Door-To-DoorSales/Liens/MortgageFraud Complex door-to-door sales scams - Avoid further victimization

Ontario's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is shining a light on a multi-layered door-to-door sales scam, which l eaves victims with poor renovations, liensoramortgageontheirhomes.

Despite rules banning door-to-door sales, criminals have not stopped. Those involved in these fraudsarepersuasiveandpersistent.Theycontinueto visit the homes of vulnerable individuals and endearthemselves,givingtheimpressiontheyare afriendlyhelper.

HOWDOESTHISFRAUDUNFOLD?

Fraudsters approach individuals at the door oftheirhomeorbyphoneandusecompellingtactics to persuade the homeowner that a new appliance, contract or service is required; something that was never asked for or needed. These have included: air cleaners,airconditioners,airpurifiers,ductcleaning, furnaces,waterfilters,waterheaters,watertreatment devicesorevenbundlesofthesegoodsandservices. After the service has been completed or device installed, a few things can happen to make a bad situationevenworse.</p>

Whetherbyphoneorinperson:

· Thevictimiscontactedbysomeoneclaiming to be from a law firm offering assistance to exit previously signed contracts, remove possible liens andconsolidateincurreddebts.Victimsaretoldthey may be eligible to receive a grant for a significant amountofmoneyIFtheyagreetoexitthecontract.

· Ifagrantwasoffered,thevictimiscontacted by a home renovation company and is persuaded to signacontractandspeakwithafinancecompanyon the phone.They are led to believe this is required to complywiththegrant,BUTitisactuallytheprocess tohaveamortgageapprovedontheirhome.

· Thefundsarethendepositedintothevictim's bankaccount,leadingthevictimtobelievetheyhave received the grant, but it is actually funds from the homeequitymortgagetakenoutontheirhome.

· Thevictimistoldnottotouchthemoney,asit must go toward renovations, as well as to the paymentstheyweremakingforinstalledequipment. TipsToProtectYourself/yourLovedOnes

· Answer your door only if you are expecting

Aninvitedguest

· Do not allow unsolicited visitors into your home

· Hanguponunsolicitedphonecalls

· Never share personal information or copies ofanybillsorfinancialstatements

· Donotmakeadecisiononthespot

· Donotsignblankdocuments

· Take the time to understand what you are signingandaskquestions

· Do not answer questions on a phone/video callifyouarebeingtoldtheanswersbysomeoneelse (ifsomeoneistellingyoutoanswer'yes'/'no')

· Check regularly on family or others who might be vulnerable to persuasive and persistent individuals

· Talktothebankaboutavulnerablelovedone topreventsuspiciouswithdrawals

· Understandnorenovationsarefree

· Visit Canada.ca to review green grant opportunities

FONOM joinswithPoliceDepartmentsandAssociationtodiscussCatchandRelease

Members of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) Board met with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board Chair,SaultSte.MariePoliceService,Timmins Police Service, and the North Bay Police Association, to discuss the negative impacts Federal Bill C75 is having on communities acrossOntario.

DuringaFONOMBoardmeetinginJuly 2022, Sault Ste. Marie's Police Chief Hugh Stevenson, shared the current catch-and-release procedures. At the meeting, FONOM membershipcommittedtocreateaNorthernTask Forcetofocusontheissue.TheTaskForcewill consist of three FONOM board members, two municipal police chiefs, and an OPP service boardmember.Thefirstmeetingofthetaskforce was held in Sault Ste Marie on Wednesday, February 16th, 2023. See below for a list of attendees.

"Citizens of Northern Ontario are angry. Peoplethatbreakintoourhomesandtraumatize law-abiding citizens are arrested by police, then releasedthesameday,someofthem,committing another crime later that day," said FONOM President Danny Whalen. "The lack of movement to examine the legislation four years after implantation is unacceptable and we will continue to bring a northern voice to decision makers.

Moving forward, FONOM will work to increase participation from northern police services such as the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, other northern Police Association representatives and government officials. The task force is communicating with the Attorney General's and Solicitor General's officers to participate in ongoing discussions around catch andrelease.

During the meeting Chief Stevenson, an OntarioAssociationofChiefsofPolice(OACP) Board Member, shared with the FONOM four recommendedamendmentsforBillC-75.

1. Create a designation of a chronic persistent offender,

2. Allow community impact statements at bail andatbailhearings,

3. Creating reverse onus in bail for all firearm offences,and Cont’donP.8