Police warn of home repair scams in Mississauga and Brampton

Beware of so-called contractors who knock on your door with a promise to repair a problem with your home.

“Has someone come to your home and tried to convince you that your house needs repairs?” Peel Regional Police asked in a tweet today (March 14). “Are they asking for money upfront without you even seeing the issue?”

One sign of a fraudster is a sense of urgency, police warn. They might try to get you to sign a contract right away. 

“DO NOT sign anything or give money,” police advise.

Much like the prolific air duct scammers, the home repair may be offered at a low rate but if the person actually does the work, it will be low quality, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The repair warranties will be invalid and the repairs can cause potential risks, the centre warns.

Home improvement scams became the number one riskiest scam type reported in Canada in 2022, according to the Better Business Bureau. Reports of home improvement scams by Canadians increased 51.2 per cent in 2022.

“This scam type is often perpetrated by door-to-door solicitors who offer quick, low-cost repairs,” said Mel Trumpower, Better Business Bureau executive director for Marketplace Trust. “They take payment and never return to do the work. In some variations, they do shoddy work, don’t finish the job, or dramatically increase the price after the original agreement.”

Fraud, in general, is on the rise in Canada.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre say they received fraud and cybercrime reports totalling a staggering $530 million in victim losses in 2022. That is nearly a 40 per cent increase from the unprecedented $380 million in losses in 2021.

Report suspected fraud to police and/or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Has someone come to your home and tried to convince you that your house needs repairs?

Are they asking for money upfront without you even seeing the issue?

Do they make it sound urgent and try to get you to sign a contract?

DO NOT sign anything or give money. #FPM2023 pic.twitter.com/n8CHyrSMQ9

— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) March 14, 2023