Police in Milford, Hopkinton say longtime scam involves 'group of Irish travelers'

Local police departments are warning residents of a paving scam that in some cases is costing people thousands of dollars.

A company calling itself Green Paving & Masonry is conducting the scam, police in both Hopkinton and Milford said recently. There is such a company by that name, based in Boston, but it's not involved.

"They're getting money from people upfront to do the work and they disappear," said Milford Police Chief Robert Tusino of the scammers. "They're bilking people out of hundreds or thousands of dollars."

The scam is not new, Hopkinton Police Detective Sgt. Gregg A. DeBoer added.

"This is a long-term thing," he said. "It's been going on for as long as I can remember. It's like an organized retail scam. It's a group of Irish travelers — it's generally people from Ireland or the UK."

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Scammers start by giving a low quote for a property repair

DeBoer said scammers typically target several communities at a time. They'll look for older people and approach them, offering to do jobs such as paving a driveway, repairing a walkway or even pulling ivy from chimneys for a cheap price. When the victim agrees, the scammer begins to do the work.

"That's when it starts," DeBoer said.

The scammer will claim to find a much larger problem that needs to be fixed immediately. They'll quote the person a big cost for the work but will give them a "deal," because they're already on the job. DeBoer said victims often feel pressured at this point, so they agree and give the scammer a deposit.

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"They leave with the money, and they never come back," DeBoer said.

Tusino said scammers will even present victims with "high quality" business materials such as business cards and pamphlets with QR codes to make them look more professional.

"These guys aren't affiliated with a legitimate company," said Tusino. "This is 100% a scam."

Police advise residents of 'red flags' to watch for

DeBoer said residents need to be wary. He said most legitimate businesses don't approach people to do a job without some sort of inspection.

"If they're coming up to you, soliciting you and you didn't solicit them, it's a red flag," DeBoer said. "If they quote you a price that is significantly lower than what everyone else charges, that's a red flag."

Tusino said if people are concerned, they should call police. All businesses that solicit must have a permit with the town, he said.

"Call us and we'll come out and check them out," Tusino said. "If it's all good, it'll be a quick chat. If not, it can save a lot of money."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Police in Milford, Hopkinton say longtime scam involves 'group of Irish travelers'