What the scammer wanted to steal was not the driveway; they wanted to steal the contractor (driveway replacement worker)'s money. They pretend to be the owner looking for a driveway replacement, “accidentally” pay too much, ask for the surplus money back, and then do a chargeback on everything they paid. In this case the contractor went ahead before realizing they’ve been scammed. Experienced contractors ask for an in-person meeting or proof of ownership.
Source: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/why-does-someone-steal-driveway-contractor-explains-how-scam-works/LVEJBTGRLRGQFEMW5AY6W7BOUY/ (the original source of this video)
As for the contractor who did the digging, few solid leads have emerged. When deputies called the scammer and asked him for the contractor’s phone number, he helpfully provided one – that belonged to the Orlando International Airport.
That’s messed up. So elaborate too. :(
That seems to be a common thread in some scams: overpay, then enact the scam somehow during correction of that overpayment
Either a scam, miscommunication, or a contractor got the wrong address. I don’t see how there’s value in the demo and hauling off of a driveway.
Unless someone really wanted to get revenge.
The angle that leaps to mind is some property flipper saw the place listed and hired some shady workmen to tear the driveway out knowing it would fuck up any pending contracts, and he’s hoping the owner will be desperate enough to take whatever lowball offer he swoops in with.
But that seems like a pretty risky scheme, unless he’s also planning on not paying whoever he hired to bulldoze the driveway. And I guess before you get the driveway replaced you ought to make double damn sure you’re not hiring the same motherfucker who ripped it out.
You’re correct in that there’s no way you’re going to be able to haul away a concrete slab that big and keep it in one piece to be reused elsewhere. And even then, for what? You have an application that needs a slab the exact size and shape of this lady’s driveway?
But that seems like a pretty risky scheme, unless he’s also planning on not paying whoever he hired to bulldoze the driveway.
Not paying someone with the equipment to bulldoze a driveway also seems like a risky scheme.
Another option, she’s buying a new house down the road, and selling this one to pay for it.
If the person who did this wanted the other house but lost out on the bid, this is a fairly low-cost way of fucking up that deal. And if the deal still goes through, then it’s just a costly act of petty revenge.
concrete can be crushed and reused as part of the agregate mix, which is probably exactly what happened to it. waste not want not, right?
In any case, if it wasn’t a scumbag flipper, then it was probably the contractors using the pressure of the listing to force her to accept the first not-actually-low-ball offer that comes along. (and then all the sundry other bullshit contractors pull to inflate the price of the job)
That’s wild
Utter shock!
The flipper’s name? None other than Bugs Bunny himself.
The value is you finally get to use the 4WD on your Range Rover
Brochu said it all started when she put her home up for sale.
Strange contractors started coming by, measuring her driveway. Her son counted five of them.
I wonder if this is ‘put a lien on the house’ scam.
Most likely just a confused address.
Somewhere in my city is another place that apparently sounds similar, and I’ve even had the electric company show up to turn off service at my house. And I’ve ordered food that rarely results in me getting a phone call swearing they’re at my place, then finding out they’re a half hour away.
I’m betting someone was trying to replace their own driveway, and contractors kept going to this place.
It might be some crazy scam, but it’s more likely sheer ineptitude.
Some landlord with multiple properties just not paying attention and telling all the contractors that either no one would be there, or not to pay attention to the renters.
According to the WFTV article:
Jeff said this type of scheme, known as an overpayment scam, is pervasive in the industry. “The scam targets contractors,” he explained, “And sometimes inadvertently affects homeowners in the process.” In an overpayment scheme, a scammer will seek out homes listed for sale on sites like Zillow or Redfin. Typically, they’ll target vacant homes.
The scammer will pretend to be the home’s owner, and ask local contractors to provide an estimate for some exterior work like a roof, driveway or painting.
The scammer and the contractor will agree to a price, and the scammer will mail or otherwise provide a check for more than the agreed upon price.
“Instead of being $20,000, there’ll be $22,000,” Jeff said. “Then, they’ll get a call from the supposed homeowner saying ‘Oh my gosh, there was a mistake.’”
