$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
driveway repaving scam
A crew claims to have leftover asphalt from a nearby job and offers a cheap driveway seal or repave that uses watered-down sealant or thin asphalt.
“contractor scam”
↑ 743%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
A crew approaches homeowners claiming they just finished a nearby job and have extra asphalt or sealant they can use at a discount.
2
The work is done quickly using inferior materials — often used motor oil mixed with sealant — that washes away within weeks.
3
The crew demands immediate cash payment and is gone before the homeowner notices the quality.
What to do first
Never hire a contractor who solicits door to door — reputable paving companies have established customer pipelines.
Related terms
asphalt scamleftover material scampaving fraudContractor and home repair scamsDoor-to-doorSurgingHomeownersOlder adultsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomasphalt scamleftover material scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Robert, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate contractor and home repair scams situation while using Door-to-door. A crew approaches homeowners claiming they just finished a nearby job and have extra asphalt or sealant they can use at a discount.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The work is done quickly using inferior materials — often used motor oil mixed with sealant — that washes away within weeks.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The crew demands immediate cash payment and is gone before the homeowner notices the quality.
The outcome
Robert realized something was wrong when crew shows up unannounced offering a deal on leftover materials. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never hire a contractor who solicits door to door — reputable paving companies have established customer pipelines. Robert's experience shows why crew shows up unannounced offering a deal on leftover materials and no written contract or warranty is offered are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Crew shows up unannounced offering a deal on leftover materials
- No written contract or warranty is offered
- They demand cash payment before or immediately after the work
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never hire a contractor who solicits door to door — reputable paving companies have established customer pipelines.
- ✓Get a written estimate, contract, and warranty before any work begins.
- ✓Verify the contractor's license through your state or local licensing board.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The BBB consistently receives complaints about itinerant paving crews who do substandard work with inferior materials.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never hire a contractor who solicits door to door — reputable paving companies have established customer pipelines.
- ✓Get a written estimate, contract, and warranty before any work begins.
- ✓Verify the contractor's license through your state or local licensing board.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The BBB consistently receives complaints about itinerant paving crews who do substandard work with inferior materials.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Homeowners, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Door-to-door — Contractor and home repair scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Homeowners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The BBB consistently receives complaints about itinerant paving crews who do substandard work with inferior materials.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about driveway repaving scam
How does the driveway repaving scam work?+
A crew approaches homeowners claiming they just finished a nearby job and have extra asphalt or sealant they can use at a discount. The work is done quickly using inferior materials — often used motor oil mixed with sealant — that washes away within weeks. The crew demands immediate cash payment and is gone before the homeowner notices the quality.
What are the warning signs of driveway repaving scam?+
Crew shows up unannounced offering a deal on leftover materials No written contract or warranty is offered They demand cash payment before or immediately after the work
What should I do if I encounter driveway repaving scam?+
Never hire a contractor who solicits door to door — reputable paving companies have established customer pipelines. Get a written estimate, contract, and warranty before any work begins. Verify the contractor's license through your state or local licensing board.
Who is most at risk for driveway repaving scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Door-to-door.
Is driveway repaving scam getting worse?+
driveway repaving scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.