County law enforcement authorities again are warning residentsto check the credentials of businessmen offering to pavedriveways.

The warning comes in response to several reports of citizensbeing overcharged or paying for services they did not agree to,said Sheriff Steve Rushing.

“We’ve had a couple of instances of a paving scam,” Rushingsaid. “This has been going on for years.”

There are several ways the scam is used, he said. Both require acontractor coming to the house uninvited and offering to pave adriveway or provide another paving service.

“In one case, they quoted them a price and paved it. Then, whenthe work was done, they quoted them another higher price andexpected them to pay it,” Rushing said. “In another instance, theywere turned down and when the owners returned from a trip the drivewas paved and the people expected to be paid for their work.”

The scam crops up several times a year, the sheriff said, and isgenerally perpetrated by out-of-state contractors.

“When we get reports, the number varies from year to year. Whenit does come up, we seem to get several cases at once,” Rushingsaid.

Sometimes the cases are against the same company. But in othersit appears several companies enter the area around the same time,he said.

Some companies are legitimate and do uphold their side of thecontract, which can complicate the issue, Rushing said.

“You should check their references,” he said. “You can alsocheck with the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi and their homestate to see if any complaints have been filed against them.”

Rushing said those who are approached and are skeptical aboutwhether the company is legitimate should either decline the serviceor contact his office. Officers will see if any complaints havebeen filed against them locally.