The Thunder Bay Police Service is warning community members, especially seniors, to be mindful of a possible scam targeting vulnerable homeowners.
Police have learned about two homeowners in Thunder Bay who may have potentially been affected.
The scam features individuals portraying themselves to door-to-door salespeople initially offering to install equipment in the home or conduct renovations, with the homeowners asked to sign long-term contracts.
That may result in liens being filed on the home. The homeowners are then approached with an offer to consolidate the debt, using the home as collateral, and are then pressured or tricked into signing high-interest mortgages with rates up to 25 per cent.
The high rate of the mortgages can jeopardize the victims’ ownership of their homes, especially for people with low or fixed incomes.
The Thunder Bay Police Service’s Economic Crime Unit is urging family members and friends to speak to those who may be vulnerable to being targeted by this type of scam.
For further information about various frauds and scams that may be circulating, please visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre online at: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/.