Dozens of cities in Quebec have been warning their citizens since the beginning of the month against scammers who tirelessly go door-to-door selling fake services to get into your home.
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“Fraud alert! The municipality of Estrie warned on its social networks last week that the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) is roaming around our territory without travel business permits to the city of Lac-Mégantic, with the wrong intention.
The Newspaper It found dozens of such messages from cities or citizens across the province. Most of the time, these sellers offer vague services to improve your home's “energy efficiency” or sell a heat pump, officials say.
“Attention! Now in the municipality, men wearing white helmets and yellow jackets are going door to door. […] Please do not make any arrangements. Note that the city does not issue any hawking permits,” warned the village of Saint-Martin de Beauce in Saudier-Appalach on January 12.
A young man knocked on her house
Marjolaine Thériaut, from Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville in Montérégie, told our representative that a few days ago she received a visit from a seller aged about 16.
“I talked to him and told him he was working for a scammer. I can't count on street vendors coming in to inspect attic insulation or alarm systems anymore,” he explains.
The city of L'Île-Perrot is calling on its residents to be vigilant against fake employees.
“Once again we have received complaints from citizens about unidentified and unlicensed hawkers claiming to be municipal employees. Requesting at home requires a hawking permit,” he recalled on his Facebook page last week.
Fake Canada Post employee
In Mercier, on Montreal's South Shore, authorities have busted a suspect who went door-to-door disguised as a Canada Post employee.
” he mentions [résident] That he must provide a letter and a $2.50 fee to receive it must be paid by credit card. “The suspect transacts at a terminal connected to an iPad and exchanges the complainant's credit card with a fake card,” Citi said on January 19.
A number of frauds occurred on the victim's account using a stolen card for this transaction.
The Office of Consumer Protection (OPC) again last month warned Quebecers against several trip traders in the energy sector. These salesmen knock on doors to sell heat pumps, solar panels and insulation services.
“The Office recommends that consumers do not sign this type of contract on the same day, but rather take time to think, check and compare,” warns the OPC.
How can you protect yourself from door-to-door knocking?
- Compare prices and do some research on the company you are signing a contract with
- Check your license to perform work in the Régie du logement du Québec's registry of license holders.
- Check your Compulsory Travel Trade License from OPC
- See if there are any judgments against the company
- If you sign a contract with a traveling merchant, you have 10 days to cancel it
Source: Office of Consumer Protection
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