Toronto police are warning about a rise of roofing scams in the city and surrounding areas.
Police say a person reportedly attends a house unsolicited and advises the resident that their roof needs urgent repairs, or offers to inspect their roof for damage.
The person will identify themselves as a professional roofer and may claim to work for a reputable company and offer to make any necessary repairs. A large down payment is then often requested to pay for supplies, according to police.
Residents subsequently pay for unnecessary repairs or the work is not done at all, and the person disappears after receiving the payment.
Police say a rise in roofing scams typically happen in the spring as the weather gets warmer.
Investigators are urging the public to watch for these red flags:
- the person attends your home unsolicited
- the person says the work is urgent
- the person is driving a vehicle without any company markings
- the person asks for a large cash down payment
Toronto police recommend that residents be wary of any unsolicited people offering a service, not rush into making a decision, look for paperwork with company letterhead on it, contact the company by phone to ensure the person is employed by them and avoid providing large down payments.
Anyone who is a victim of this scam or who has information is being asked to contact police at 416-808-7300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
