Counterfeit firewood sellers have never scammed Quebecers so much on classifieds sites, to the point where suppliers no longer hesitate to report these scammers on social media.
“It’s crazy, I’ve never seen that before. It’s worse than ever this year and I can confirm it’s a scourge. Every week customers tell me they have been scammed before I bring them my wood,” says Nicolas Paquette, discouraged.
Photo Nicolas Paquette
Nikolaus Pakette
The owner of Le boisé Paquette in Sherbrooke denounced his project on the Internet. According to him, scammers first placed a fake ad on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. The customer falls into the trap and then sends a cash deposit using an Interac e-Transfer.
The problem is that the order never gets delivered and the scammer disappears from the internet with his small loot. According to our information, the requested amounts vary between 80 and 500 US dollars.
“It’s hurting our industry because they use our company’s photos and names on Facebook to make their fake ads credible,” thunders Mr. Paquette. We do not want to be associated with these scams.”
Screenshot from Facebook of Le boisé Paquette in Sherbrooke
Example of companies or individuals who have exposed firewood scammers on social media in the last few weeks.
Your usurped name
The Journal contacted a dozen firewood vendors across the province. They all claim to have faced these scams that are proliferating online.
Screenshot from Facebook of the Center du Foyer de l’Outaouais company
Screenshot of Facebook from Bois Franc Sec
Screenshot from the Facebook company GBS Heizholz
“It happened to us for the first time this year. A customer called us to say they never received the wood they bought from us on Facebook Marketplace. I asked for the seller’s name and he didn’t have it. That’s when he realized he had been scammed,” sighs Steve Desrochers, owner of D-Bois Express in Rouyn-Noranda.
Screenshot of Facebook of the company D-Bois Express
Réjeanne Pelletier-Borduas, manager of the Bois de foyer Borduas, was also a victim of scammers who appropriated the name of her company based in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
“I immediately went to the police to file a complaint because we never ask for Interac transfers before delivery. Of course it’s not fun, I can’t believe people do business the same way,” Ms Pelletier-Borduas laments.
Geneviève Martel, co-owner of a Quebec supplier, reported scammers last September to prevent others from being tricked. “They use our name to validate their scheme,” the entrepreneur protested.
Reports of the rise
Screenshot from the Facebook group “Firewood – Purchase/Sale in Quebec”
For its part, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center (CAFC) says it received at least 22 reports of firewood fraud in 2022. This is an increase of six complaints compared to the previous year.
“It is important to meet the seller in person and pay cash as much as possible. Avoid sending deposits for products before you’ve seen them in person. It’s also important to research and buy products from known sellers,” warns Jeff Horncastle, spokesman for the CAFC.
Several Quebec police forces also told the Journal that few people are complaining.
“People don’t want to bother the police with it, they’re ashamed or think it’s small amounts. But it is important to file a complaint to quantify the phenomenon and have good evidence. It can also prevent others from getting caught,” points out Agent Martin Carrier, Public Relations Officer for the Service de Police de Sherbrooke.
Screenshot of the Facebook of the Ville de Saint-Jérôme police station
The Ville de Saint-Jérôme police department warned its citizens about firewood fraud last September.
We test the scammers
Our representative put himself in the shoes of a firewood buyer to test the experience. Several dozen ads on Facebook Marketplace were undoubtedly international scams.
To discover them, simply contact fake vendors who display their prices in euros. Others have trucks with European license plates. Some even offer hornbeam, but that’s not really used for firewood in Quebec.
“We deliver everywhere without any problems. Oak, ash, hornbeam and even beech. Which one do you want?” asks a fake salesman pretending to be Gérard Pinette.
Gone quickly
The Journal then asked him the name of his company and in which city it was based.
Screenshot from Facebook Messenger
Bogus sellers of firewood on Facebook Marketplace disappear in the fog when the Journal asks about their business.
“If you don’t want to buy, don’t bother us,” wrote Mr. Pinette before disappearing into the fog and blocking our representative.
The same scenario played out with two other scammers who deleted their Facebook accounts after being asked for their business address.
Screenshot from Facebook Messenger
HOW TO AVOID FIREWOOD FRAUD?
- Ask to speak to the seller over the phone
- Request to see the wood in person before purchasing
- Never send an Interac e-Transfer to a provider
- Wait until you receive your delivery before paying
- Scammers sell at unreasonably low prices
- Research the credibility of the company
- Scammers will try to sell their lumber with a sense of urgency
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Sûreté du Québec and Sherbrooke Police Service
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