Ottawa Police urges caution with door-to-door contractors

 https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/ottawa-police-urges-caution-with-door-to-door-contractors.aspx

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 29, 2023   2:15 pm         

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service’s (OPS) Fraud Unit is warning residents to proceed cautiously with any door-to-door contractor sales after receiving an increase in the number of reports from residents.

In the past two weeks, the Fraud Unit has received five reports, with an estimated loss of $250,000 to Ottawa-area residents.

“It’s always the same pitch, they say they’re already in the area working on a neighbour’s home and can offer a great deal,” said Fraud Unit Acting Sergeant Shaun Wahbeh. “Most of the reports we are receiving identify the suspects as white males, typically in pairs, ages 40 to 50, with Irish or Scottish accents.”

The high-pressure sales pitch typically is for very expensive work, including foundation repair, which can cost upwards of $100,000. Money is asked for upfront, and in most cases the work is started but never completed, leaving the homeowner to foot the bill to clean up and complete the job.

“Protect yourself when you meet these folks at the door,” said A/Sgt. Wahbeh. “These individuals tend to rotate from city to city with the same scam and we started to see them return to Ottawa last month.”

When hiring contractors, a reputable business will take time to go through a contract and provide you with a quote for reasonable market rates. You can establish things like a ceiling on contingency costs as well as whether to pay a flat or hourly rate in a written contract. Be smart and look up the business on reputable websites like the Better Business Bureau, make calls to other contractors to ask for quotes to compare, and ask for references you can call. If the price being quoted sounds too good to be true, it likely is.

“The best thing you can do is to take their information and then do your research,” said A/Sgt. Wahbeh. “The more they pressure you to hand over money or act quickly or lose the opportunity, it’s a signal to walk away.”

If you need help determining whether something is a scam or not, you can always contact our partners at Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario by dialling 211.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section                  

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

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.

Paving Scam still present in Ottawa

https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/index.aspx?newsId=f772fb71-6f83-4faa-8661-17fb91181452

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, July 14, 2017      3:30pm

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit continues to investigate paving scams in Ottawa. Last year, investigators warned Ottawa residents about this scam. Investigators are again reaching out to the community with the same message.

Complaints have been received from people who have “hired” paving contractors who come to the door, with promises of an inexpensive paving job for their lane. No paperwork is exchanged, a verbal price is agreed upon, and when the work is complete, they charge a much higher amount and pressure the purchaser to pay.

The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Section wants to remind the public that any contractor work should come with a signed hard copy contract, and that if any deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.

“Take the time to reflect on the deal before agreeing,” said Sergeant James Ritchie, Organized Fraud Unit. “There is no hurry to sign the deal at the door.” 

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Contact:  Relations avec les médias

Téléphone: 613-236-1222, poste 5366@OttawaPolice facebook.com/OttawaPoliceServiceinstagram.com/ottawapolice

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 20, 2016  11:47 am 

Paving Scam emerging in Ottawa 

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is warning the public about a new scam that has emerged in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police has received complaints from people who have "hired" paving contractors who come to the door, with promises of an inexpensive paving job for their lane. No paperwork is exchanged, a verbal price is agreed upon, and when the work is complete, they charge a much higher amount and pressure the purchaser to pay.

The "salesmen" appear to be young white males, who speak with an Irish accent.

The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Section wants to remind the public that any contractor work should come with a signed hard copy contract, and that if any deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.

Take the time to reflect on the deal before agreeing. There is no hurry to sign the deal at the door.

Remember that once you agree to the work, you have to pay for the work, so that is why it is important to get a contract before the work starts. 

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CONTACT:

Media Relations SectionTel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366@OttawaPolicefacebook.com/OttawaPoliceServiceinstagram.com/ottawapolice

Paving Scam

http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/news/index.aspx?newsId=7ed5fc69-7219-437a-8fc5-8b32d29d8633

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 20, 2016  11:47 am 

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Unit is warning the public about a new scam that has emerged in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police has received complaints from people who have "hired" paving contractors who come to the door, with promises of an inexpensive paving job for their lane. No paperwork is exchanged, a verbal price is agreed upon, and when the work is complete, they charge a much higher amount and pressure the purchaser to pay.

The "salesmen" appear to be young white males, who speak with an Irish accent.

The Ottawa Police Organized Fraud Section wants to remind the public that any contractor work should come with a signed hard copy contract, and that if any deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.

Take the time to reflect on the deal before agreeing. There is no hurry to sign the deal at the door.

Remember that once you agree to the work, you have to pay for the work, so that is why it is important to get a contract before the work starts.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/irish-accented-contractors-in-alleged-paving-scam-ordered-deported

Irish-accented contractors in alleged paving scam arrested, ordered deported

ANDREW SEYMOUR, OTTAWA CITIZEN
More from Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen

Published on: October 3, 2016 | Last Updated: October 3, 2016 1:39 PM EDT

Four people have been arrested and ordered removed from Canada after police warned the public about an alleged paving scam involving suspects with Irish accents.

Four foreign nationals were arrested and $70,000 in cash was seized after investigators from the Canada Border Services Agency and Ottawa police’s fraud unit teamed up to arrest the quartet on Sept. 24.

The arrests came four days after Ottawa police warned the public to beware of door-to-door paving contractors with Irish accents who would quote an inexpensive price to repave a driveway or lane, only to do the work and then demand more money.

The CBSA said Monday that the four foreign nationals who are suspected of being involved in the fraudulent contract work were working without a permit in Canada. According to the CBSA, an admissibility hearing took place in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board on Sept. 27 and all four were ordered removed from the country.

The four were ordered to remain in custody pending their removal. All four are facing one charge each, but two offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Three of the four are charged with working without a permit, and one is charged with working after their permit had expired.

The quartet is being held until arrangements can be made to remove them. Their names were not released.

Ottawa police warned the public about the contractors after receiving complaints from residents who had hired them. Police said the contractors wouldn’t provide any paperwork and agree upon a verbal price, but when the work was completed, they charged a much higher amount and pressured the purchaser to pay.

The police described the “salesmen” as young Caucasian men who spoke with an Irish accent.

The organized fraud section warned that any contractor work should come with a signed contract, and that if any deal appears too good to be true, it probably is.

Ottawa police are still investigating and no criminal charges have yet been laid. They have seized the $70,000 pending further investigation.