# 22 Home Improvement Scam Statistics for Canada (2026)

22 cited home improvement scam statistics: Canada's No. 2 riskiest scam in 2025, a $2,000 median loss, 81% of targets losing money, plus Ontario complaint data and rules.

_Source: https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/home-improvement-scam-statistics/_

- **Author:** [Pro House Maintenance Editorial Team](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/about/)
- **Published:** 2026-10-27

Cited data on how often Canadians lose money to fake and dishonest contractors, how much they lose, who gets targeted, and the Ontario rules that protect you when you hire.

**Home improvement scams were the No. 2 riskiest scam type in Canada in 2025, and 81.0% of the Canadians who reported one lost money**, according to the [BBB Scam Tracker Canada Risk Report](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf). A home improvement scam is a fake or dishonest offer to repair, renovate or maintain a home, such as a door-to-door roofer who takes a deposit and never returns. The 22 statistics below cover how risky these scams are, what victims lose, who gets targeted, and the Ontario rules that protect you. If you are about to hire, start by comparing [written quotes from screened local pros](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/contact/).

Risk figures come from the BBB Scam Tracker 2025 Risk Reports for Canada and North America, published in 2026 and based on reports people filed with BBB in 2025. Ontario figures come from the Government of Ontario, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Hamilton Police and the Home Construction Regulatory Authority. Canadian dollar amounts are CAD and US amounts are USD. All sources were checked on October 27, 2026.

## Key Takeaways

- **No. 2 riskiest scam in Canada:** home improvement scams rose from No. 3 in 2024 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).
- **81.0% of targets lost money,** the highest rate among Canada's two riskiest scam types ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).
- **$2,000 median loss** in Canada, about 13 times the $151 median for all scams ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).
- **$14,050 US median** among the worst 10% of home improvement losses ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).
- **No. 1 scam for in-person contact** and for cash and cheque payments in North America ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).
- **10% deposit cap:** Ontario recommends paying no more than 10% up front ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs)).

## What counts as a home improvement scam?

A home improvement scam is any repair, renovation or maintenance offer where the seller never planned to do the work properly. The Government of Ontario describes the classic patterns: a contractor who shows up uninvited with a contract ready to sign, and the "disappearing contractor" who takes a large deposit "to pay for materials" and never starts or finishes the job ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs)).

### 1\. The most common service frauds are home services

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists home services and equipment first among common service frauds, naming air duct cleaning, furnace and hot water tank offers, paving services, and general contracting or home maintenance ([Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/service-eng.htm)).

### 2\. Reports of misleading home services are rising

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has posted a fraud alert saying it is seeing an increase in reports about misleading home services and equipment. Victims are reached through social media ads, telemarketing calls and door-to-door sellers ([Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/service-eng.htm)).

## How risky are home improvement scams in Canada?

Very risky. BBB ranks scams with a Risk Index that combines how often a scam is reported, how often people lose money and how much they lose. Home improvement scored 759.7 in Canada in 2025, second only to investment and cryptocurrency scams at 1,220.2, and well ahead of employment scams at 376.8.

### 3\. Home improvement rose to No. 2 riskiest in Canada

Home improvement scams ranked No. 2 on BBB's list of the 10 riskiest scams in Canada for 2025, up from No. 3 in 2024 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

_Chart: BBB Risk Index, 5 riskiest scam types in Canada, 2025._

Source: [BBB Scam Tracker 2025 Canada Risk Report](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf), Table 1.

### 4\. 81.0% of Canadians targeted lost money

Of Canadians who reported a home improvement scam to BBB in 2025, 81.0% said they lost money. BBB calls this rate susceptibility ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

_Chart: Share of Canadian home improvement scam reports with a money loss, 2025 (BBB): 81% of 100._

### 5\. The median Canadian loss was $2,000

The median loss from a home improvement scam in Canada was $2,000 CAD in 2025. Among Canada's 10 riskiest scams, only investment and cryptocurrency scams had a higher median loss, at $4,354 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

### 6\. That is about 13 times the typical scam loss

The overall median loss across all scam types reported in Canada was $151 in 2025, down from $311 in 2024. A $2,000 home improvement loss is about 13 times that figure ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

### 7\. 7.1% of Canadian reports were home improvement scams

Home improvement scams made up 7.1% of the scam reports Canadians filed with BBB in 2025, a measure BBB calls exposure ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

### 8\. Canadians are losing money more often overall

The share of Canadians who lost money after being targeted by any scam rose from 59.5% in 2024 to 64.9% in 2025. Canadians filed 2.2% of all reports submitted in the United States and Canada ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

No. 2

riskiest scam type in Canada, 2025

81.0%

of Canadian targets lost money

$2,000

median Canadian loss (CAD)

## Who gets targeted by home improvement scams?

Homeowners in their working and early retirement years. BBB found home improvement scams were the No. 1 riskiest scam in Canada for people aged 35 to 44 and 55 to 64. They were No. 2 for people aged 45 to 54 and for people 65 and older, behind investment and cryptocurrency scams.

