Fraud Prevention Month Case #2:
Bill lives alone. He likes people and they like him. One day, he had a knock at his door. He opened it to find two men standing there. They were in his area doing renovation work for one of his neighbours.  Did he have any work he wanted done at a great price?

Before Bill knew it, he had signed a contract to have an attached sundeck built at a cost of $15,000.00. He gave the men a personal cheque for the full amount, which they cashed at his bank the same day.
Bill then waited for his sundeck to be built…and waited and waited and waited. He kept calling the men wondering when they were going to build his sundeck. One of the men finally showed up several weeks later, spent two hours on the job nailing a few boards in place, and that was the last Bill ever saw or heard of the men.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Consumer Protection BC took on this case and was successful in helping Bill obtain a full refund and charges were brought against both men for fraud.

Under the Business Practice and Consumer Protection Act, the above contract qualifies as a direct sales contract because it was entered into at a place other than the supplier’s permanent place of business.  Door-to-door sales are examples of direct sales contracts. With such contracts, you have a number of cancellation options. You can cancel a direct sales contract within 10 days of receiving the contract. You do not need a reason to cancel. This is known as the “cooling off period”. You can also cancel the contract after 10 days, but only under certain conditions. Visit our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca (under Consumer Contracts) to learn more about direct sales contracts and your cancellation rights.

TIPS: Bill learned a valuable lesson. Before he buys, he checks out the company with the Consumer Protection BC and his local Better Business Bureau. He does not allow himself to be pressured into buying. He comparison shops. He reads the contract carefully, including the fine print. He does not give all the money up front. He ensures he receives a copy of the contract and a signed receipt. He ensures that the contract specifies when the work is to begin and the date it is to be completed. In short, Bill learned to be a smarter shopper.

March is Fraud Prevention Month - know your rights! If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a consumer in British Columbia, please contact us toll free at 1-888-564-9963 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Find out more information about direct sales contracts in BC. The “What Would You Do?” columns are presented by Consumer Protection BC to raise consumer awareness during Fraud Prevention Month.

Visit Consumer Protection BC at the 2010 Smart Shoppers event on March 27, 2010 at Metrotown Mall in Burnaby, hosted by the Better Business Bureau.  How much do you know about Fraud? Take the Competition Bureau's Fraud Quiz.

The Case of the Renovation Rip-Off

Fraud Prevention Month Case #1:

Twenty-two year old Tanya loved her mother Bessie enormously. Theirs was a close relationship however in recent months, Tanya sensed that something was troubling Bessie. She was uncharacteristically withdrawn, secretive, and appeared depressed. Her mother also appeared to be getting a lot of mail, most of it strewn about the house. Tanya remembered how only a few months earlier Bessie appeared elated and happy and had remarked that “her ship was about to come in”.

The phone call from Bessie’s bank manager came out of the blue and shook Tanya to her core.  Bessie had withdrawn almost all of her savings in a very short period of time and the manager was concerned.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

In this case, Tanya began her investigation by privately sitting down with her mother and discussing her concerns. Refraining from being confrontational or judgmental, she eventually learned the truth. Her mother was convinced that she had won five million dollars in a lottery and had been sending thousands of dollars to “collect” her considerable winnings. Of course, the lottery was a scam and her mother was out $50,000.00.

Each year, Consumer Protection BC and the police deal with seniors and the young-at-heart who have been bilked out of their life savings by fast talking con artists and flashy mail-outs.

In a typical lottery scam, the victim receives official-looking correspondence in the mail that tells them they have won millions in a lottery. In order to collect their winnings, they need to send money to cover the taxes and administrative fees.  Those who do send money are placed on “sucker lists” and receive further mail and phone calls telling them to send more money. To keep the victims quiet while the scam is in progress, the fraudsters tell them not to discuss their “good fortune” with anyone until the official announcement. Before long, the victims are drained dry of their money and in most instances, the money is never recovered.
TIP: Remember, if it seems to be too good to be true, it is. Legitimate winners of lotteries never have to send money to claim their winnings.

March is Fraud Prevention Month - know your rights!If you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a consumer in British Columbia, please contact us toll free at 1-888-564-9963 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Find out more information about deceptive mailouts and lottery scams. The “What Would You Do?” columns are presented by Consumer Protection BC to raise consumer awareness during Fraud Prevention Month.

Visit Consumer Protection BC at the 2010 Smart Shoppers event on March 27, 2010 at Metrotown Mall in Burnaby, hosted by the Better Business Bureau.

Take the Competition Bureau's Fraud Quiz.

The Case of the Swindled Senior

{January 27, 2010} VICTORIA – Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General INFORMATION BULLETIN - As British Columbia prepares to welcome the world to the 2010 Winter Games, the B.C. Government, Better Business Bureau and Consumer Protection BC are reminding both International visitors and Canadian residents to be careful and do their homework before booking vacation rentals.

{July 15, 2009 } VICTORIA, BC – The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) is warning consumers that the elderly continue to be a target of deceptive door-to-door salespeople and that those who feel that they have been victimized should contact the BPCPA. Expressing these concerns may lead to restitution for those who have been exposed to fraudulent activity.