Alan Tibbitts couldn’t believe his luck when he was approached by four look-a-like contractors, offering to lay his driveway for a fraction of the market price.
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The Jimboomba resident was quick to snap up the $15 a square metre deal; however, shortly regretted his decision when he discovered he had fallen victim to the “bitumen bandits”.
Mr Tibbitts said the “dodgy offer” matched an ongoing scam, circulating the nation, when he searched for the company the foursome worked for online.
“What they offered sounded legitimate, but when I saw the equipment they were using – which was a lot smaller than what they needed to get the job done – I knew something wasn’t right,” he said.
“The company they worked for didn’t exist online; but what I did find were a bunch of articles and warnings from police about ‘bitumen bandits’ offering to lay cheap driveways that turn out to be dodgy.”
Mr Tibbitts said the progress of the con artist’s work, who all appeared to be from England, further confirmed his suspicions.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing when they said they were finished leveling my driveway and called for the trucks to start sealing it,” he said.
“I have worked in the building industry and I am familiar with the material and vehicles used on a job like this, and they were no where near done.
“When I started asking questions, I realised they had no idea what they were talking about or the process of laying asphalt; so I asked them to leave.
“As soon as I mentioned calling the police, if they refused, they couldn’t get off my property quicker.”
The Office of Fair Trading warned residents to be wary of traders offering bitumen laying or other home maintenance in return for cash.
A fair trading spokesman said similar lines have been used at acreage properties on Brisbane’s southside.
“They often hand out business cards in an attempt to appear legitimate, sometimes carrying or mimicking the name of a reputable local business,” the spokesman said.
Residents were also reminded door-to-door traders must leave a premises immediately if asked to do so, and consumers must have a 10-business-day cooling-off period and be provided with documentation to enable cancellation of the contract at any stage during that time.
Mr Tibbitts hoped his experience would prompt other residents to be on the lookout for the “bitumen bandits”, and encouraged anyone, approached by suspicious tradespersons, to record their vehicle registration and contact the police.
Residents can report vehicle descriptions and numbers by phoning 13 74 68.
