Family says scammers got away with $200

CHALMERS, Ind. (WLFI) - "The price was right and I didn't feel right about it but we did it and I made a big mistake," Anna Hadley from Chalmers said about getting her driveway resealed.

A mistake that cost Anna Hadley of Chalmers $200. Hadley thought she was getting her driveway resealed by a legitimate company, but said the next day the seal washed away. She said when she tried to contact the owner of the company the phone was disconnected and they got away with the money. White county deputies said this kind of thing tends to happen during certain months.

"Some months we'll receive a lot of calls and it seems like with the warmer weather. Seems like there's more contractors that come out especially doing odd jobs around houses," Deputy Mark Helms said.

Hadley said the men who worked on her driveway were just going door to door passing out business cards While those business cards had a phone number Helms said you should always get as much information from the company as you can.

"I would recommend that before they do any kind of work that they get some sort of contract from that person instead of just like a handshake or something. Get some kind of paperwork that way they have something to fall back on  and you'll have all their documentation. Maybe even a permit for those kind of things," Helms said.

Helms said you should always do your research on a suspicious company and asking for references is a good idea too. That's something Hadley said she's going to do in the future. She said her family has since redone the driveway only after learning a valuable lesson.

"I'm not going to have anyone come to my door again to solicit for anything. Nothing."

NewsChannel 18 tried contacting the company Anna Hadley did business with but the phone numbers provided have been disconnected.