The Tama County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a pair of asphalt scams that occurred last week, one of which resulted in the homeowner confronting the alleged scammers and being injured as a result.

“In one case, a homeowner was injured after confronting the individuals, who then fled the scene. We respect the many legitimate asphalt companies that serve our area. This message is not about them. It is about protecting residents from individuals who mislead, overcharge, or cause harm,” Sheriff Casey Schmidt wrote in a Facebook post. “If someone offers you asphalt work, call the Sheriff’s Office before agreeing to anything. If you have already been approached, let us know. Please share this post so others in our community are aware. The faster this information spreads, the less chance these crews have to take advantage of anyone else. The sooner we can identify who is legitimate and who is not the clearer it will be which businesses are doing honest work.”

In correspondence with the News Chronicle over the weekend, Schmidt reported that no criminal charges have been filed, and the names of the alleged scammers have not yet been shared.