The Hawkesbury Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning about a multi-layered, door-to-door sales fraud in the area. Victims end up with home services they do not need or want, poor quality renovations, liens or a mortgage on their homes. Some victims may not even be aware that this has occurred.

In 2018, Ontario banned some forms of unsolicited door-to-door sales to protect consumers from aggressive and misleading contractors. This includes air conditioners, air purifiers, duct cleaning, furnaces, water filters or softeners, water heaters, as well as bundles of these goods and services. Businesses are only allowed to enter if initiated by the consumer ahead of time.

Criminals have not stopped, and are persuasive, persistent and aggressive in having a contract signed. They visit the homes of vulnerable individuals and often claim to be affiliated with the Ontario Government.

On June 6, 2024, the province passed new legislation under the Homeowners Protection Act and the Personal Property Security Act to further address the situation.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF/YOUR LOVED ONES

·      Answer your door only if you are expecting an invited guest

·      Do not allow unsolicited visitors into your home, be aware of the ban regarding unsolicited door-to door sales  

·      Hang up on unsolicited phone calls

·      Never share personal information or copies of any bills or financial statements

·      Do not make decisions on the spot, investigate further

·      Do not sign blank documents or contracts

·      Take the time to understand what you are signing and ask questions

·      Do not answer questions on a phone/video call if you are being told the answers by someone else (if someone is telling you to answer ‘yes’/ ‘no’)

·      Check regularly on family or others who might be vulnerable. Monitor their financial records and flag suspicious transactions

·      Talk to the bank about a vulnerable loved one to prevent suspicious withdrawals

·      Understand that no renovations are free

·      Visit the Canada.ca to review green grant opportunities

·      Ask yourself: Why has this person offered to help? How do they know my situation?

·      Consider checking your credit history online at TransUnion and Equifax

·      Look up your property on the Land Registry Ontario website

·      Install video cameras around your home or video capturing doorbells

RED FLAGS

·    The person visiting you says you have won a class-action lawsuit regarding the installation of your equipment and the money can only be used towards renovations to your home

·      You are told your home is now a ‘green home’ after the installation of some equipment and therefore you qualify for a grant, but the grant must be used o do renovations or add more equipment

·      A financial company approaches you, unsolicited, indicating they can help you get out of payments or to consolidate your debt

·      If you are told renovations are free

·      If you do not have input on the renovations a company does or which materials they use

·      If you are pressured to have renovations started right away

If you believe you have become a victim of fraud, contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free) or report online on the Fraud Reporting System (FRS). You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report the incident online at OntarioCrimeStoppers.ca.