Wayne County sheriff warns of barn-painting scam

Authorities said Thursday they are investigating a report from a landowner who said a man approached him to talk about painting some of his barns. The man acted like he knew the landowner, but the landowner told deputies he was sure he didn’t know him.

The landowner gave deputies the man’s South Carolina license plate number, and deputies confirmed the truck owner is in a group called the Irish Travelers, based partially out of South Carolina.

Authorities said members of the group approach people about painting barns at a cheap price. The scammers use watered-down paint that is usually mixed with gasoline, then say the barn needs more coats of paint at an additional charge. Authorities said the paint usually washes off in a hard rain.

Wayne County deputies said they have arrested members of the Irish Travelers in the past, including one case in which two members talked to a woman about buying flooring while another sneaked into her home and stole money.