Ottawa Police warn residents about shady contractors

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/ottawa-police-warn-residents-about-shady-contractors.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 12, 2023  11:55 am

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service is warning residents to be vigilant about agreeing to any repair work on roofs or driveways with door to door paving or roofing contractors.

The Fraud Unit has received 10 complaints in the past month about residents hiring these contractors, only to be scammed out of money.

“These guys are very organized, they will go up on your roof and come back with a photo that shows serious damage to scare their victims, only it’s a photo that was taken somewhere else,” said Fraud Unit Sergeant Chantal Arsenault. “And when they are at your door they will agree to lower their fees and push you to make a decision, taking large upfront cash payments, and then will either not complete the work or disappear.”

As we head into a heavy season for home improvement, it’s important to protect yourself. While most contractors are reputable, be skeptical of any that ask you for a lot of money upfront or offer incredibly low deals. And if they are pressuring you to respond quickly, just walk away.

For any work that you agree to have done on your home, get everything in writing before you hand over any money, including details of the exact work to be completed along with an agreed monetary limit on any extra costs.

You can protect yourself by verifying their business profile on places like the Better Business Bureau or by calling our partners at 211 to learn how to best proceed.

If you have been the victim of a contractor scam, you can visit our website to file a fraud report online.

Man charged in Ottawa based grandparent scam

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/man-charged-in-ottawa-based-grandparent-scam.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, May 10, 2023        1:05 pm

(Ottawa) – On May 5th, a woman in her 70s was contacted by phone and advised that her grandson was in trouble with the police, and that she needed to pay $10,000 for his bail.

She agreed to pay, and an unknown man went to her home to collect the money.

Days later, the woman was contacted once again, and asked for another $10,000. Alarmed, the woman contacted her son, and he called the Ottawa Police.

Frontline patrol officers attended the woman’s address and waited for the unknown man to come to pick up the 2nd payment of 10,000 dollars and arrested him.

The Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit charged Kevin AIFUWA, 18 years old, of Laval, with Fraud exceeding $5000.

If someone calls and says they are representing a police service like the RCMP or the Ottawa Police, look up their phone number and call them directly to verify any information. If you can’t find a number, call 211, they can help, and ask them to connect you with the actual police service.

It’s always a good idea to call a trusted family member to discuss suspicious phone calls from strangers.

You can read more Ottawa Police Grandparent scam tips online or visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for more information on this and other scams.