Police have charged four people following a renovation and mortgage fraud investigation that cost a vulnerable Brantford senior her home.
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Brantford police say the incident involving in four predatory mortgages occurred between 2021 and 2022 and resulted in mortgage enforcement of the home in January 2024.
Mortgage enforcement is a step taken by a lender to recover a debt when the person who has borrowed money defaults on the mortgage payments.
Police say the victim lost about $374,000.
Brantford Police are reminding citizens to be wary of unsolicited people knocking on doors and to use caution when asked to sign any documents of which they are unsure, said Robin Matthews-Osmond, corporate communications manager for the Brantford Police Service.
Matthews-Osmond said police are also reminding residents to check on vulnerable seniors to help protect them against fraudsters looking to take advantage of them.
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Police have charged a 29-year-old male from Oakville, a 34-year-old male from Hamilton and a 60-year-old female from Toronto each with one count of fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
A 39-year-old Brampton man has been charged with one count of swearing a purported affidavit.
The charges followed a joint investigation by Brantford police and Waterloo Regional Police.
Linda Moyer of the Grand River Council on Aging said seniors being defrauded is a “sad but all too frequent story.”
The council on aging works to create awareness about fraud and scams in many different ways, Moyer said.
The council and INFO Hub has information related to scams and fraud.
As well, the council has a home free virtual workshop which has highlighted the issue in the past including a workshop titled “Scams: Protect Yourself” with Kim Wilson.
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All of the workshops are recorded.
“Our GRCOA newsletter is e-mailed to over 500 subscribers every two weeks,” Moyer said. “In the newsletter we share articles, resources and workshops that are scheduled for the following two weeks.
“In past editions, we have included workshops on fraud and scams hosted by other organizations.”
The council will continue to do what it can to create awareness and share what other community organizations are doing, Moyer said.
The INFO Hub can be found at www.grcoa.ca/respect-and-social-inclusion.
To view “Scams: Protect Yourself” visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWjaVTR5pwE.
Meanwhile, anyone aware of suspicious or criminal activity is asked to contact police at 519-756-7050. Those who wish to remain anonymous are asked to call Brant-Brantford Crime Stoppers at 519-750-8477 or 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip online at www.crimestoppersbb.com/submit-a-tip/ .
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