Home improvement scams costing Calgarians over $116k under investigation
Posted Jul 24, 2025 2:14 pm.
Last Updated Jul 24, 2025 2:15 pm.
Calgary police are warning the public about home improvement scams that have cost citizens more than $116,000 so far in 2025.
Officers say they’ve received six reports from seniors who have been “approached unsolicited by alleged representatives” of two different roofing companies, Masscraft Roofing & Masonry and Stormguard Roofing & Masonry.
The representatives reportedly offer urgent or discounted repair work, often citing visible damage or nearby projects as justification.
Police say victims are then pressured into signing contracts and making upfront payments; however, in all the reported cases, the work was left incomplete or not started at all.
Then, contacting the contractors becomes impossible due to the phone numbers and websites going offline.
“In some cases, work began without any contracts in place, and some victims reported additional damage to their property,” Calgary police said in a release.
They add that four of the six victims have reported financial losses.
As a result, investigators are investigating these alleged scams and ask anyone with information, including Calgarians who may have interacted with these companies, to come forward.
In the meantime, officers have provided a list of tips you can follow before hiring a contractor.
- Ensure you are dealing with a licensed contracting company. This can be confirmed by searching the City of Calgary’s Licensed Trade Contractor List.
- Choose a contractor with liability insurance in the event the company causes damage to your property.
- Ask for references from the company and verify them.
- Get competitive bids on all work and be wary of quotes that seem too good to be true.
- Do not feel pressure to sign any written agreements. Take time to do your due diligence and have the contract reviewed by a third party before signing.
- Be cautious about upfront deposits or paying for work or supplies before the work has been completed or the supplies have been delivered. Only contractors who have a Pre-Paid Contractor’s Licence from Service Alberta can ask for a deposit.
- If you have been the victim of fraud or lost money from one of these scams, report it to the Calgary Police Service.
Anyone with information about these scams is asked to call Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or leave a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
