Chimney repair scam prompts warning from New Westminster police

Close up of industrial bricklayer installing bricks on construction site

Police in new Westminster are out with a warning after a 90-year-old resident was nearly scammed out of $12,000 by fraudsters posing as chimney cleaners.

The attempted fraud was reported by a concerned neighbour, the New Westminster Police Department said in a statement Friday.

“This neighbour is exactly the kind of person I would want living next to my grandparents,” said Const. Peter Jon, in the statement.

Upon speaking with the elderly woman who was targeted, police learned she was approached by two men who arrived in an unmarked vehicle and tried to get her to pay a significant on-the-spot deposit for cleaning and sealing services.

“There are several different kinds of scams surrounding chimney inspection and repair ranging from high pressure sales and fraudulent companies to fake claims of major structural damage discovered that requires thousands of dollars in immediate repairs,” the statement from police explained.

“In many instances, scammers will ask for payment in cash.”

Anyone who has information about these scams, or who has been targeted is urged to call 604-525-5411.