed five different contractors measuring the driveway, a peculiar occurrence since the family hadn’t sought any concrete work.
One of the contractors claimed to be acting on behalf of a man named Andre, who presented himself as the landlord. Andre requested a quote for replacing the driveway at Brochu’s residence, approved a $7,200 estimate, and, when unable to provide a deposit, the contractor insisted on full payment along with proof of ownership. Subsequently, Andre ceased responding to messages.
Upon apprehension by the police, the man clarified that the entire incident was a misunderstanding—he had mistakenly provided the contractor with the wrong address. However, approximately a week later, the driveway vanished, leaving Brochu with a makeshift, uneven dirt road leading to her residence.
In investigating the theft, her real estate agent discovered that while driveway thefts are uncommon, instances of unauthorized work being carried out are not unprecedented.The theft of dry concrete might seem perplexing, given its lack of inherent value and the probable expenses associated with removing a driveway.
In this case, however, Brochu unwittingly became entangled in an overpayment scam, as elucidated by our counterparts at The Drive. Scammers systematically target homes listed for sale on platforms like Zillow, with a preference for vacant properties where the scam can be executed more seamlessly. Upon identifying such a property, they feign ownership, contacting contractors for estimates on various projectswhether it’s driveway replacement, roofing, or painting, as was the case with Brochu.
The scam unfolds by the scammer issuing a check exceeding the quoted amount, attributing it to an error, and then requesting a refund. After the initial check bounces, the scammer pockets the surplus funds.
As an illustration, suppose the cost of a driveway replacement is $10,000. In this scam, the contractor might receive a check for $12,500. After the scammer claims a couple of instances of “my bad!” or errors, the contractor refunds the $2,500 difference via check, inadvertently channeling that amount directly into the scammer’s pocket.
Consequently, the contractor not only loses the money invested in carrying out the requested work but also forfeits the additional $2,500. Meanwhile, the actual homeowner returns to an unexpected scenario, such as a new roof, fresh paint, or a missing driveway. WFTV9 emphasizes that less experienced contractors are more susceptible to falling victim to this deceptive scheme.