Police Warn Residents About Driveway Scam Targeting The Elderly

UPPER MORELAND, PA — Police in this eastern Montgomery County community are warning older residents to be vigilant after officers took several recent reports of a driveway scam targeting the elderly.

Police said three different individuals have been going door to door, claiming to be from a driveway paving company, and offering to seal coat residential driveways and perform concrete work.

Residents in each of these cases were recently scammed out of $1,500 each, police said, since the seal coat was not done properly, and the concrete work was described as shoddy or subpar.

Upper Moreland Police said that the suspects are described as three males: one going by "Tony," who is said to be white, in his 50s, and standing approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall with facial hair; another thin, white male in his 30s around 6 feet tall; and another white male in his 20s standing about 5 feet, 8 inches tall wearing many gold chains.

"Please help us spread the word and warn friends, family and neighbors!" Upper Moreland Police wrote in a community alert.

Police said that driveway sealing scams are quite common in many neighborhoods and often target the senior citizen population because of its vulnerability.

To avoid falling victim to such scams, police advised residents to never trust someone who says they have extra asphalt or sealcoat and can repair a driveway for a minimal cost; never hire someone on the spot who knocks on your door; never pay cash for such jobs, as reputable contractors will almost always ask for checks made out to the name of the business; and make sure those knocking on doors have a solicitors' permit, as they are required in places like Upper Moreland and many surrounding communities.

"If a 'deal' sounds too good to be true, trust your gut, it probably is!" Upper Moreland Police wrote in their alert.