### 9\. No. 1 riskiest scam for Canadians aged 35 to 44

Home improvement scams topped BBB's riskiest scam list for Canadians aged 35 to 44 in 2025, ahead of employment scams ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

### 10\. No. 1 riskiest scam for Canadians aged 55 to 64

Home improvement scams were also the riskiest scam for Canadians aged 55 to 64, ahead of online purchase scams ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

### 11\. No. 2 for ages 45 to 54 and 65 and older

For Canadians aged 45 to 54 and for those 65 and older, home improvement scams ranked No. 2, behind investment and cryptocurrency scams ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).

## How do Canada and the US compare?

Canadians face higher risk. BBB published more than 146,000 scam reports across North America in 2025. In that wider data, home improvement ranked No. 5 with a Risk Index of 96.2, against 759.7 in Canada. Canadian targets also lost money more often, 81.0% against 69.1%.

### 12\. BBB published 146,000+ scam reports in 2025

BBB Scam Tracker published more than 146,000 scams in 2025, which BBB used to rank 32 scam types ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

### 13\. Home improvement held at No. 5 in the US report

Home improvement scams ranked No. 5 riskiest in BBB's 2025 report for the second year running, with a Risk Index of 96.2 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

### 14\. 69.1% of US targets lost money

Susceptibility for home improvement scams was 69.1% in 2025, down slightly from 70.1% in 2024. Exposure fell from 1.4% to 0.9% of reports ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

### 15\. The US median loss was US$1,405

The median home improvement loss was US$1,405 in 2025, down from US$1,800 in 2024. The overall median loss for all scam types fell from US$130 to US$93 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

_Chart: Home improvement scams, Canada vs US report, 2025 (%)._

Sources: [BBB 2025 Canada Risk Report](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf) and [BBB 2025 Risk Report](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf).

### 16\. The worst cases cost a median US$14,050

Among the top 10% of home improvement losses, the median was US$14,050, the third highest of any scam type after investment and romance scams ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

### 17\. No. 1 scam when contact is in person

When the first contact happened in person, home improvement was the most reported scam type in 2025 ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)).

### 18\. No. 1 scam for cash and cheque payments

Home improvement was also the most reported scam type when victims paid by cheque or by cash ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Risk-Report-2025-US.pdf)). That is one reason the Government of Ontario tells homeowners to avoid cash deals or get a detailed, signed receipt ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs)).

## How many renovation complaints does Ontario get?

Enough that the province calls renovation problems one of its top consumer complaints. In 2015, the Ontario ministry responsible for consumer protection received about 1,600 complaints and inquiries about home renovation services, and 21% involved roofers. The new-home regulator also reports record complaint volumes.

### 19\. About 1,600 renovation complaints and inquiries in one year

The Government of Ontario says problems with home renovations are among the top consumer complaints in the province. In 2015 it received about 1,600 complaints and inquiries about home renovation services, and 21% were about roofers ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/hiring-roofer)).

### 20\. Record complaints about Ontario home builders

The Home Construction Regulatory Authority, which licenses Ontario's new-home builders, received a record number of complaints in 2024-2025, over 1,100, up 32% from the year before. Complaints about illegal building passed 300, up 26%, and its largest investigation produced a record 124 charges ([HCRA](https://www.hcraontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HCRA_AR_2025_10_06_v12.pdf)).

## What Ontario rules protect you from contractor scams?

Ontario law gives you three main protections. Any renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing. If the estimate is part of the contract, the final price cannot exceed it by more than 10% without your signed agreement. And a contract worth $50 or more signed in your home comes with a 10-day cooling-off period.

### 21\. The final bill cannot run more than 10% over the estimate

Under the Consumer Protection Act, when an estimate is part of a home renovation contract, the final price cannot be more than 10% over it unless you agree to new work or a new price. Any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing, and contracts of $50 or more signed at home carry a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs)).

### 22\. Door-to-door sales of furnaces and water heaters are banned

Ontario businesses cannot sign contracts at a consumer's home for furnaces, air conditioners, air cleaners and purifiers, water heaters, water treatment devices, water softeners or duct cleaning unless the consumer started the contact. A contract signed after unsolicited door-to-door marketing is void, and the consumer can keep the product or service with no obligation ([Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/rules-businesses-entering-contracts-consumers-home)).

