Traveling fraudulent group last seen in Nanaimo
O’Brien says that residents should be vigilant if anyone comes to their house offering work. Photo: Gary Dycke
The Nanaimo RCMP has issued a warning to Nanaimo and surrounding areas of a group of fraudsters that was last seen in the Nanaimo area.
Media Relations Officer for the Nanaimo RCMP Constable Gary O’Brien said the four men are targeting residents by going door to door offering to complete roofing, gutter, driveway or paving services.
“They recently hit Nanaimo on December 15, went to a home in Cedar, and offered to do some yard work,” said O’Brien. “The homeowner was quite suspicious, they've seen this before. He refused any offer and they took off and he astutely called us.”
The group was then linked to various frauds committed in West Shore, Sydney and Victoria.
For the case in Nanaimo, one was described as a caucasian man with a strong Irish accent working alone and driving a white van.
“They've ripped people off for 1000s of dollars by doing fraudulent, shoddy work. They're not licensed to work, they're basically travelling criminals,” said O’Brien. “So if they show up at your door, don't allow them to do any work. They may even offer to do free work and then they demand to be paid for it afterwards.”
The group will sometimes use the names of established businesses like Trade Right Paving Inc., a legitimate company with offices across Canada. They have also used other names such as All Roads Paving Inc., as well as Weather Roofing & Masonry.
A negative review was left by a user from Nanaimo for Trade Right Paving’s Vancouver Office, giving the company a one-star review with a warning. The reviewer said in their comment that the men had asphalted a door in their carport closed and left with the money before fixing it.
O’Brien said that residents should be vigilant if anyone comes to their house offering work. As the men are unlicensed, it is the homeowner's responsibility if any damages are done. He also warned that handyman scams will demand payment upfront and leave without doing the job.
“So if you're being asked that should be a red flag immediately. Do not accept any contract with them and don't allow them to work on your property,” said O’Brien.
If you have any information on the fraudsters, you are asked to call the RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.