The Renovation Scam

The Toronto Police Service and Investigators from the Financial Crimes Unit want to help so you #DontGetScammed by a Renovation Scam. Scammers will often show up at your door and offer to sell you a product or service. They convince you that you need repairs on your house, like to your roof, driveway or fence, whether you actually need it or not. At first they’ll appear friendly and knowledgeable and they might offer you a discount, but the discount is for today only. The scammer might use high-pressure tactics to convince you to buy a service that you do not want or need. They hook you by stating they will do the repairs immediately after purchasing the necessary materials and then they will ask you for a large deposit to buy those items. In many cases, they never show up to do the work or if they do, they will only partially complete it. Usually, their so-called “repairs” cause more damage. Protect yourself by: • Always reading the fine print and never signing anything • Not feeling pressured to make a quick decision, and • Asking for photo ID of the salesperson and getting the name of the company they represent If you are a victim of a Renovation Scam, report the fraud to police. Visit tps.ca/fraud for more information and tips so you #DontGetScammed