A Toronto woman who lost $158,000 in a roofing scam over the summer has managed to recover almost half of her money, thanks to a tip from a CTV News viewer.
Sita Dubeau, a Scarborough resident, shared her relief: “Getting that money back, boy, oh boy, did that make me feel good, and my family too,” she told CTV News Toronto.
The ordeal began in July when Dubeau contacted a company to install gutter guards. Two men, who arrived at her home, convinced her that her roof was in dire condition and at risk of collapse. They warned her that her house could be condemned and offered to fix the roof for $158,000, demanding full payment upfront.
Shocked and frightened, Dubeau complied. “I went to the bank, got wire transfers, e-transfers, whatever they wanted. I paid the whole thing,” she said.
However, after demolishing her chimneys and removing her shingles, the men disappeared, leaving the job unfinished. Her son, Dylan Dubeau, discovered that the images of “rotting beams” they had shown her were fake and not from their home.
Realizing it was a scam, Dylan immediately stopped any further payments and reported the incident to the police.
In September, after CTV News aired Dubeau’s story, a viewer recognized the men from the footage and photos and provided information to the authorities. Toronto police, working with Interpol, identified the suspects, who are believed to reside outside Canada.
While the investigation continues, Toronto police’s fraud team has successfully recovered $80,000, which has been returned to Dubeau.
Grateful for the progress, Dubeau remains hopeful that more of her money can be recovered. “This is so awesome. I couldn’t have asked for anything better, and I want to thank everyone involved for that,” she said.
Thanks – CTV News