Police charge contractor with issuing fraudulent invoices
Police have charged a man with fraud over $5,000, after he was hired to complete residential renovations for a couple living in northwest Calgary and presented them with fraudulent invoices.
In December 2022, it is believed the victims were seeking a general contractor for home renovations and eventually hired local business, Envision Custom Renovations, to complete the work.
Between January and April 2023, the victims had several disagreements with the hired contractor, which included the victims being invoiced for sub-contractor materials, several scheduling delays and work not being completed within the agreed upon timeframe.
In April 2023, the victims discovered the invoices provided by the contractor, that they paid, were fraudulent and contacted police.
At the time, it is believed the contractor forged and altered invoices, presented the documents to the victims as sub-contractor invoices and collected payment through his business.
As a result, we have charged 53-year-old, Alan Wade HREHIRCHUK, owner of Envision Custom Renovations, with two counts of forgery, two counts of uttering forged documents and one count of fraud over $5,000. As the investigation progresses, additional charges could be laid.
HREHIRCHUK is next scheduled to appear in court on Monday, August 14, 2023.
The Calgary Police Service is also working with the Service Alberta Consumer Investigations Unit to investigate this incident.
“We are thankful the victims contacted police and came forward with information regarding the contractor’s behaviour which led to our investigation and our officers laying fraud charges,” says Staff Sergeant Colin Chisholm of the Calgary Police Service General Investigations Unit. “We encourage anyone who has suffered financial loss as a result of hiring a fraudulent contractor to contact police.”
The Calgary Police Service would like to provide these tips to the public when hiring contractors:
· Ensure you are dealing with an approved contracting company that is properly licensed and insured.
· Ask whether the contractor carries liability insurance. It is not required by law, but if a company does not have this, any damage to property resulting from the renovation may not be covered by the company you have hired.
· Ask for and contact references.
· Have the contractor sign a written contract that includes a start date, completion date, full details of the work and materials, and the complete cost.
· Be cautious about paying for work or supplies before the work has been completed or the supplies have been delivered.
· Be cautious of upfront deposits as only contractors who have a pre-paid contractor’s licence from Service Alberta can ask for a deposit.
Anyone with information about this incident or similar incidents is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips
CA23172647/4984