Police warn of construction scams
OPP are warning residents of a crime trend involving paving and construction fraud. Police say with the warmer months approaching, residents inspecting their property from winter damage are reminded to be cognizant of repair deals.
Fraudsters often contact individuals directly at their homes or via telephone, employing persuasive tactics to convince homeowners of the necessity for a contract or service they neither requested nor require.
Fraudsters employ professionally designed flyers and websites that have a legitimate appearance.
Most contractors will know how much material they need for a job, so if they show up at your door saying they have "leftover" from another job, be cautious.
If there's no written contract with a quote written up front and the price changes mid-job due to "unforeseen problems," you're at their mercy.
Fraudsters target vulnerable populations such as the elderly and request cash payments for "today only" deals.
If an offer seems too good to be true, chances are it is and it's someone trying to scam you out of your money.