## How do you protect yourself from a home improvement scam?

Slow down and get it in writing. BBB tells homeowners to say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales, high upfront payments and handshake deals without a contract, and to compare written quotes from several contractors. Hamilton Police add: get at least three quotes and cap the down payment at 10%.

- **Get three written quotes.** Hamilton Police advise at least three quotes from different companies, and BBB says to get and compare written quotes ([Hamilton Police Service](https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/public-safety-alert-home-renovation-scams/), [BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).
- **Cap the deposit at 10%.** Tie the rest to finished milestones and never pay in full before the work is done ([Hamilton Police Service](https://hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/public-safety-alert-home-renovation-scams/), [Government of Ontario](https://www.ontario.ca/page/your-rights-when-starting-home-renovations-or-repairs)).
- **Check licences, insurance and permits.** BBB says to work with businesses that have proper identification, licensing and insurance, and to confirm who pulls the permits ([BBB](https://bbbmarketplacetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2025-Canada-Risk-Report.pdf)).
- **Know your trade's risks.** Our guides cover [roofing statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/guides/roofing-statistics-2026/), [general contractor fees](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/general-contractor-cost/) and [building permit statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/building-permit-statistics/), so you can spot a quote that is far off the market.
- **Start from a vetted list.** Our lists of the [best general contractors in Richmond Hill](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/general-contractors/richmond-hill/), the [best roofers in Toronto](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/roofing-companies/toronto/) and the [best carpenters in Toronto](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/best/carpenters/toronto/) rank local firms on checked public data.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with local pros who have passed WSIB, insurance, reference and background checks. [Request free written quotes](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/contact/) or read our [general contractor statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/general-contractor-statistics/) and [home repair statistics](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/home-repair-statistics/).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How common are home improvement scams in Canada?

Home improvement scams were the No. 2 riskiest scam type in Canada in 2025, up from No. 3 in 2024, according to the BBB Scam Tracker Canada Risk Report. They made up 7.1% of Canadian scam reports, and 81.0% of people targeted lost money.

### How much do Canadians lose to home improvement scams?

The median loss from a home improvement scam in Canada was $2,000 CAD in 2025, according to BBB. That is about 13 times the $151 median loss across all scam types reported in Canada the same year.

### What are the most common home service scams?

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists air duct cleaning, furnace and hot water tank offers, paving services, and general contracting or home maintenance among the most common service frauds. Victims are reached through social media ads, telemarketing calls and door-to-door sellers.

### How much deposit should I pay a contractor in Ontario?

The Government of Ontario recommends a down payment of no more than 10% and says never to pay the full contract amount before the work is done. Hamilton Police give the same 10% advice and suggest tying later payments to finished milestones.

### Can I cancel a renovation contract I signed at home in Ontario?

Yes. If you sign a home renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your home, Ontario gives you a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period. You can cancel for any reason, with no cancellation fee, within those 10 days.

### How do I find a contractor I can trust?

Pro House Maintenance is free for homeowners. It matches you with local pros who have passed WSIB, insurance, reference and background checks. You describe the job once, compare written quotes and choose who to hire, which follows the BBB advice to compare written quotes from several contractors.

## Keep exploring

Ready to move from research to a real quote? [See basement renovation costs and get a quote](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/services/basement-renovation/). Basement Renovation projects typically run $15,000–$45,000 per project, and every estimate is free and fixed-price.

Related guides and reports from our editorial team:

- [24 General Contractor Statistics: Ontario Pay, Licences and Margins (2026)](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/general-contractor-statistics/): Cited 2026 data on Ontario renovation contractor workforce and pay, Toronto and Mississauga licences, Construction Act holdback and US remodeler margins.
- [24 Building Permit Statistics for Ontario Homeowners: Toronto, Brampton and GTA (2026)](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/building-permit-statistics/): Toronto and Brampton permit counts, basement unit registrations, Ontario review timelines, 2026 GTA permit fees per square metre and the fines for building without a permit.
- [General Contractor Cost in 2026: Ontario Fees, Markups and Hourly Rates](https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/general-contractor-cost/): GTA general contractor fees of 15% to 25% of hard costs, Toronto hourly rates by trade, project budgets by scope and Ontario payment rules.

_Quote form: this page has a form to request free quotes from local pros. Open https://www.prohousemaintenance.com/blog/home-improvement-scam-statistics/ to use it._

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