Spring Is Coming. Watch Out for This Popular Hudson Valley Scam

New Yorkers across the state might be eagerly waiting for the return of warmer weather, but it's not all butterflies and rainbows.

The brief heatwave over the weekend gave many Hudson Valley, NY residents a sneak preview of the beautiful spring weather to come. But along with the return of flowers, beer gardens, and short sleeves comes the looming threat of a very specific scam that seems to return every year.

With warmer weather headed to the Hudson Valley, NY, residents need to be aware of a popular scam involving driveway paving (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Popular Paving "Scam" May Be Returning to the Hudson Valley, NY

When I looked out the window of my house in Newburgh, NY this morning, I thought I might be the first target of the year. A large truck had pulled up on our curb, and I was instantly reminded of what had happened to us nearly a year ago to the date. It all has to do with an offer of a "bargain" driveway pave job.

Many residents across the Hudson Valley have reported aggressive salespeople pitching discount driveway paving. Luckily, these trucks were just there for some landscaping (TSM Poughkeepsie)

Luckily, the giant truck (and the excavator that arrived shortly after) were for a planned project at my neighbor's house. Nonetheless, it's important to know what to do if someone in a similar vehicle shows up at your curb with a specific paving proposition.

The Hyde Park, NY Highway Superintendent has warned local homeowners about certain red flags when dealing with a driveway paving company (TSM Poughkeepsie)

New Yorkers: This Driveway Paving Pitch May Be a Scam

"We're paving a driveway of a home nearby and we have extra material", the pitch often begins. "Instead of wasting it, we can pave at least a portion of your driveways at a steep discount, since our trucks are already in your area?". The problem with this pitch was explained by the Hyde Park Highway Superintendent.

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"BUYER BEWARE!!", began the post from Superintendent Howard Fisher. "[Driveway paving companies] have a right to try and make a living but, when they start out saying they have leftover blacktop, and it’s enough to do your driveway….Red Flag!" He continued with other possible aggressive techniques the business often use.

Superintendent Fisher included drop-of-a-hat price cuts, avoiding prepping driveways with Item 4, and claiming to be able to do the work without permits as just some of the techniques some less-savory paving companies are willing to employ to make a sale. In extreme cases, the salesperson could not be working for a paving company at all.

Anecdotally, one Newburgh, NY resident claimed that a duo posing as paving company employees were actually using the opportunity to "case" houses to see what type of valuables were inside. But whether they're actual criminals or just aggressive salespeople, the best way to stay safe is to say no to any offer that seems too good to be true.

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The popular "driveway scam" joins a long list of ways Hudson Valley residents are targeted by sneaky buttheads (that's their technical term, if you didn't know). Facebook marketplace has been another hotbed of nefarious activity, with scammers pushing for advanced payments, shipping items, or item pickups by third parties... all red flags. Speaking of red flags, check out how to safe from scammers during the upcoming tax season below.