Ottawa Police are warning the public to be cautious when hiring contractors who come to their door.

Police say an alleged scam going around involves someone promising cheap work, such as driveway paving, but not offering a written contract.

A price is agreed upon verbally but, when the work is done, the price is raised significantly and the homeowner is pressured to meet the worker's demands.

Police say they've received complaints from people who say they've hired paving contractors, only to have this happen.

"Take the time to reflect on the deal before agreeing," Sergeant James Ritchie, of the Organized Fraud Unit, said in a press release. "There is no hurry to sign the deal at the door."

You're reminded to get deals in writing and to keep in mind that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.