Asphalt pirates active: authorities warn against fraudsters after recent cases in Aarhus and Haderslev

Denmark’s asphalt industry has warned the public against so-called asphalt pirates after two recent cases in Haderslev and Aarhus, the Danish broadcaster DR reports.

“These are con artists that one should stay far away from,” said Jakob Svane, managing director of the industry association Asfaltindustrien, in a press release.

The phenomenon involves travelling, often English-speaking individuals showing up unannounced and offering to repair driveways or parking lots with asphalt they claim to have left over from other jobs, Svane said.

“No serious asphalt company drives around with surplus asphalt. It simply does not exist,” he said.

According to Svane, the material offered is of poor quality, often mixed with diesel or other substances to keep it soft, causing it to crumble immediately. In some cases, the fraudsters spray a substance that merely resembles asphalt.

After the work is done, customers are left with a damaged surface that often requires expensive repairs. Svane also cited examples of the fraudsters behaving threateningly afterward, demanding far more money than originally agreed. In Haderslev, a homeowner was the victim, according to local newspaper JydskeVestkysten.

Asfaltindustrien advises the public to remain sceptical and ask for a company’s CVR number and references from satisfied customers in the area.

“You should not let yourself be tempted. If an offer sounds too good to be true, there is usually a good reason for it,” Svane said.

The association also recommends getting all agreements in writing and obtaining an alternative quote from a recognised asphalt company.