Organised criminals operating across Australia
South Australians: Watch out for travelling traders offering bitumen services.
We are seeking the community's support in reporting unlicensed traders to help stop scams and unfair trading practices.
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has received several reports of bitumen services being offered between July and October 2026 in the Yorke Peninsula, Barossa, Riverland, suburban Adelaide, Mypolonga and McLaren Vale.
Report a suspicious tradie online
Alternatively, contact Consumer and Business Services (CBS) on 131 882.
Example of poor-quality bitumen work
This image shows poor-quality bitumen work reported to CBS, with uneven edges and a rough surface finish on a residential driveway. Consumers should be cautious of traders offering driveway resurfacing services.
Last updated: 22 October 2026
Crews of ‘bitumen bandits’ are the subject of a coordinated response by consumer protection officials nationally who work with other government agencies to map their movements across Australia.
The organised criminals come armed with high pressure tactics triggering a cycle of complaints each year.
They travel around offering to re-surface bitumen driveways and car parks for seemingly attractive prices, only to leave shoddy work in worse shape than before. They use sub-standard materials and demand a higher fee than originally quoted.
- unsolicited door–knocking
- offers of ‘left over bitumen from a job nearby’ at a cheap rate
- usually asking for cash
- overly eager to close the deal with their pressure tactics
- unable to provide a building work contractor’s license number (when requested)
- substandard or shoddy work
- sometimes also letterbox dropping, flyers & signs on posts
- using intimidating tactics and threatening behaviour.
These offenders breach many consumer laws including coercing customers for payment, failing to observe the 10-business day cooling off period for door-to-door sales, known as unsolicited consumer agreements, providing false representations about the price and wrongly claiming to be affiliated with reputable entities.
Some have even used legitimate business names on flyers with their own mobile phone number to trick customers about their legitimacy.
Don’t be fooled into promises of cheap work by these unlicensed transient tradies.
Bitumen paving requires a licence
Consumers should always ask for a Building licence ID card before agreeing to any work.
- ask for identification
- check the trader's licence on the CBS licence register
- get a written quote before any work starts
- never feel pressured to make an immediate decision.
Businesses or homeowners who have encountered these individuals should quickly contact CBS on 131 882.
