Ottawa Police is warning the community about Fraudulent Liens and Mortgages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 21, 2023 11:45 am

(Ottawa) —The Ottawa Police Service Organized Fraud Unit would like to warn the community about fraudulent Liens on personal property (known as Notice of Security Interest-NOSI) and Mortgages that may be occurring in the Ottawa Area.  Police has received information that individuals may be attempting to defraud unsuspecting homeowners in the City. 

“This scam works when individuals knock on your door suggesting they can do free or nearly free repairs, or appliance installation in your home or consolidate outstanding debts into a mortgage,” said Staff Sergeant Cameron Graham with the Organized Fraud Unit. “The scam can take many months to play out before people realize they have been taken advantage of and can lead to the loss of individual’s homes to loan companies.”

The Ottawa Police offers Ottawa residents the following tips: 

• Be suspicious if a financial company approaches you, unsolicited at your home, indicating they can help you get out of payments or to consolidate your debt – especially for previous liens against your property.
• Ask yourself: why is this person offering to help and how do they know about your own personal situation?
• Remember no renovations are free and you could be paying through a lien.
• Never share personal information or copies of any bills, financial statements, or mortgage papers with someone who knocks on your door.
• Do not give in to high-pressure sales techniques - where decisions have to be made on the spot. Always involve people you trust for more oversight into this type of decision making.
• Do not sign blank documents.

“We encourage everyone to talk about this type of fraud with friends and family, especially older and vulnerable people,” added Staff Sergeant Graham. “If you have contact with a vulnerable loved one, talk with them about how their banks can prevent suspicious money withdrawals.”

If you are concerned that a loved one has become a victim, you can check if there are liens against their home through the Ontario Land Registry Access ONLAND portal.

If you think you have been the victim of this type of fraud, please make a report online with the Ottawa Police Service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).

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