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RCMP and the provincial government officials recently issued a public warning for residents across the province to be on the lookout for scam artists targeting homeowners left vulnerable by recent storm or flood damage.

There has been a marked increase in the number of criminals – acting both individually and in groups – promising to complete repair work but stealing instead, say police.

At the very time when those homeowners are in need of honest assistance to get their lives back on track, criminals posing as legitimate contractors are ripping them off, leaving families not only out of their hard-earned cash but also feeling victimized in a place where they should feel safe.

“Unfortunately, natural disasters present an opportunity for con artists looking to take advantage of people who have already been through more than enough,” says Heather Klimchuk, Minister of Service Alberta, responsible for consumer protection.

Thankfully, as with other types of criminal activities, the best way to avoid being victimized by fraudulent contractors is to know how to tell the difference between legitimate and illegitimate offers.

“There are some simple steps homeowners can take to protect themselves before hiring a contractor,” said Klimchuk.

Under the Alberta Fair Trading Act, contractors who enter into contracts outside a regular place of business and ask for money before the job is completed are required to have a prepaid contractor licence from Service Alberta and post a security.

As such, homeowners should make it a practice to insist on seeing that contractor licence before agreeing to any work being done, and especially before any money changes hands.

“Homeowners may want to contact homebuilders or trade associations for a list of professional contractors and should hire only after checking references and contacting local Better Business Bureaus for a company’s complaint history,” she said.

To help homeowners identify scam contractors, the government has issued the following tips:

• Beware of unsolicited door-to-door offers or deals from contractors who claim to be in the area;
• If the contractor wants payment upfront, check to see if they are licensed by searching online at www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca/183.cfm or by calling the Consumer Contact Centre toll free at 1-877-427-4088;
• Obtain several estimates and ensure contracts are in writing, including start and finish dates, and materials to be used.

Police say the sooner they know about contractor scams operating in the region the sooner they can launch investigations and lay charges.

As such, residents are encouraged to report suspicious activities right away - after all, anyone who makes it their business to rip off vulnerable homeowners deserves prompt police attention.