Halifax police lay charges in chimney repair scam
Four men face fraud charges, accused of scamming mostly seniors
Halifax police say four men have been charged with fraud for allegedly posing as a chimney and masonry company and convincing homeowners they were in need of repairs.
In a news release Thursday, police say they were called to a report of a suspected home repair fraud in progress on Jan. 6. Investigators had received similar reports between Nov. 27 and Jan. 15.
Police say a group of men were canvassing door to door throughout the municipality posing as a chimney and masonry company, using different fictitious company names, including:
- Nova Construction and Masonry.
- All Seasons Construction.
- Firmway Construction.
- Marshall's Construction.
- Rideau Masonry and Roofing.
The scammers convinced the victims, most of whom were seniors, to allow them to inspect their roofs and chimneys. They would identify required repairs and get a large cash payment for the work. The crew would either not return to do the job, or they would do subpar work, leaving the victim with a damaged or partially completed project.
On Feb. 12, a search warrant was carried out at a residence on Hazelhurst Street in Dartmouth, where four men were arrested for fraud.
The next day, a search warrant was carried out at a residence on Battery Drive in Halifax, where officers seized documents that lead them to believe the suspects were in the process of opening a new fraudulent business.
Four men — ages 18, 23, 27 and 38 — are facing charges of fraud under $5,000. The 23-year-old and 38-year-old are also facing a charge of obstructing a peace officer.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have been a victim of fraud, you can call police at (902) 490-5020. You can also report a scam where you haven't been a victim to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.