As a resident of Canada, one would expect to feel safe and secure. However, for many of us, the reality has become quite the opposite. Our beautiful country, known for its peace and tranquility, has insidiously transformed into a paradise for scammers. This unsettling truth has left countless Canadians, including myself, vulnerable and exposed to fraudulent schemes. Several factors contribute to this dire situation, including lenient policies, inadequate law enforcement capabilities, and the sheer complexity of modern cybercrimes. Lenient Policies One of the most disheartening aspects is the apparent leniency in policies regarding cybercrime. Canadian laws have not kept pace with the rapidly evolving tactics of scammers. As a victim, I have found little solace in the legal framework, which seems more reactive than proactive. When I reported my case, I discovered that the penalties for such crimes are often not severe enough to deter scammers. This gap in the legal system creates a...

After making the upfront payment to Corey Yurchak, I noticed a change in his responsiveness. Initially, Corey was very active and frequently checked in with me about the progress, giving the impression that he wanted to start the project as soon as possible. He was eager and quick to respond to all my inquiries before the payment. However, once he received the $4000 deposit, his responses became slower. Although he still replied to my messages and emails, the urgency and enthusiasm were no longer there. Whenever I asked about the status of the heat pump installation or the rebate application, his replies were delayed, and he often reassured me that we had plenty of time, which was a stark contrast to his initial eagerness. This shift in behavior was subtle but significant. It seemed like his priority changed once he had the money, and the project’s progress stalled. Looking back, I now understand that his initial eagerness was likely a tactic to secure the payment quickly. This experie...

Corey Yurchak continued to build my trust by providing what seemed like credible information about his previous projects. He even arranged for a real company to come and check my house. However, it turned out that this company was not related to him; he had just given me their contact information. After the house inspection was completed, I paid the energy auditing company. Next, Corey asked for an upfront deposit to purchase the necessary equipment. I agreed to transfer $4000 first due to my credit card limit. He quickly came to my house, not asking me to go to his office or meet elsewhere. He brought a Square Card reader and used it to take the first $4000 payment. Looking back, I shouldn't have thought the upfront deposit was a normal event, especially since he hadn't done anything for me yet. After searching the internet about scams, I found that asking for money upfront is a common tactic used by scammers. Home Improvement Fraud: What It Is and How to Avoid It   "If a...

Reporting to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Report online You can log into the  Online Reporting System  tool using either: GC Key (user ID/password) Government Sign-In by Verified.Me ref: https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/report-signalez-eng.htm  Reporting to local police Contact your local police department to report the scam. Most police office has an online reporting system. Example here:  VPD Reporting to Better Business Bureau No very useful but better do it. https://www.bbb.org/ Reporting to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Scammers won't be reporting all of their income which is involved in illegal activities. But that generates income which is required to be reported to the CRA, you can report this anonymously.  Online : Use the CRA's online "Leads Program" to report suspected tax evasion. You can find the form here . Phone : Call the CRA's Informant Leads Centre at 1-866-809-6841. This is a toll-free number available to receive information on...

 Corey Yurchak starts offering help for the heat pump installation and getting a very detailed quotation.

This scam can involve someone coming to your door offering home repairs or inspections. They offer a special price, as they are working in the area. They often ask for large advance payments, which they take without doing the work, or they charge a large sum for minor or shoddy work. No reputable company will ask for payment up front.  Tips Get a number of quotes from different companies before you contract out work on your home to ensure you’re not being overcharged Ask for references and contact them Contact the Better Business Bureau to make sure the company is in good standing ref: https://vpd.ca/crime-prevention-safety/fraud-prevention/

In the next few days after I showed interest in upgrading my heat pump, Corey showed me many photos of heat pump jobs he claimed to have done. Thinking back, those photos might have just been downloaded from the internet. He kept asking if I needed help applying for the Federal Greener Homes rebate and offered his assistance several times. These conversations made me trust that he had been doing this kind of work for a very long time.

Long story short, after many struggles, Corey Yurchak promised to refund me $8,000 CAD. However, even after more weeks of back-and-forth, he eventually disappeared without fulfilling his promise.

It was a cold winter day, though I can't remember if it was October or November. A stranger knocked on my door – his name was Corey Yurchak. He said he lived nearby. He seemed nice and talked very politely. Corey told me he had been working with heat pump installations for a long time and knew a lot about it. He mentioned a rebate for upgrading heat pumps and asked if I was interested. My home's heating was very loud, and it got very hot in the summer, so I was definitely interested. He said he could help me apply for the rebate. Trusting his friendly manner and knowledge, I agreed. Looking back, that was the first day I fell into the scam.

I heard a story about Michael Superbacker years ago. I now understand how Michael felt. The quote below from Michael's comment deeply describes how I feel right now.