If your driveway needs paving or repairs, don’t trust just anyone to do the job. BBB Scam Tracker hasreceived numerous reports of unscrupulous contractors who trick homeowners with supposedly gooddeals. Homeowners end up with shoddy pavement − or nothing at all − to show for what they paid and,in some cases, have lost over $8,000 in the process.

How the scam worksA contractor leaves a pamphlet or shows up at the door. They claim they have been doing work in thearea and just happened to notice the condition of your driveway or sidewalk. Since they are alreadyworking nearby, they can give you a discount. If the price is agreeable, they will then ask for a largepercentage of the fee upfront. There is some hesitancy if there is a question on the price or detailsabout the business and its location.

Once the transaction is complete, the scam contractor may disappear altogether. The contact number oremail may not work, quickly helping you realize that the contact information was a sham. If you protest,the contractor may use intimidation tactics, such as threatening a lawsuit, to convince you to pay up.In other cases, once complete, the contractor's work is shoddy and unprofessional, but the full paymenthas been made. Reaching the company the contractor allegedly represented is impossible, or anothercompany was impostored in the process. In any of these scenarios, the chances of getting a refund orthe work fixed are slim.

How to avoid contractor scams• Be wary of unsolicited offers. Most scams involving contractors begin when a randomcontractor makes an effort to go out of their way to offer an estimate that was never requested.

• Research companies and contractors before you hire. Start with BBB.org. If the contractor hasmultiple negative reviews and complaints, don’t hire them. Often, a simple internet search willreveal companies or individuals that have been involved in fraudulent activities or providedunsatisfactory work to previous clients.

• Get everything in writing. Ask for an estimate in writing before payment is even discussed.Don’t let a contractor start working on a project until a written, signed contract outlining startand complete dates, a detailed description of the work to be provided, material costs, paymentarrangements, and warranty information is provided.

• Stagger payments. Most contractors will require a percentage of the total price upfront, but itshould never be the full price before the work has begun. Instead, agree to stagger payments sothat work can be inspected at various stages of the project.

• Use safe payment methods. Paying with a credit card provides some peace of mind since thecredit card company will help you if the company is fraudulent. If you use a check, write it to acompany, not an individual.. Paying cash or using an electronic wallet app is risky since there isno way to stop the payment or get some money back if anything goes wrong

To learn more, visit BBB.org. If you spot a fee scam, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker. Whether you’velost money or not, your story could help others avoid a scam.

Rick Walz is the President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana, which serves 23 counties. Contact the BBB at 800-552-4631 or visit www.bbb.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Consumer Advocate: Watch out for unsolicited contractor scams