By Ian Holmes

Beware of home improvement scammers: Nanaimo RCMP

Apr 17, 2017 | 2:13 PM

NANAIMO — Home improvement scams are expected to rise in the Nanaimo area in the coming weeks, which could cost you a significant amount of money, according to police.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW their detachment alone will likely see a dozen complaints weekly regarding fake tradespeople offering to do a range of jobs at local homes.

“What we’ll see is people coming door-to-door, often in a truck or car with no commercial markings on it, asking to either clean your furnace, check your chimney, seal your driveway, or do your yard.”

O’Brien said most of these scams are carried out by men, but noted that wasn’t the case in Nanaimo recently.

“A woman scammed an elderly gentleman out of $3,600 for just basic work that she did on his chimney, something that someone in grade 10 could have done quite easily.”

closing arguments

Crown refutes self-defence claims for Nanaimo woman on trial for murder/dismembering ex-boyfriend

28m ago

rental rules

Thousands of short-term rentals go back to long-term May 1: B.C. government

3h ago

sweet sounds

Nanaimo woman tries to coax trapped killer calf out of tidal lagoon with her violin

8h ago

O’Brien said historically there are several unrelated groups of these fraudsters either working independently or in pairs. He said their pattern is hitting a community hard for two or three days, then leaving the area when word of their behaviour spreads among neighbours.

“Often they’ll ask for half of the money up front and many don’t complete the job,” O’Brien said. “In fact, some are quite fraudulent and will do damage to your furnace or house and then claim they can fix it but in fact they won’t.”

O’Brien said asking for a business license and business card are good first steps to help verify a tradesperson’s legitimacy.

Complaints and reference checks can be made via the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island.

ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes