Alberta construction group warns homeowners about alarmist fake inspection letter
A residential construction company is warning Albertans not to fall victim to a scam.
According to Alberta Building and Land Development Industry Association (BILD Alberta) — a non-profit organization that represents home builders — several residents in the Edmonton and Calgary areas have received fake letters impersonating the association, seeking access to people’s homes for an inspection.
“This wasn’t just about one person receiving a letter,” CEO Scott Fash told Global News.
“It was something a little more widespread, which was even more concerning.”
The letter claims a type of dangerous insulation, known as urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), may have been used at their properties.
What is MIUF?
According to Health Canada, UFFI was widely used in the 1970s to insulate and renovate older industrial, commercial and residential buildings.
It is a low-density foam that has the appearance and consistency of shaving cream and becomes stiff and self-supporting when it dries or hardens (hardens).
THE insulation has been banned in Canada since 1980because it was found to release formaldehyde during the curing process and afterwards, for example if it got wet. Formaldehyde can cause cancer.
The fake letter invites residents who received it to immediately call the number displayed.
“Please note that failure to comply with this mandatory inspection could result in legal action and could affect your ability to sell or maintain insurance coverage for your home,” the letter read.
“This inspection is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial step in protecting your health.”
Alarmist warning letter
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The fraudulent letter includes the logos of the BILD Alberta Association and the Government of Alberta. Last month, BILD Alberta posted a consumer fraud notice on its website.
“We have noticed fraudulent letters being circulated, falsely claiming to be from the Government of Alberta and the BILD Alberta Association,” the statement read.
“Please note that neither the BILD Alberta Association nor the Government of Alberta have issued such a notice.”
Fash says sending letters to homeowners is not a task they do, nor do they do home inspections as an organization.
“It’s completely absurd, and again, it’s a very simple way if someone doesn’t understand that and most people wouldn’t understand it,” Fash said.
“Taking into someone’s home is a very easy way to take advantage of that person. When someone receives a letter like this, they will obviously be very concerned.
The Alberta government also issued a consumer warning, explaining that the letter is not endorsed by it.
Estate agents warned over fraudulent letter
Since then, the information has been transmitted to several real estate agents across the province.
Zachary Yuzyk, a partner at Clear Trust Mortgages, said homeowners should be skeptical if they receive a notice that pressures them to “act quickly” or if there are threats of legal action.
“That wouldn’t be up to the owner, would it?” That would be something you didn’t know. This would be a material defect that you were not aware of when you moved into the property,” Yuzyk explained.
Following an increase in scams on several communication platforms, Yuzyk would like to remind citizens to pause and think before acting.
“Everyone knows about phone scams, everyone knows about email scams, and now it’s coming back to physical mail. I just feel like people think an official document has more authority,” Yuzyk explained.
“That’s simply not the case. No matter how it happens, one should always be skeptical. »
Residents who have received this notice are asked not to take any action based on the instructions in the letter and to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center.
BILD Alberta says if homeowners have already contacted the sender, they should file a report with their local police department.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
