Owning a Duct Cleaning company has it’s hardships. Duct Cleaning is a damaged field due to all the cold calls, Facebook posts and more. Rest a sure, at Fresh Start Duct Cleaning Services Inc., we do NOT call you! We do take advantage of social media pages but will always proudly display our company name. Fresh Start Duct Cleaning services is a owned and operated business. This means that our Husband (Robert) and Wife (Jennifer) duo will arrive onsite to your home in uniform! We are a 5 million insured and branded business. When we first opened our doors in 2021, we learned just how hard it is facing these ‘scammers’. Not only do they pretend to be us, they steal our content, attack our social media and website. They give all duct cleaning companies a bad reputation. Being 2025 we have grown a thicker skin and have learned the ins and outs of these ‘scammers’, that is until they learn a new tactic! Unfortunately, these ‘scammers’ are not only attacking the Duct Cleaning industry anymore. I think I get more “Cell Phone Carrier” calls now then I do “Duct Cleaning”. I see more car detailing posts on social media then I do of “Duct Cleaning”.
Identifying a legitimate business is hard! Our first year of business, I almost put our company into closure from all the cost of marketing. Everyone want’s your hard earned money! For example, did you know that a business with that blue check mark on Facebook is paying for that? Same with Google and it is not budget friendly! For example in my field, National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA). It’s not super popular here in Canada but very popular in the USA. This company charges yearly memberships per person in your company of upwards $2,100 Canadian each. What do I get with this membership? My name on their website, that is it. I could dig deeper into there company, but I don’t want a law suit. So instead of joining a company that will do nothing for my business we invest in proper technology and support local events. The same with Facebook, instead of paying them each month for a blue check mark, we will spend that money in our community. We will show our face and volunteer our time. The best thing about owning our business is our Community. We do not need a blue check mark to verify we are a legitimate business, we have a village of support... Someone knows who we are! Fresh Start would not be who we are without our community. To be insured you must have a registered business with the government. You can search registered business on www.ontario.ca and search the Ontario Business Registry. Unfortunately, there is a lot of local business that are operating that are not registered.
Let us help you identify ‘scammers’
Phone Calls:
-Some Mobile companies will label the incoming call ‘suspected spam’ If there is a pause before someone says ‘hello’.
-Poor connect If the caller stresses urgency such as time lines, legal action etc. If you were not expecting the call.
-Payment requests - Do not give your personal information to anyone unless you called them directly.
-Too good to be true offers Block and report the number to your cell phone carrier
*For more information please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) 1-888-498-8501 Social Media : Suspicious Links and attachments, do not click any links sent to you unless you went to site and request this.
Fake profiles:
- Ever had your profile stolen or seen post from friends ‘do not accept a friend request’? They steal profiles, get friends and make posts. These profiles are built over years so that Facebook cannot remove them when reported. Established profiles are then sold to ‘scammers’.
- If the poster comments on their profile or likes there own post. If the poster will only message people and not share the information publicly.
-Requesting personal and or financial information.
-Once they have your information for a service they sell this lead to companies to are likely not insured or branded. They don’t take money from you but they do commit to you. If they are unable to sell your lead then they will not show up.
-Begging - is another sign, they seek on the kind hearted. Instead of supporting them recommend them to trained companies that can help them.
-Looking for recommendations - can be real but can also be bait. When some says looking for recommendation and then within seconds someone else has commented a name (never a business).
*‘Scammers’ own multiple fake profiles and they are quick to respond.
Romance Scams:
-Do not accept friend requests from anyone you do not personally know.
-Do not allow a stranger to sweet talk you. Never send money to ANYONE. Instead give them support contacts
-Do not allow them to ‘Promise you the world’ Do not allow a stranger on the internet to gain your trust, they pry on the week.
-Make your profile private.
*Report the profiles to admins of groups and then to the app.
Market Place:
-Never, send money unless you personally know the person.
-Never click any links sent to you.
-Never tell someone when you are not home Meet at a public location
-If the purchase sounds to good to be true then it likely is Look for stock photos Always let someone know if you are meeting someone
*Report the profiles.
E-mail:
-Do not click any links from unknown sources.
- Look at the sender email, does it look legit?
-Spelling and grammar is another good catch.
-Urgency Fake tech support, if you did not request help chance are it is fake.
* Report spam and block with your email provider
Job Employment Scams:
-Sounds to good to be true
-Work From Home No Company information provided
-Do not provide any financial information.
*Fake Profiles Report to admins and app
Influencer Scam: Sharing false information such as missing person, tragic incidents etc. They are looking for ‘new friends’ People to click their links and profiles Report to admins and app Impersonation Scams: Winning a contest shortly after entering Asking for personal information *Report to admins and app
Be sure to add more information in the comments! Lets help educate our neighbors.
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