Digital Safety

Another aspect of safety is digital safety. Fraud is increasingly targeting Ontario tree care companies. This page outlines a scam currently affecting our industry, the warning signs to watch for, and practical steps for protecting both your business and your clients.

Active Scam Alert: Tree Removal Impersonation

ACTIVE IN ONTARIO

Tree care companies across Ontario are being contacted by individuals posing as homeowners. The scammer requests a tree removal, often using a photo lifted from a real estate listing, and offers to pay upfront. The work gets done, the payment later reverses or bounces, and it turns out the “client” never owned the property.

ISA Ontario has already received calls from real homeowners affected by this, including one in Ottawa whose tree was removed before anyone realized the request was fraudulent.

How the Scam Works

1

The setup

Someone contacts your company claiming to own a home. They typically send a single photo of the tree, frequently sourced from a real estate listing for a property recently sold or currently on the market.

2

The remote request

They ask for the tree to be removed but avoid meeting in person, preferring to handle everything by text or email. A sense of urgency is common.

3

The payment trap

They pay upfront, sometimes with a cheque that later turns out to be NSF, or fake e-transfer details. Many times they “overpay” and ask you to refund the difference before the original funds clear.

4

The fallout

The tree is removed. The payment reverses or never clears. The real homeowner, who never authorized anything, is left without a mature tree, and your company is out the labour, the refunded “overpayment,” and potentially exposed to liability.

Red Flags to Watch For

If you see these signs, slow down and verify before any work begins.

🚩
“I can’t meet”
The client refuses an in-person meeting or site visit and won’t take a phone call.
🚩
Photo, no walkthrough
A single image of the tree is provided, with pressure to skip the on-site assessment.
🚩
Overpayment offer
They pay too much “by mistake” and ask you to refund the difference.
🚩
Rush & pressure
Unusual urgency to get the job done immediately, resisting normal verification.
🚩
Details don’t match
Out-of-area or prepaid phone number, mismatched names, or odd phrasing.
🚩
Text-only insistence
They will only communicate by text and dodge any attempt to speak directly.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Clients

For Tree Care Companies

✓

Verify ownership before any work. Speak with someone at the home.

✓

Insist on an in-person assessment. A “will not meet” removal request is a major red flag.

✓

Be wary of overpayments. Never refund a difference until the original funds have fully cleared, not just “appeared.”

✓

Use a signed written contract for every job.

✓

Trust your instincts. If details don’t add up, pause and verify before sending a crew.

For Homeowners

✓

Be cautious of unsolicited visits from tree care companies showing up at your door.

✓

Always get a written contract before any work begins.

✓

Verify credentials: ask about insurance, WSIB coverage, ISA certification, and references.

✓

Protect your listing photos. If you’re selling or recently bought a home, be aware that real estate photos can be misused by scammers.

A Word on Phishing & Email Fraud

This tree removal scheme is one example of a broader threat: fraud that arrives by email and text, often dressed up to look legitimate. A few habits keep your business safer across the board.
📧Be skeptical of unexpected requests, especially urgent ones.
📧Check sender addresses carefully; scammers mimic real names and domains.
📧Don’t click links or open attachments you weren’t expecting.
📧Verify payment details through a known, trusted channel, never just by replying.
📧When in doubt, slow down. Urgency is a scammer’s favourite tool.

Think You’ve Been Targeted?

  1. Stop all work and do not send any refunds.
  2. Document everything: messages, phone numbers, payment details, and photos.
  3. Contact your financial institution immediately if a payment is involved.
  4. Report the incident to local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501).
  5. Let ISA Ontario know so we can continue to warn other members.