With pool season and hot weather quickly approaching, people of the North Shore are rushing to get their pools operational. Everyone wants to be the first on their street to have their pool open and ready to swim in, right?
The Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) and the Association des commerçants de piscines du Québec (ACPQ) are urging residents to be careful of elaborate scams involving the opening and closing of their pools, lining replacements, and installations of overground pools especially.
Scammers are taking advantage of people who are looking for something quick and efficient. The root of these scams will usually take place on Facebook marketplace.
The scammer typically posts a vague ad claiming they can replace your liner or open your pool at a significantly lower price than established companies like Piscine Geyser or Aquanord. They usually don’t have references and their account is either an alias, or a manufactured company name. Given that Facebook marketplace isn’t regulated, it’s becoming more and more difficult to decipher who or what is actually trustworthy.
“Individuals that don’t respect the law will use all kinds of names,” said Charles Tanguay, the spokesperson for the Office de la protection du consommateur. “You have to be careful because even if you know a scammer by photo, they will use legitimate businesses to cover them up.”
Higher risk than ever
On April 13th, the OPC released a statement urging people to be weary of new technologies which can result in new types of fraud. Gone are the days of old-fashioned scams – like street hustles where you had to guess which cup concealed the money, or mailed letters asking for small “processing fees” in exchange for promised rewards. Today’s schemes have evolved far beyond these simple tricks, becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect.
What makes the situation even more concerning is how quickly these listings can appear and disappear, leaving little trace behind. A profile might seem active and responsive for a short period of time, only to vanish entirely once enough deposits have been collected.
Another growing issue is the reuse of legitimate business identities. Some fraudsters will copy names, logos, or photos from real pool companies to make themselves appear credible at a glance. To an untrained eye, everything can seem consistent, especially when communication remains confined to apps such as Messenger or Instagram DMs. This makes it easy for individuals to believe they are dealing with established professionals when, in reality, there is no connection at all.
“Remember the rules, never sign anything too quickly, verify their identity, don’t trust anyone, and only put a small deposit to avoid losing too much money,” said Tanguay. “When Spring comes around you have to be very careful.”
There is also a timing factor that plays directly into the hands of scammers. Early in the season, when demand spikes and reputable companies are often fully booked, homeowners may feel pressured to accept the first available option. That urgency can lead to skipped checks.
Taken together, these factors create an environment where fraud can thrive. This isn’t because people are careless, but because the systems scammers use are designed to exploit trust, convenience, and urgency all at once.
Fencing Scams?
With the Quebec government extending pool fence compliance deadlines to September 2027, many homeowners who have yet to install proper enclosures could find themselves under pressure.
As that deadline approaches, some may be tempted to seek out lower-cost options in an effort to meet the new requirements quickly. According to Tanguay, this growing demand for cheaper solutions could create a significant risk for consumers.
“We’ve started to receive complaints regarding fencing around pools,” said Tanguay emphatically. “Either they take a deposit and never show up or they do a very cheap job which doesn’t stand the test of time.’
The ACPQ notes that it’s very important to control access to your pool. That includes having a fence that’s at least 1.2 metres, that cannot be climbed through and which a 10cm spherical object cannot pass. The doors to the pool should also automatically close and lock by themselves.
To avoid serious injury or even death, the ACPQ has also advised pool owners to never leave toys in the pools unattended, as it reduces the risk of children getting in to retrieve them.
Red flags to watch out for
- Prices that are significantly lower than the competition
- Requests for large deposits, either in cash or via e-transfer
- No physical address or business registration
- Hesitancy to provide written contracts or invoices
- Poor-quality profile (odd name, no friends, few reviews, basic stock photos)
- Pressure tactics like saying “limited availability” or “one day deal only”
Before hiring, consumers should verify if a company is registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ), check reviews across multiple platforms, and confirm that the contractor holds proper insurance. The OPC also recommends getting a written contract detailing the scope of work, timelines, and payment structure, which can be handy in case where scammers try to extort you.
Residents who feel as if they’ve been scammed can file a complaint with the OPC or directly with Facebook Marketplace to report fraudulent listings. Suspicious activity can also be reported to the local police.
