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Wednesday, February 19, 2025
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HomeNewsOPP Issue Paving Fraud Awareness Tips As Warm Weather Approaches

OPP Issue Paving Fraud Awareness Tips As Warm Weather Approaches

KAWARTHA LAKES-The OPP is warning the community about a crime trend involving paving and construction fraud. With the warmer months approaching, residents inspecting their property from winter damage are reminded to be alert to repair deals.

Police say these fraudsters are persistent, persuasive and sometimes aggressive. Here’s some considerations:

•Examination of these “contractors” often reveals the absence of an official online presence, registration with local chambers of commerce, the Better Business Bureau or similar reputable organizations.

•Fraudsters often contact individuals directly at their homes or via telephone, employing persuasive tactics about the necessity for a service they neither requested nor require. Exercise caution when opening your door to unexpected visitors or solicitors offering items or services.

•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 an up-front quote, and the price changes mid-job due to “unforeseen problems,” you’re at their mercy.

•Fraudsters target vulnerable people, including seniors, and request cash payments for “today only” deals.

•It’s a red flag when a payment is asked for up-front or before the job is completed.

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.

For additional information on ongoing scams in Canada and to report fraud, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

 

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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