August 19, 2019

Alberta RCMP warns property owners of paving contractor scams

Edmonton—This summer, the Alberta RCMP has received reports of several incidents involving paving scams in Western Alberta. Travelling companies, posing as legitimate contractors, offer paving or sometimes roof sealing services typically to senior citizens in rural communities. These individuals have been known to provide few details of their identity and utilize non-descript vehicles rarely bearing commercial logos.

The Alberta RCMP urges property owners to beware of out-of-town companies offering such services. The contractors claim to have leftover asphalt from previous jobs and promise to provide quality services. However, the product used is believed to be cold, recycled asphalt or a gravel and oil mixture with no lasting properties. This results in the asphalt falling apart once it is driven on. By that time, these fraudsters are long gone, disappearing with their payment before the customer realizes they have been scammed.

We would like to remind residents to exercise caution when retaining contractor services and if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

Residents should be weary of any contractors who:

• Come to your door saying they are working in the area offering a deal for leftover asphalt
• Drive vehicles bearing no business names or logos
• Pressure you into making a quick decision or refuse to take “no” for an answer
• Ask for a down payment to buy materials
• Refuse to give you a written quote with their business name, physical address and outlining the services they will provide prior to completing the work

Here a few tips to avoid falling prey to scammers:

• Before agreeing to contract a person who comes to your door, get names of their previous customers and verify that they were satisfied with the work
• Do some research on the company with either the Better Business Bureau in Alberta, with the Consumer Investigations Unit, with your local Rural Crime Watch or on social media site
• Make sure to obtain a written quote from the contractor that includes the full business name, full address, phone number, GST number and provincial and municipal license numbers, if applicable
• Ensure the quote you receive gives details such as the quantity and specifies the quality of materials being offered
• Obtain quotes from local supplier as a form of comparison

The Alberta RCMP is working with the Alberta Consumer Investigation Unit (CIU) to counter this trend. If you or anyone you know have any information on these companies, please contact the Consumer Investigations Unit – North (north of Ponoka) at 587-985-4735 or the Consumer Investigations Unit – South (south of Ponoka) at 403-803-8229.

From Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT)

Drugs, Guns, Cash Seized During Edmonton Search

Three stolen handguns and more than $560,000 worth of drugs and cash have been seized after ALERT searched two Edmonton homes.

ALERT’s Edmonton organized crime and gang team made the seizures and arrested two people after searching homes in the Hamptons and Crystallina Nera neighbourhoods. Edmonton Police Service and RCMP provided assistance when the search warrants were executed on July 17, 2019.

The search warrants were executed as part of a short-term drug trafficking investigation that began in May 2019. In addition to an assortment of drugs and cash, three stolen handguns were recovered.

Two of the handguns were loaded and one was equipped with a suppressor. The handguns had been previously reported stolen from Mayerthorpe, Strathcona County, and Grande Prairie. The firearms will be the subject of forensic examination and ballistics testing to determine if they were used in any other crimes.

“We’re proud of the significant results this investigation yielded in a relatively short period of time,” said Insp. Marc Cochlin, ALERT Edmonton. “Getting these weapons and drugs off the street will go a long way toward making our communities safer.”

The drugs seized have an estimated street value of more than $400,000 and include:

• 2.4 kilograms of cocaine;
• 25 kilograms of a cocaine buffing agent;
• 1 kilogram of methamphetamine;
• 305 grams of MDMA;
• 4 kilograms of dried cannabis, along with cannabis resin, oils, and edibles; and
• over 350 assorted packages of illicit steroids.

More than $166,000 in cash proceeds of crime was also seized.

Two people were arrested. Cody Hilton, 32, and Connie Liu, 53, have been charged with a total of 40 criminal offences, including: possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking; possession of cannabis for the distribution; possession of property obtained by crime; and numerous firearms-related offences.

Members of the public who suspect drug or gang activity in their community can call local police, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is always anonymous.

ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime. Members of Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, and RCMP work in ALERT.