The scammer will ask that the extra money be refunded. Shortly after the contractor sends the cash and occasionally after work begins, the scammer’s original check will bounce from the contractor’s bank account.
File a police report, then file an insurance claim and send the insurance company after the dumbass that removed the driveway.
The scam is the Gofuckme part of it. If her homeowners insurance doesn’t cover this, then that is an insurance company to never deal with.
Fucking hillybillies stole the hash driveway!
Julian’s plans are so fucked
Can’t have shit in Detroit
Ok, that’s just plain weird.
Sanchez is helping Brochu sell her home. She posted about the situation online and believes Brochu is the victim of a scam. But neither woman knows what the scam is.
it’s simple.
- [steal the drive way]
- [offer to repair the drive way]
- [charge inflated prices]
- [use high pressure sales tactics to scare them into what happens if it doesn’t go through]
- [reinstall the old dive way]
- [put lien on house]
- [find reasons to drive the price up and delay work]
- [use lien to scare/force continued payment]
Actually, you’ve gotten that almost completely wrong. What they wanted to steal was not the driveway; they wanted to steal the contractor (driveway replacement worker)'s money. They pretend to be the owner looking for a driveway replacement, “accidentally” pay too much, ask for the surplus money back, and then do a chargeback on everything they paid. In this case the contractor went ahead before realizing they’ve been scammed. Experienced contractors ask for an in-person meeting or proof of ownership.
Source: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/why-does-someone-steal-driveway-contractor-explains-how-scam-works/LVEJBTGRLRGQFEMW5AY6W7BOUY/ (the original source of this video)
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/why-does-someone-steal-driveway-contractor-explains-how-scam-works/LVEJBTGRLRGQFEMW5AY6W7BOUY/ even says it from the same original source
Never mind. It’s just my app. I though Sync was good. 😭
It doesn’t support nested lists, which I couldn’t tell you had done because it looked so bad in my app. Sorry.
I see what it is. You’re technically supposed to have a blank line before the start of your list. The Lemmy website doesn’t care, but I guess Sync does.
it’s simple.
- [steal the drive way]
- [offer to repair the drive way]
- [charge inflated prices]
- [use high pressure sales tactics to scare them into what happens if it doesn’t go through]
- [reinstall the old dive way]
- [put lien on house]
- [find reasons to drive the price up and delay work]
- [use lien to scare/force continued payment]
What I see:
My original comment:
- Lemmy has markdown for numbered lists.
- It’s really easy.
- You should use it.
whats funny is that is lemmy markdown. (I looked it up cuz i couldn’t remember if it was '1. 'or '1) ’ to start . that said it could simply be that Sync formats the lists differently. Dunno. I use liftoff! on my phone without complaints.
looked it up cuz i couldn’t remember if it was '1. 'or '1) ’ to start
what??
edit: never mind
Someone wanted the chain to fail, you can’t steal concrete slab - it’s worthless rubble.
Not exactly worthless. It is worth more than gravel. The cost to crush it is so high you still have to pay to remove it, but you don’ have to pay the landfill fees as the crushers will take it cheaper.
aggregate filler. its not entirely worthless, but more likely its the part that happens next that’s the valuable part
Damn. People got to put GPS on their driveway now
Throw an airtag in before the concrete sets
Of course there is a gofund me on this story
I wonder if insurance would cover this with a police report.
I work in insurance claims and I believe it would. Most homeowners insurance is “open peril” meaning for structures it covers everything that is not excluded…I don’t think any exclusions apply. Even an old/cheap named peril fire policy, I would argue for coverage under vandalism and vehicle (bulldozer). Seems like someone was tricked into the vandalism AFAIK.
“Woman who owns house needs $10,000 before she can’t buy the other house she picked out. Please help.”
It’s called moving. It’s a tricky thing to balance buying what you want and selling what you have in a short window. You can be mad at the shit market but don’t take it out on people that managed to make it happen. That’s just petty jealousy.
Little did she know, it was made of hash!
Contractor probably went to the wrong address
